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Learn more about the politics honors program:
Rough Timeline for Completing an Honors Thesis
Sophomore or Junior Year
- Take Politics 100b: Introduction to Research Methods.
- Take a politics seminar that requires a research paper; write on a topic that you may want to pursue as a thesis.
- Take a course with a faculty member who you would like to serve as your advisor.
- Begin thinking about (and writing down) possible thesis topics.
- Speak to relevant faculty members about your thesis ideas.
Summer before Senior Year
- Draft a short prospectus for your thesis idea/s.
- Contact the faculty member you would like to work with, and set up a meeting.
- Begin doing data collection (there is some research funding available to do this; speak to your advisor for more information).
Senior Year
- Meet with your prospective advisor during the first week of classes.
- Attend the Honors Orientation Meeting.
- Sign up for Politics 99d.
- Attend Honors Meetings (usually on Thursday afternoons).
- Draft of one chapter due before Thanksgiving.
- Chapter deadlines from January to March.
- Full draft of thesis due in mid-March.
- Final draft of thesis due in early April.
- Thesis defense in mid-April.
- File completed thesis by the end of April.