Honors Program
The Honors Program provides political science majors the opportunity to pursue an independent research project over a two-semester period. Students begin the program by taking Political Science 691H, Honors Seminar in Research Design, in the spring semester of their junior year. In this course, students learn about the political science research process and write a thesis proposal.
If the proposal is approved, students continue their thesis research in the senior year under the direction of a faculty advisor in Political Science 692H and 693H. POLI 693H requires a learning contract (further details below). Upon successful completion of the program, which includes an oral defense of the thesis, students are awarded a degree with Honors or with Highest Honors in Political Science.
Learning Contract
Every student who plans to continue with POLI 693H must complete an online Learning Contract through the Online Learning Contract Manager (OLCM).
Deadline
The POLI 693H Learning Contract must be completed and approved by all relevant parties by the second Friday of the semester. Students will not be able to register for POLI 693H after the add period.
To be admitted to the Honors Program students must have at least a 3.3 overall grade point average and 3.5 in Political Science. They should have completed four courses in the major.
Students interested in participating in the Honors Program should apply by October 15 of their junior year. The application for the program can be downloaded below. Completed applications should be emailed to polihonors@unc.edu.
Final Defense Instructions
Students preparing for their final thesis defense should download and print a copy of the POLI Honors Thesis Defense form and bring it with them to their defense. Signed, completed forms should be turned in to Millie Tan, Undergraduate Coordinator.
Students are also responsible for uploading an unsigned cover page (sample title page), along with their thesis, to the Carolina Digital Repository by the final day of class in the semester in which they complete their honors thesis. For more information, visit the Honors Carolina website.