Honors

The Honors Program

Undergraduates may pursue work toward the B.A. with honors. The Honors Program in International Relations offers highly qualified students, during both semesters of their senior year, the opportunity to undertake in-depth research and to write a thesis. Students work under the guidance of two faculty advisors, ideally one of whom should be affiliated with the Watson Institute for International Studies. The Honors Program involves two courses taken during the student's senior year. Students enroll in INTL1910, the Honors Thesis Preparation Seminar, during the fall semester. During the fall students begin to conduct their own research, conceptualize their projects within the relevant scholarly literature, and plan their research design. Participants enroll in INTL1920 in the spring semester, during which time they complete the research and writing. Students submit the completed thesis for evaluation in mid-April. At the end of the spring semester, students present their research findings to the Brown faculty and community in a public forum.

The rewards of writing a thesis are broad and far-reaching. Students not only become experts on their subject, they also develop skills in critical analysis, argumentation, and formal writing that are important to academic and non-academic careers. In addition, students must demonstrate innovative thinking and show they are able to conduct independent research and meet deadlines. Finally, the thesis experience allows a student to get to know, and work closely with, a faculty member. For most honors students, the thesis in international relations is one of their most meaningful experiences at Brown. It allows them to draw together and build upon the knowledge, skills, and interests acquired during their undergraduate years.

The IR Honors Program is intellectually demanding and time-consuming; students should be willing to devote a substantial part of their senior year to the thesis. It is also expected that honors candidates will have taken a thoughtful, challenging, sequence of IR courses.

Requirements for a B.A. with Honors in IR are:

Thesis Courses: Completion of two thesis preparation courses, INTL1910 and INTL1920. These courses are in addition to the eleven courses required for the IR concentration.
Performance in IR: Two-thirds quality grades in the IR concentration. This means that seven of the eleven requirements must have a grade of A or S with a Course Performance Report indicating a grade of A. Courses with a grade of C do not count for honors concentration. Students who receive such a grade and want to continue in the honors program must complete an additional course with a grade better than a C to fulfill the IR requirement.
Performance at Brown: Majority quality grades (As or S with a Course Performance Report indicating a grade of A) in all course work done for the B.A. at Brown.
Thesis: An honors quality thesis submitted by the announced April deadline and approved by the student's two readers and the IR Faculty Executive Committee.

Honors is awarded by the College Curriculum Council based on a recommendation by the IR Faculty Executive Committee. Honors is not awarded by the College retroactively. Students who fail to complete their thesis by the IR Program deadline will not receive honors, even if they complete all requirements at a later time. If a thesis is turned in late but before the end of the term, credit and a grade for the thesis work may still be granted; however, the student will not receive honors.

What is an Honors Thesis?

What is an Honors Thesis? The IR honors thesis is not simply a long term paper. Unlike a term paper written as a course assignment, the thesis is the product of an effort equivalent to two courses taken over two semesters. The thesis also differs from a term paper in its depth and breadth. It is an original work of research and writing that is conceptualized within, and makes some contribution to, scholarly and policy debates in international relations. As such, the thesis deals with more complex ideas or problems, asks more probing questions, presents more detailed evidence, and generates more insightful conclusions than a typical term paper. Students must demonstrate mastery of a comprehensive body of academic literature, formulate a significant research problem, use research methods in an appropriate manner, analyze evidence, and produce original conclusions. For most students, the thesis is the first real attempt at scholarly research and writing. The length of the thesis varies depending on the topic, but most IR honors theses average 120 double-spaced pages using standard font (12 point) and margins.

While there is no set criteria for judging honors, all theses must have the following attributes:

a clear and sustained thesis or argument
a well-documented discussion of the project's intellectual context (i.e., theoretical, methodological, policy debates) and contribution
primary sources
be well-written, persuasive, and academically honest
conform to standard academic presentation protocol (e.g., table of contents, full and properly formatted notations, subheadings, tables, charts, bibliography)

Note: An honors thesis done in IR may not be used as a senior thesis in another department or program, nor may a senior thesis written for another concentration be submitted as an IR thesis.

How to Apply

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Honors Program in IR, students must:

be a fifth (mid-year graduate) or sixth semester IR concentrator
have, at the time of application, two-thirds quality grades (As or an S with a Course Performance Report indicating a grade of A) in their IR courses taken on the Brown campus of which there must be at least four
have completed POLS0400 prior to senior year and the research methods course no later than 7th semester
have majority quality grades in their coursework done for the B.A. at Brown
demonstrate evidence (through coursework at Brown and abroad) of sufficient preparation for undertaking the proposed thesis topic
submit a completed application signed by the student's primary thesis advisor by the announced deadline. Students are strongly encouraged to obtain the signature of the second reader by the end of the spring junior semester. Students who do not have a 2nd reader by the middle of September, senior year, will not be able to continue in the program. See Key Dates.

The Application Process

Qualified students should start thinking about their topic and thesis committee well before the application deadline--early in their junior year. Because the thesis is the student's individual research project and not one assigned by a faculty member for a course, students should spend some time formulating a research topic and research question prior to soliciting a thesis advisor. Interested students are also encouraged to discuss their ideas with the honors seminar instructor.

Applications are available in the IR Program Office or by downloading the Microsoft Word file or the PDF. Late applications are not accepted.

The honors application consists of the following four parts:

an application cover page including the student’s IR concentration courses and grades, a tentative thesis title, and the name and signature of the faculty member willing to serve as primary thesis advisor. By signing this form the thesis advisor confirms your preparation and ability to write an honors thesis. Faculty advisors must be in residence on the Brown campus for both semesters of the student's senior year (i.e., not on sabbatical).

Note for students studying abroad: Students who are abroad during the Spring semester may submit their application and a statement of commitment by the primary thesis advisor by email or fax to the IR concentration advisor by the due date.
a 6-8 page prospectus containing the following five subheadings:
1. Research Question/Thesis: A concise statement of the major question or hypothesis to be investigated in the thesis. To be accepted you must have a specific and focused research problem clearly identified.
2. Significance: A discussion of the study’s possible significance to broader theoretical, conceptual, or practical issues in international relations. This entails a brief description of the key scholarly work already done on your topic.
3. Research Design: A description of the research design and sources you plan to use in writing your thesis, including the availability of resources at Brown. An honors thesis must make use of original materials.
4. Preparedness: An explanation of your background and preparedness, through reference to course work undertaken at Brown or abroad, for writing a thesis on the proposed topic, and how the thesis topic relates to your major areas of academic interest and course work at Brown.
5. Bibliography: A preliminary annotated bibliography. including primary sources.
A graded writing sample, preferably a 15-20 page term paper from an IR-related course at Brown that best demonstrates your research, writing, and analytic skills.
A student copy of the Brown transcript that includes grades from your junior fall semester.

Application Deadline and Acceptance

The application deadline applies to students on campus as well as to students who are abroad the second semester of their junior year. Students planning on being away for their entire junior year should start investigating topics and identifying potential faculty advisors as soon as possible. Students planning on being abroad only during the spring semester should get started during the fall semester. Students often use their time abroad to conduct thesis research, especially to locate original materials that cannot be found at Brown. Therefore, students should plan ahead if they expect to study abroad. For the current application deadline, see Key Dates.

Students are notified of acceptance to the Honors Program spring semester. The IR Honors Advisory Committee considers the thesis prospectus and performance in the IR concentration along with the student’s potential for independent work of high scholarly caliber. Acceptance into the Honors Program, however, does not guarantee honors. For requirements for graduation with honors, see The Honors Program. In the fall of the senior year, accepted students must register for INTL1910: Thesis Preparation Seminar. Registration for INTL1910 requires a Banner override from the seminar instructor.

Thesis Preparation: INTL1910, INTL1920

Students receive credit for the honors thesis by registering for two thesis preparation courses: INTL1910 and INTL1920. These courses do not count toward the eleven courses required for the IR concentration. INTL1910 is a mandatory thesis preparation seminar, typically offered in the evenings during the fall semester. Its purpose is to provide structure, guidance, and support for IR honors students in the conceptualization, writing, and presentation of original research. The seminar focuses on common skills of analysis such as problem-posing, logic of argumentation, assessing the larger significance of one’s research, the use of evidence and case selection, research ethics, and formal academic writing. The seminar’s broadest goal is to help students write better theses and to prepare them for future research by practicing the conventions of scholarly research. Through the presentation of thesis work at key stages and peer review, students write their introductory and theory chapters (chapters 1 and 2) by the end of the fall semester. Time and location for INTL1910 are announced in Banner.

During INTL1920, in the spring semester, students must complete their research and writing of the thesis under the guidance of their faculty advisors. INTL1920 may also include several meetings with the thesis preparation instructor. INTL1920 concludes with an honors thesis conference in which honors candidates present their research findings to Brown faculty and students in an public forum.

Note: INTL1910 and INTL1920 must be taken for a grade and are graded separately. The grade for INTL1910 is based on seminar performance and the chapters submitted in December. The grade for INTL1920 is based on the quality of the final thesis.

Thesis Advisors

Each honors candidate works with a thesis committee of two advisors preferably from different departments at Brown. Ideally, one of the two advisors should be affiliated with the Watson Institute for International Studies. The primary thesis advisor must be a faculty member in residence at Brown for both semesters of the student's senior year and should be someone sufficiently knowledgeable about the topic of research to provide useful advice throughout the research and writing process. The choice of a primary thesis advisor is an important one, and each potential honors candidate may wish to discuss this with the IR Program director, the assistant director, or the track advisors. Students may also wish to consult the biography page of the Watson Institute web site. Students are encouraged to obtain a second reader by the end of their junior spring semester. Indeed, the senior thesis is an unusual opportunity for students to work closely with a faculty member on a one-to-one basis, so students are encouraged to be somewhat flexible in their choice of topics in order to be able to establish a match with the expertise of one of Brown’s faculty members. In the final analysis, doing research on a topic of shared interest with a faculty member should take priority over a student’s desire to work on a “favorite” topic, especially if there is no one at Brown who has the necessary expertise to advise the student on that topic. Please note that foreign language instructors are typically not suitable first readers, unless the topic focuses on language issues.

Recent IR Honors Theses

2010

Sancho Accorsi: The Weaponization of the Civilian: Network-Centric Warfare, The Human Terrain System, and Postmodernist Critique of the 'Civilian' · View the abstract

Jae Wan Ahn: From Developmental State to Welfare State? Defining the Political and Economic Transformations and Consequent Social Conflicts in South Korea · View the abstract

Chantal Elizabeth Raff Berman (2010.5): Between Structure, Policy, and Human Security: Explaining Syrian and Lebanese Policy Responses Towards Iraqi Refugees · View the abstract

Sasha David: Closing the Global Gender Gap: Explaining the Rise of Female Executives in Latin America · View the abstract

Victoria Haddad-Salah: Defining the Borders of the Nation: Refugee Policy, Regime Security, and the Formation of National Identity in Jordan · View the abstract

Chihiro Ikegami: Interstate Reconciliation: Memory and Apology in Germany and Japan · View the abstract

Nandini Jayakrishna: A Critical Convergence: Gender Development Theory and the Practice of Women's Empowerment in the Indian Informal Sector · View the abstract

Harrison Wittman Kreisberg: Of Bullets and Ballots: Reforming Radical Islamists Through Political Inclusion · View the abstract

Andrew P. Nelson: The Constitutional Imperative: Establishing Domestic Legal Frameworks as the Foundation of International Law · View the abstract

Erika Nyborg-Burch: Representing 'Deportable' Subjects: Constructions of Immigrant Identities in the Discourse on Removal in the United States · View the abstract

Amelia Plant: Rape: A Crime Against Humanity. A Case Study of International Norm Formation · View the abstract

Alexander H. T. Rothman: Japan as a Non-Nuclear State: Capability, Contradictions, and the Nuclear Taboo · View the abstract

Claire Vergerio: The Enforcement Gap: Understanding Persisting Discrimination Against French and British Muslims in Employment · View the abstract

2009

Rebecca Binder: The Impact of Regional Blocs on Domestic Conflict: Re-Framing Catalonia’s ‘Autonomy Dialogue’ · View the abstract

Hannah Brennan: Patently Dependent: Pharmaceutical Patents, Pricing, and Industrialization in Brazil and Mexico · View the abstract

Alicia Bliss Gilbert: Mixed Messages from the West: Turkey’s Contrasting Relations with N.A.T.O. and the E.U. · View the abstract

Camilla Hawthorne: Controlling the Border with Humanitarianism: Using Human Trafficking Policies and their Implementation to Regulate Migration in Italy · View the abstract

Jonathan Hillman: U.S. Intentions, Russian Perceptions: NATO Enlargement and the Deterioration of U.S.-Russian Security Relations Since the Cold War · View the abstract

Michael Jacobs: Decision-Making Strategies in a Globalized System: The Cases of Iraqi-Syrian Bilateral Relations 1982-2009 · View the abstract

Noor Najeeb: In Search of Palestinian Statehood: How Shifting Meanings of Sovereignty Contribute to the Failed Establishment of a Palestinian State · View the abstract

Claudia Schwartz: Warlords and Businessmen: Reconsidering Explanations for the Success and Failure of Violent Entrepreneurs in Liberia and Somalia · View the abstract

Eliza Sweren-Becker: Socializing Human Rights Norms: How an International Organization Improved Human Rights in Argentina · View the abstract

2008

Daniel Altman: The Threat of Nuclear Terrorism and the Modern Form of Preventive War · View the abstract

Steven Butschi: Rejecting Europe? The 2005 French Referendum on the European Constitution · View the abstract

Katherine Campo: Taming the Dragon: The Evolution of Chinese Nonproliferation Policies · View the abstract

Amy Chang: Know Thy Enemy, Know Thyself: An Argument for the Importance of Regime Type in Counterterrorism · View the abstract

Kelly Dreher: Environment as 'High Politics'? Explaining Divergence in the United States and European Union's Hazardous Waste Export Policies · View the abstract

Kyle Evans: Regional Identities in Norm Formation: The Case of the Responsibility to Protect · View the abstract

Adrienne Healey: Migrants on the Margin: Chile's Narrow Media Representation of its Female Peruvian Population · View the abstract

Ann Kidder: Mobile Mobilization: A Study of Mobile Phone Activism and City Culture · View the abstract

Johnny Lin: Do Good, Do Well, and Do Good Well: Delineating Best Practices for Business Involvements in Peacebuilding · View the abstract

Jessica Majno: In Pursuit of a Durable Peace: Peacebuilding and the Development of Civil Society in Bosnia-Herzegovina · View the abstract

Patrick Molitoris: Approaching South Atlantic Resolution? The Principle of Self-Determination in the Falkland Islands · View the abstract

Nevena Radoynovska: Faces of Invisibility: Discursive Opportunity Structures, Protest, and Media Frames in Paris and Buenos Aires · View the abstract

Alyson Richards: 'No Cambio.' The European Union's Weak Influence on the Foreign Policies of its Member States · View the abstract

Kayleigh Scalzo: Made in the USA, Past and Present: Perceptions of Assimilation and Assimilability of Immigrants in the United States · View the abstract

Phoebe Sloane: Balancing the Global and the Local: Sesame Street and Foreign Aid in Egypt · View the abstract

Jane Smith: Choosing to Fail? A Comparative Study of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan · View the abstract

Jonah Stuart Brundage: A Culture of Modernity: The Everyday Practices of Diplomats and the Early Modern European States-System · View the abstract

Shyam Sundaram: The Weak as the Strong: Coalitions of Developing Countries in Multilateral Trade Negotiations · View the abstract

Dorothy Tegeler: Dismantling the Migrant-Refugee Dichotomy: The Case of Colombian Migration to Ecuador · View the abstract

Mark Tumiski: Wielding the 'Front Line Experience' as Securitizing Authority: The Japanese Self Defense Forces in Iraq 2004-2006 · View the abstract

2007

Mirza Refai Arefin: The Economics and Politics of Japanese Monetary Leadership in East Asia · View the abstract

Kate E. Brandt: Political Memory, Economic Interdependence, and Rivalry: Sino-Japanese Relations — Past, Present, and Future · View the abstract

Dan Fombonne: A New Form of Statecraft? EU Influence on Social Policy in Estonia, Poland, and the Czech Republic · View the abstract

Bethany Gerstein: Reconsidering Theories of Democratization and Ethnic Conflict: The Case of Rwanda · View the abstract

Shepherd Laughlin: Global China, Local Chinas: Modernization and Ethnic Identity in the People’s Republic · View the abstract

Owen McDougall: River Rivals: The Impact of Development Organizations on Ethnic Conflict over Water in the Senegal River and Aral Sea Basins · View the abstract

Zaineb Mohammed: Rendering Refugee Status:Factors Influencing Citizenship Policies in Jordan and Lebanon · View the abstract

Joanne Ji-eun Park: The Viability of Defensive States in the Post-Cold War: The US-Japan Alliance and Japan’s Approach to Military Normalization · View the abstract

Mia Psorn: Closing the Gender Gap? International Humanitarian Law and Sexual Violence in Bosnia-Herzegovina · View the abstract

Lydia Sizer: Implications of Blogging for Highly Divided, Developing Countries: More Clashes or Increased Understanding on an Individual Level? · View the abstract

Ben Veater-Fuchs: Cops and Cartels: The Relationship between Policing and Drug-Related Violence in Mexico · View the abstract

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