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187:198 Honors Thesis in International Studies

Download the complete Honors Thesis Guidelines packet.

Table of Contents to Honors Thesis Guidelines

Planning Your Honors Thesis
Combining With Another Honors Thesis
Choosing a Topic and Finding a Mentor
Additional Requirements
Required Elements and Deadlines
Information for Poster Session

Quick Links to Forms

Information for Mentors
Checklist--Required Elements and Deadlines
Registration Preapproval Form
Progress Report
Cover Sheet

Additionally, you can download the Course Syllabus for 187:095 Research and Final Project Preparation.

Planning Your Honors Thesis

The Honors Thesis in International Studies is an academically rigorous research project undertaken under the direct supervision of a University of Iowa faculty member. Students should register for 187:198 Honors Thesis in International Studies when registering for the semester in which the thesis will be completed. Students earn 3 s.h. of graded credit for completing the Honors Thesis.

Every Honors Thesis must be approved by a Faculty Mentor and the International Studies program office, and it must include research, discussion, and documentation of sources. The Honors Thesis provides students the opportunity to focus on a specific research question or artistic project in a rigorous, engaged fashion with the guidance of an expert faculty member. Ultimately, the Honors Thesis should demonstrate careful reading and research; it should identify an important research or aesthetic question involving an international issue; and it sho9uld offer a thoughtful, well-organized, and clearly written investigation of that research problem.

A few important notes:

  • The Honors Thesis must focus on an international topic and clearly relate to a student's International Studies emphasis area.
  • The Honors Thesis may be either a 30-50 page thesis paper or a creative research project. Creative projects must be approved by the International Studies program office prior to registration. If you are interested in completing a creative project, please contact the International Studies program office at 335-0368 to schedule an appointment to discuss your project. You should come prepared to this meeting with a project proposal (see Registration Preapproval).
  • If a student is building on a project completed for a previous course, it is important that the student not simply "quote themselves," but instead use that previous project as a starting point to explore a topic from another perspective, take the work in another direction with a new research question, or delve more deeply into the previous topic. Simply adding additional pages to a previous work and submitting it as your Honors Thesis is not acceptable, and constitutes academic fraud under the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences guidelines.
  • Students planning to graduate with honors in International Studies who:
    • entered the University prior to Fall 2007 may choose to complete either 187:199 International Studies Senior Project OR 187:198 Honors Thesis in International Studies. If you prefer to complete 187:199 International Studies Senior Project, please consult the Senior Project packet for further instruction.
    • entered the University in fall 2007 or after must complete 187:198 Honors Thesis in International Studies in place of 187:199 International Studies Senior Project.
  • Students completing an Honors Thesis must participate in the International Studies Honors Poster Session.
  • Students who entered the University fall 2008 or after are required to take 187:095 Research and Final Project Preparation before enrolling in the Honors Thesis. Students who entered the University before fall 2008 are encouraged register for this prep course in the semester prior to Honors Thesis registration.
  • Students are encouraged to register in 187:105 Independent Study in International Studies under the direction of their Faculty Mentor in the semester preceding the Honors Thesis registration. This independent study can be used as an upper-level emphasis course in their International Studies B.A. requirements and is an excellent opportunity for students to research their topic and prepare to write their thesis. Students may not apply more than 3 s.h. of research or independent study semester hours, in preparation for their thesis, towards their International Studies B.A. requirements (in addition to possible participation in the 2 s.h. 187:095 Research and Final Project Preparation).
  • Students may NOT enroll in the Honors Thesis during the summer session.

Need help getting started with your research? Schedule a research consultation at the Main Library!

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Combining With Another Honors Thesis

Students may combine their Honors Thesis with another Honors Thesis for a second major providing:

  • The student secures permission from each department first. (Failing to obtain permission constitutes academic fraud under The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences guidelines)
  • The student must submit a 1-page typed statement of purpose explaining the academic rationale for combining the theses. The statement must be signed by both faculty mentors and submitted to the International Studies program office for Associate Dean approval no later than November 15 for spring thesis enrollment and April 15 for fall thesis enrollment.
  • The combined thesis possesses interdisciplinary characteristics reflective of the student's International Studies undergraduate curriculum.
  • The Honors Thesis length is at least the sum of the required minimums for both theses.
  • The student has a Faculty Mentor for the International Studies Honors Thesis independent of the second department's thesis advisor.
  • Even in the event of a combined thesis, students may still apply only 3 s.h. of research or independent study semester hours, in preparation for their Honors Thesis, towards the International Studies major.

Given the additional length and scope of the combined thesis, students may register for the International Studies B.A. thesis course in addition to their other department's course, earning a maximum of 6 s.h. for the effort.

Students considering a combined project are encouraged to make an appointment with the International Studies program office by calling 335-0368 to discuss their plans well in advance of beginning the Honors Thesis.

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Choosing a Topic and Finding a Mentor

Students should plan to find a topic and a faculty mentor in the semester prior to registration in 187:198 Honors Thesis in International Studies. Choosing a research topic for your Honors Thesis may seem a daunting process, but students are successful in finding a topic of interest and an appropriate faculty mentor by following the steps below.

  1. Read the Honors Thesis Packet thoroughly.
  2. Determine Your Research Topic
    • What interests you? How does it relate to your emphasis area and/or the courses you have taken during college?
    • Narrow your interests into a manageable research question. For example, say your topic is economic trends in Europe since the EU. Are you planning to compare particular countries? Will you look at countries that have fully joined the EU or possibly focus on how Norway is managing the economic impact of increased immigration on its social welfare systems? Remember, your research question can never be too specific; most students find their topic is too broad or vague in the beginning.
    • How do you narrow your research question into a manageable project? Spend some time in the library! Schedule a research consultation at the Main Library. Use the university’s online resources. Read as much as you can about your topic from a variety of resources.
    • Prepare a rough draft of your Preliminary Proposal.
  3. Find a Faculty Mentor
    • Consider talking with faculty with whom you’ve taken classes—they already know how great you are!
    • Search within the UI website on keywords related to your research question. Which faculty appear in relation to your searches?
    • Keyword searches on ISIS will search course title and subtitle. Search several semesters’ course listings. Which UI faculty are teaching courses which may relate to your research question?
    • Read faculty bios on their home department’s website. Learn more about their current research interests to see if they are an appropriate mentor for your topic.
    • Contact faculty members, describe your project’s research question and explain the requirements for the Honors Thesis. Try emailing first, explain what you need and let them know the exact time you plan to visit with them at their upcoming office hours. If you don’t know their office hours, go find out BEFORE writing the email.
    • Bring the Information for Mentors page from the Honors Thesis packet (read it first!) and a rough draft of your preliminary proposal. Be prepared to tell the faculty member how your topic relates to their work. Ask him or her to scan your list of references and give you suggestions on other resources to consult to further define your research question. Expect that your research question will continue to evolve as you delve deeper into your topic—that’s OK.
    • Is your topic “The soccer culture in France vs. US”? Can’t find a faculty member who specializes in soccer? Probably not. But what about a faculty member who has done some work on how cultural/social/political systems impact professional sports, large organizations, culturally determined use of leisure time and discretionary income… ? You are using soccer as the example, but what are you REALLY asking? Are you approaching the topic from a particular disciplinary perspective?
    • Are you still struggling to find a topic or mentor? Make an appointment with the International Studies program office by calling 335-0368.

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Additional Requirements

If you were admitted to The University of Iowa prior to fall 2007 and plan to graduate with honors in International Studies:

  • You may choose to complete either 187:199 International Studies Senior Project or 187:198 Honors Thesis in International Studies.
  • The primary differences are the minimum length requirement and the required poster session for the Honors Thesis.
  • Those choosing to complete 187:199 International Studies Senior Project will use their Senior Project as their Honors Thesis, will deposit their Senior Project with the Honors Program, and will be subject to any and all Honors Program deadlines.
  • Those choosing to complete 187:199 International Studies Senior Project may choose to participate in the International Studies Honors Poster Session.
  • Please note that faculty mentors MUST be informed prior to registration if a student is using 187:199 International Studies Senior Project as an Honors Thesis, and under those circumstances, faculty mentors may impose more rigorous requirements than the minimum requirements noted in the Senior Project packet.

If you were admitted to The University of Iowa fall 2007 or after and plan to graduate with honors in International Studies:

  • You must complete 187:198 Honors Thesis in International Studies, as outlined in the Honors Thesis packet.

Additional requirements from the Honors Program:

  1. Refer to the "Stay Updated" portion of the Honors Program website for all Honors deadlines.
  2. The Honors Program requires you to use a very specific format for your title page, which may be found on their website. On that title page, "Department/College" is "International Studies Program" and "Honors Advisor" is the Associate Dean of International Programs.
  3. Make 3 copies of your finished thesis:
    • Turn in one copy of your thesis to your Faculty Mentor for grading. At that time, have him/her sign the IS Senior Project or Honors Thesis Cover Sheet and the Honors Program title page.
    • Bring one copy of your thesis, your signed IS Cover Sheet, and your signed Honors Program title page to International Programs, 1111 UCC. You will need the Associate Dean's signature on your Honors Program title page, and we will email you when your signed Honors Program title page is ready to be picked up at International Programs. We will place the copy of your Senior Project/Honors Thesis in your file in the International Studies program office.
    • Once you've acquired the Associate Dean's signature, take the signed Honors Program title page and the third copy of your Honors Thesis (identical to the copies you turned in to your faculty mentor and to International Programs) to the Honors Program by their deadline. Do not staple or place in any binding. The Honors Program will bind all theses.

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Required Elements and Deadlines

Download a checklist of requirements.

This list outlines the minimum elements required to successfully complete the Honors Thesis. The dates provided are the final deadlines for each element. This list is intended to be a planning tool that supplements the more detailed Plan of Work that you will develop. All materials required by the International Studies Program should be submitted to the office at 1111 University Capitol Centre (UCC). You are advised to keep a copy of all Honors Thesis materials for your records.

Semster Prior to Registration for the Honors Thesis

  • If you were admitted to The University of Iowa prior to fall 2007, decide if you will complete either 187:199 International Studies Senior Project or 187:198 Honors Thesis in International Studies. If you choose to complete a Senior Project, please refer instead to the Senior Project packet on this website.
  • Choose a topic and develop a draft Preliminary Proposal, as outlined on the Registration Preapproval form.
  • Based on your topic and draft Preliminary Proposal, find a Faculty Mentor for your thesis. Prepare your Registration Preapproval Form. Get this form signed by your Faculty Mentor and submit to the International Studies program office along with your Preliminary Proposal. You must complete this step before you can register for your Honors Thesis. Students are encouraged to secure a Faculty Mentor in the semester before they plan to complete the Honors Thesis in order to complete their course registration during early registration.
  • If you were admitted to The University of Iowa fall 2008 or after, you must take 187:095 Research and Final Project Preparation before enrolling in the Honors Thesis. If you were admitted to The University of Iowa prior to fall 2008, we recommend taking 187:095 Research and Final Project Preparation this semester.
  • If your Honors Thesis will require extensive original research, consider registering for 187:105 Independent Study in International Studies to get a jump start on your research

FALL 2008 - OCTOBER 1, 2008
SPRING 2009 - FEBRUARY 25, 2009

FALL 2008 - OCTOBER 14, 2008
SPRING 2009 - MARCH 6, 2009

  • Deadline to apply for a degree (all undergraduates); see ISIS to apply to graduate.Please keep in mind that in order to graduate with honors, you must also submit a separate application to the Honors Program; please see the Honors Program website for deadlines and forms. This application requires signatures both from your Faculty Mentor and the Associate Dean of International Programs. Please turn in your application to graduate with honors to the International Studies office in advance of the deadline to secure the Associate Dean's signature, and contact Natasha Wilson Boland at natasha-boland@uiowa.edu or 335-0374 with any questions regarding this process.

FALL 2008 - DECEMBER 2, 2008
SPRING 2009 - APRIL 28, 2009

  • Email as an attachment your one-page PowerPoint or Publisher slide for the poster session to Natasha Wilson Boland at natasha-boland@uiowa.edu.

FALL 2008 - DECEMBER 12, 2008
SPRING 2009 - MAY 8, 2009

  • Submit a copy of your thesis to your faculty mentor for grading. At that time, have him/her sign the IS Honors Thesis Cover Sheet and the Honors Program title page.
  • Submit a copy of your thesis, your signed cover sheet, the supplementary materials outlined on the cover sheet, and your signed Honors Thesis title page to the International Studies program office.

FALL 2008 - DECEMBER 19, 2008
SPRING 2009 - MAY 15, 2009

  • Pick up your poster from the International Studies program office and check it for accuracy before this date.
  • Attend the International Studies graduation reception and participate in the Honors Poster Session.

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Information for Honors Poster Session

Students completing an Honors Thesis in International Studies are required to participate in a poster session at the International Studies graduation reception, which will be held Friday, December 19, 2008 for fall 2008 graduation and Friday, May 15, 2009 for spring 2009 graduation. The Honors Poster Session provides students a comfortable venue to share their research with other students, UI faculty and staff, and parents while allowing attendees to engage students in individual discussions about their work.

Mariel Bryden received the 1st place prize at the spring 2008 Honors Poster Session for her poster on Maternal Mortality in Developing Nations.

Beth Rochford received 2nd place at the spring 2008 Honors Poster Session for her poster on The Foreign Trade Lobby.

Students should take the following steps to participate in the poster session:

  • Decide how you want to approach your presentation. What are the high points of your research? What is most interesting about what you learned? What did you conclude, and how did that (or didn't that) mesh with your original research question?
  • Attend the information session sponsored by International Studies. Each semester, we schedule a required information session for students participating in the poster session. There are two opportunities to attend, so watch for email and web announcements early in the semester.
  • Create your slide. You should create a 1-page slide on either PowerPoint or Publisher; this slide will be used to create your actual poster. Please keep in mind when creating your slide that the poster will be considerably larger than the slide (approximately 36"x48"), so small font will be legible on the final product.
  • Email your slide as an attachment to Natasha Wilson Boland at natasha-boland@uiowa.edu NO LATER THAN Tuesday, December 2 for fall 2008 participation and Tuesday, April 28 for spring 2009 participation . We will arrange the professional printing of your poster at no charge to you.
  • Pick your poster up in advance and check for accuracy. We will contact you via email when your poster is ready to be picked up at the International Studies program office, 1111 UCC.
  • Bring your poster with you to the graduation reception and have fun showing off you hard work!

You may find the following online resources helpful in this process:

This is just a sampling of the many resources available online that may provide you with ideas and assistance in planning for the poster session. They are not intended to provide any specific requirements for the International Studies poster session.

You may view poster examples from a past IS Honors Poster Session here (poster by Mariel Bryden) and here (poster by Beth Rochford).

If you have any questions about the poster session or need any technical assistance in creating your slide, please contact the International Studies program office at 335-0368.

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