Outstanding students majoring in international studies who are interested in departmental honors should submit an application form to the program director 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 major.The student must have and maintain a grade point average of at least 3.5 in the major and 3.3 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 director of the International Studies Program 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.

Only I406 will count toward the 30 minimum credit-hour requirement of the major. The Thesis must be defended before a committee comprised of the Director of the International Studies Program, the thesis director and one affiliated faculty member of the student's choice. The grade for the thesis will be given jointly by the thesis director and the Director of the Program.

Based on their matriculation date International Studies majors must take:

1. INTL-I405 Individualized Readings and INTL I406 Honors International Studies Capstone Seminar, if they matriculated before Summer 2012. While working on the thesis, the student will enroll in INTL-I405 followed by INTL-I406 (the honors course number for The Senior Capstone Seminar). In the semester before registering for I406 Honors Capstone, students should submit the I406 authorization form to confirm their continued eligibility.

2. INTL-I406 Honors International Studies Capstone Seminar, if they matriculate in Summer 2012. In the semester before registering for INTL-I406 (the honors course number for The Senior Capstone Seminar), students should submit the I406 authorization form to confirm their eligibility.