Honors in International and Public Affairs

Students who demonstrate exceptional academic performance and scholarly achievement in the International and Public Affairs concentration have the opportunity to be recommended for graduation with honors.

To be considered for honors, students will have to meet the following guidelines: 

1. Completion by end of 6th semester junior year: the gateway course, the track foundational course, the junior seminar, the two-course methodology requirement (or language study option and one methodology course), and at least two track electives.

2. To be accepted into the IAPA Honors Program a student must have two-thirds "quality grades" in the concentration. A “quality grade” is defined as a grade of “A” or a grade of “S” accompanied either by a designation of "with distinction” or by a course performance report (CPR) indicating performance at the “A” standard.

3. A completed application form to include: primary thesis advisor signature, the identification of a clear research question, and the identification of a plan and schedule for conducting the research that will lead into the writing process ensuing in the fall of senior year. Only those students with an approved thesis application will be permitted to enter the senior thesis seminar in the fall and/or receive thesis research grants for the summer.

4. Completion of the senior thesis seminar in the fall of senior year, and completion of the independent study class with the thesis advisor in the spring of senior year.

5. An honors quality thesis submitted by the deadline and judged to be of very high quality by the student's thesis committee -- the primary thesis advisor and the second reader. Both readers must submit a written evaluation of the thesis. In the event of a lack of consensus, a member of the Faculty Concentration Advisory Committee will also evaluate the thesis.

6. Completion of an oral presentation on the thesis at the annual International and Public Affairs Thesis Conference in the spring of senior year.