Departments & Programs

International Studies

Honors Track

Requirements

Outstanding students majoring in International Studies who are interested in departmental honors should submit an application form to the International Studies Director of Undergraduate Studies no later than the second semester of the junior year. To be eligible for the honors track, a student must first complete 15 credit hours in the International Studies major.

The student must have and maintain a grade point average of at least 3.500 in the major and 3.300 overall. Before submitting the application, the student should identify a tentative thesis topic and also identify an honors thesis director, who will advise the student during research and writing. The honors thesis director should be a core faculty member in the Department of International Studies. The International Studies Director of Undergraduate Studies will provide guidance with this process, if needed. While taking required course work, students will research and write an honors thesis or produce an in-depth creative project that integrates the student's thematic and regional concentration course work and international experience in either a substantive original paper or performance, as appropriate. The thesis or project must be defended before an International Studies honors committee and must merit a grade of A– or higher.

In summary, students must:

• maintain a 3.500 GPA in International Studies course work
• maintain a 3.300 GPA overall
• complete all requirements for the major and degree
• apply for departmental honors no later than the second semester of the junior year
• take I406 Honors International Studies Capstone Seminar
• research, write, and defend an honors thesis or complete an in-depth creative project which merits an A– or higher