Hutton Honors College

Contact: Marsha Franklin Undergraduate Advisor Woodburn 210B 855-6309 mfrankli@indiana.edu

Contact: Gerald Wright Honors Faculty Advisor Woodburn 210B 855-6308 wright1@indiana.edu

1. How is your honors degree program administered? Is there a specific person who acts as coordinator? Is there a faculty committee?

The Honors Faculty Advisor under the general policy guidance of the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Undergraduate Committee has formal responsibility. The Undergraduate Advisor coordinates the program on a day-to-day basis.

2. What are the requirements for admission into your honors program? How arer students recruited for your program? May students recommend themselves?

Formal admission to the Departmental Honors program may occur as early as the end of the sophomore year, but typically students don't start the process until junior year. Students are eligible to apply if they have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in political science and 3.3 in overall university courses and have taken at least 9 hours in political science, including at least one 300-level course.

3. How does a student graduate with honors from your department?

To attain the political science degree with honors, students ordinarily complete:
1. 1-3 credit hours of readings for Y480 on a subject related to their Honors project (usually during their junior year)
2. 3 hours of the Honors colloquium (Y480) during their senior year
3. 3-12 thesis credit hours of Y499 for researching and writing the thesis
4. Students are expected to present an acceptable Honors thesis and defend it orally before the Honors committee.*
*In unusual circumstances, an approved graduate seminar may be substituted for either Y480 or part of Y499. Students should consult with the Honors Director before pursuing this alternative.

4. What is the nature of the senior project and what are the requirements for completing it?

The Honors Program in Political Science provides qualified students with the opportunity to undertake original research and writing under the direction of a faculty sponsor. It is intended for students who are excited about doing independent research, who want to gain more skills and confidence doing extended research and in-depth writing, and who are committed to working on a topic or question that can sustain them for an extended period of time.