Political Science Honors Program

The honors program is designed for our top students who seek out additional intellectual challenges, including research and writing an honors thesis during their senior year. It is distinct from the University Honors Program, but political science majors may be admitted to both programs.

Admission

Students should apply for admission to the program during the winter or spring quarter of their junior year. To be eligible for the honors program, the student must be a political science major and have earned at least a 3.2 GPA overall and a 3.5 GPA in their political science coursework.

Interested students should submit the following to the Department of Politics and Global Affairs by emailing pga@pdx.edu:

PSU and other college transcripts (unofficial transcripts will suffice)
Letters of recommendation from two PSU political science faculty
Statement of purpose (500 words or less) indicating their interest in the program, the area of research for their honors thesis, and the faculty member they would like to supervise their work

If students have questions about the PS Honors Program, we encourage them to contact Prof. Richard Clucas

Honors Curriculum

Contact Dr. Richard Clucas

The Department recommends this timeline for the thesis project:

Fall term: preparation of research proposal and start of investigation
Winter term: continuation of research and first draft of thesis
Spring term: revision of thesis and defense

Check the Course Offerings to determine which term the course requirements are taught in. Students sign up for PS 403 through the By Arrangement System. Normally, 4 credits of PS 403 are taken each term of the student’s senior year.

The student is awarded credits and works closely with the faculty supervisor at all stages of thesis research and writing . At the start of Spring term, two additional faculty members are selected to join the supervisor as a thesis review committee. At the end of their Senior year, the student submits and defends the thesis before the review committee and any others the student may wish to invite to the colloquium.

By Arrangement Form

Current Course Offerings

For political science students who are also enrolled in the University Honors Program, the process is designed to satisfy the thesis requirements of both programs, although these students have the option of enrolling in up to 4 credits of HON 403 rather than PS 403.