Honors Program
The Honors Program provides political science majors with the opportunity to pursue independent research culminating in an honors thesis. Students apply for the program in the fall of their junior year.
If accepted, they are enrolled in two sequential seminars designed to teach the requisite research and writing skills. The first class, POLI 691H Honors Seminar in Research Design, is taught in the spring semester of junior year. In this course, students learn about the political science research process and write a thesis proposal.
In the fall of senior year, students are enrolled in POLI 692H, a seminar in which they conduct, present, and critique each other’s research while working with faculty advisors outside of class. To enroll in POLI 692H requires being in good academic standing, and the approval of the proposal written in POLI 691H.
In the spring of senior year, in lieu of a formal class, POLI 693H requires an independent learning contract (further details below) in which students work closely with their advisors to complete their thesis. An oral defense of the thesis takes place that semester, and upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a degree with Honors or with Highest Honors in Political Science.
Application Process and Criteria
To be admitted to the POLI Honors Program, students must have at least a 3.3 overall UNC GPA and a 3.5 UNC GPA in political science. Applicants must have completed four courses in the POLI major at UNC by the end of their junior year. (Please note: GPA requirements will be 3.3 UNC overall and 3.6 UNC political science GPA beginning the 2025-2026 application cycle.)
Applications to the Honors Program will open each fall. Look for an announcement in the newsletter.
Learning Contract for POLI 693H
Every student who plans to continue with POLI 693H must complete an online Learning Contract through the Online Learning Contract Manager (OLCM).
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.
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.