The political science departmental honors major offers an opportunity for motivated and capable students to engage in more extensive interaction with faculty and to complete challenging individual research projects that will further their personal and professional goals.
Application to the major: To be accepted to the program, students must have a cumulative and major/program grade point average of 3.50. Interested students should apply in spring quarter of the junior year or fall quarter of the senior year. Upon acceptance, a Change of Major, Degree or Specialization form is submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
Completion of the major: During senior year, honors students will complete, over multiple quarters, a ten-credit departmental honors thesis (PLSC 4790 ). Political Science majors in the departmental honors program are required to complete 15 major electives (5 credits less than the norm) for a total of 65 credits in political science (and 5 credits in economics), and write a substantial thesis under the direction of a faculty member. The thesis will be graded by departmental faculty. In order to complete the requirements for departmental honors and receive a notation to that effect on their transcripts, students must also maintain a cumulative and major/program grade point average of 3.50. In addition, the grade received for PLSC 4790 Departmental Honors Thesis Supervision must be an A or A-. In addition to the Political Science, BA requirements, the honors major also includes: