Honors in Political Science
Students with Junior or Senior standing and a 3.5 minimum cumulative GPA (UO and transfer) through Winter Term of their graduating year are eligible to write an Honors Thesis.
The thesis is a yearlong research project based within any specific area of Political Science that interests the student. Examples of the wide range of topics studied include the Constitutional right to welfare, Egyptian water management policy, the politics of transracial adoption, voter mobilization tactics, and the effectiveness of the United Nations' crisis management policies.
All deadlines must be met in order for graduation with honors to be considered. Requests for exceptions to these procedures and deadlines must be made to the Curriculum and Honors Committee which in rare instances may grant such requests. The committee's decision is final.
Time Line for Thesis Completion
Junior or Senior Standing
- • Have an overall GPA (UO and transfer) of at least 3.5 through winter
optional; term prior to graduation. - • Register for 1 credit of PS 411, Honors Thesis Prospectus (P/N), to be
taken during fall term. ForHonors College students, this course is
optional; however, you are encouraged to complete the course.
Fall Term of the academic year in which the thesis is completed
- • Select a thesis advisor and second reader
- • Successfully defend a thesis prospectus, thus passing PS 411.
-
• If PS 411, Honors Thesis Prospectus, is passed and a 3.5 GPA has been
retained, provide to the Undergraduate Coordinator in the Political
Science office a fully signed Honors Thesis Agreement Form which also
serves as approval for registration for 4 credits of PS 403, Thesis, under
the supervision of the thesis advisor.
Winter Term
- • Register for a minimum of 4 credits of PS 403: Thesis.
- •
No later than the last day of classes, provide completed thesis to first
and second readers.
Spring Term
- •
By the end of the 2nd Week of classes, the readers will provide
responses to the students. Revise the thesis to meet both readers'
comments. - •
After approval of the revisions, the thesis advisor and second reader will
sign a Certification of Completion form provided by the Undergraduate
Coordinator. - •
No later than Monday of the 5th Week, provide the final copy of the
thesis (including all changes in response to the readers' comments) to
the Undergraduate Coordinator in the Political Science office. - •
The Undergraduate Coordinator will verify the students' GPA and
submission of thesis. - •
The Curriculum and Honors Committee will review the students'
performance during their senior year. A decision on granting the honors
distinction will be made no later than the Friday of the 5th Week and will
be recorded on the Certification of Completion. The Undergraduate
Coordinator will certify to the Registrar's Office those students who are
to receive departmental honors.
For more information about the thesis writing process, see the
Honors Thesis Agreement Form.
Selected Spring 2009 Honors Theses
Louis De Sitter, Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy: Johnson and the Dominican Intervention of 1965
Daniel Griffith, Improving United Nations Rapid Reaction Capability: is a volunteer rapid reaction force the answer?
Sarah Harmon, U.S. Immigration Policy and Rhetoric: The Construction of the Identity of Immigrants
Allea Martin, Power versus Knowledge: A critical examination of the political impacts of an expanding Internet in China
Casey Radostitz, Political Rhetoric During Periods of Heightened Economic Inequality: An Analysis of the 1896, 1928 and 2008 Presidential Elections
Duncan Robb, Protestants, Evangelicals, and the Religious Order: Christianity and Political Conservatism in the United Kingdom and United States from 1530 to 1950
Eric Salter, The Efficacy of EU Soft Power on Influencing its Eastern Border: Has it Brought Security and Stability?
Nicole Shema, The Failings and Future of Nile Basin Management
Rachel Snyder, Homeland Insecurities:
A Critical Policy Analysis of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act of 2006
Questions regarding the Political Science honors program may be directed to Priscilla Yamin, the 2009-10 coordinator.
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