To Be Considered for Honors, Students Must:

1. Complete by the end of the 6^th 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 three track electives.
   
   We strongly recommend that honors students take both qualitative and quantitative methods courses so that they have a full toolkit of skills as they start their theses. Students who are conducting research in another language should also, of course, achieve proficiency in that language before starting their research.
   
   We also strongly recommend that students take at least one elective related to their proposed thesis topic before senior year.
    
2. 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. Complete the application form, including: the signature of the primary thesis advisor (first reader), the signature of the second reader, and an essay describing the research question, significance, research design, preliminary hypothesis, and research preparation, along with a preliminary bibliography. 

In 2025, honors applications will be due on Friday, April 25th by 5 p.m.

Application forms will be reviewed by the faculty committee and students will be notified of their status by mid-May. Only students with approved thesis applications will be admitted to the senior thesis seminar in the fall.

Thesis Funding

Honors concentrators in IAPA can apply for summer thesis funding. Deadline for summer research is May 16th, 2025.

To Receive Honors, Students Must:

1. Complete the senior thesis seminar in the fall of senior year and complete the independent study class with their primary thesis advisor (first reader) in the spring of senior year.
    
2. Submit an honors quality thesis (of 80-120 pages in length) by the deadline, as judged 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 Committee will also evaluate the thesis.
    
3. Complete an oral presentation on the thesis at the annual IAPA thesis conference in the spring of senior year.