Alan R. Bennett Honors Program

The Alan R. Bennett Honors Program provides an intellectually stimulating and challenging experience for highly-motivated students majoring in political science (POLS).

The honors program is designed to enhance students’ understanding of political processes and choices through advanced course work, in-depth research and analytical opportunities, and professional development activities. It also offers structured thesis support, learning enrichment programming, and the opportunity to work closely with individual faculty members to develop the knowledge and skills required of advanced independent social science research.

Some of the enrichment and professional development opportunities include:

  • Research assistantships with faculty members.
  • Professional conference field trips.
  • Luncheon opportunities with speakers.
  • Support for poster session presentations.

For more information, please contact the honors program director, Matthew Singer, Alan R. Bennett Honors Professor of Political Science. For regular updates from the program, check the UConn POLS Honors Page on Facebook.

 

Contact the Honors Program Director

Admissions

The Alan R. Bennett Honors Program welcomes applications from qualified students currently enrolled in their first, second, or third year at UConn who would like to meet the academic challenges and intellectual rigor offered by our program. To apply, please review the following section.

How to Apply

Current Political Science Majors

First, visit the University Honors Program admissions page to review admissions requirements and deadlines.

Second, determine your class status, and ensure you have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.4, which is required to apply for the program.

  • Rising sophomores must have three years remaining in their program of study, and at least 24 credits/two semesters completed.
  • Rising juniors must have two years remaining in their program of study, and at least 54 credits/four semesters completed.
  • Current juniors must have more than one year remaining in their program of study, and at least 54 credits/four semesters completed.
    • In order to finish all necessary classes before graduation, current juniors should register for and complete POLS honors courses in the semester they are applying for the honors program.
    • You should also make an appointment with the political science honors program director before starting the application to ensure that you can meet all the requirements.

Third, apply to the program using the following guidelines:

Non-Majors Already in Honors

If you have been admitted to the UConn Honors Program but have not declared political science as your major, please do so by filling out the Online Program Change form. Make sure to answer “yes” to the question, “Are you currently in the honors program?” You will then be assigned a political science honors advisor.

If you have any questions about the application process or qualifications, please email the political science honors program director.

Requirements

Political Science Specific Honors Program Requirements

The Department of Political Science follows all UConn Honors Program requirements for completing the Honors Scholar component of the University Honors Laureate, and for graduating as an Honors Scholar in the major. However, political science students have specific ways in which they need to fulfill these requirements:

Honors Program Requirements

  • 12 honors credits in the major or a related field at the 2000 level or above.
  • 3 credits toward a supervised honors thesis/project.
  • Earn a B- or above in these credits.
  • 3 honors credits in the major or a related field at any level.
  • Engagement in the major.
  • Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or above.
  • Submit a thesis/project.

POLS Honors Program Requirements

  • 15 honors credits in POLS courses.
  • credits toward a supervised honors thesis/project.
  • Earn a B- or above in these credits.
  • Engagement in the major.
  • Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or above.
  • Submit a thesis/project.

Because our thesis process is six credits long and we want to ensure that your honors education has substantial political science emphasis, all 15 honors credits required by the Honors Program to qualify for Honors Scholar must be in political science unless extraordinary circumstances exist. Exceptions must be approved by the department’s honors program director.

Students entering UConn in fall 2018 or later are also required to complete the Engagement in the Major requirement. Most students do this by participating in the Research Excellence in Political Science (REPS) poster session in the spring of their senior year after completing their thesis. For more information, please consult with your honors advisor.

Thesis/Project Requirement

You can satisfy the thesis/project requirement in one of two equally rigorous and intellectually stimulating ways:

  1. Engage in original research under the close supervision of a faculty thesis advisor and the political science honors program director. You are able to complete thesis requirements by first taking POLS 4984 (a non-Honors class) in the spring of your second or third year and then taking POLS 4997W and POLS 4994 in the fall of your fourth year and POLS 4997W in the spring of your fourth year.
  2. Explore subject areas of your choice through graduate-level coursework with a variety of faculty members. You take two POLS graduate-level courses, one in the fall and the other in the spring of your fourth year. You can then write and submit a research paper for each, instead of a traditional thesis.

Both options require the political science honors program director’s approval and the signature of either a thesis advisor or the faculty instructors of the intended graduate-level coursework.

POLS 4997W, POLS 4994, and graduate-level courses can be counted toward the major in Section B2 — the non-distribution part of the major requirements.

Learn more about both of these options below, along with answers to other frequently asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a political science thesis?

A thesis involves the research and writing of a lengthy paper in which you develop an original argument within the context of the scholarly literature about your topic. During your fourth year you will learn how to correctly conduct social scientific research, collect data, develop a literature review and research design, and write drafts of your thesis. There is no set page limit for a thesis; it can range from 40 to 100 pages depending on the topic, argument, research design, and preferences of your thesis advisor.

To pursue the thesis option, you will need to find a primary thesis advisor and determine a general topic no later than the second semester of your third year. The political science honors program director serves as your second thesis advisor and instructor for the thesis courses. You will write a first draft of the thesis by December, a final draft by the end of March, and in April you will orally defend your thesis.

You will be expected to:

  1. Attend the Thesis Workshop Dinner - spring of your third year.
  2. Develop a working annotated bibliography for your thesis - summer of your third year.
  3. Attend the annual Academic Conference Field Trip - fall of your fourth year.
  4. Participate in Frontiers in Undergraduate Research - spring of your fourth year.
  5. Participate in Research Excellence in Political Science (REPS) Poster Session – spring of your fourth year.

For more information about the sequencing of courses, events, and requirements, review the Potential Semester Sequence section.

What does graduate coursework involve?

Graduate courses have a smaller class size than undergraduate courses and the discourse in a graduate course will be at an advanced analytical level. The expectations for writing quality and presentation are also advanced and undergraduates are expected to perform at the level designated by the instructor. At the end of your fourth year you will hand in a final paper from each of your courses which will, collectively, constitute your thesis/project. In order to ensure that the papers are of a high quality, they will be reviewed by the instructor and the political science honors program director.

For more information about the sequencing of courses, events, and requirements, review the Potential Semester Sequence section.

What are the pros and cons of writing a thesis vs. the graduate coursework option?

Both options are academically rigorous and demanding, and provide a challenging and rewarding experience along with six POLS honors credits. Enrollment in courses for both options is by permission only. The choice between them depends on your situation and what you would like to get out of your POLS honors experience.

For the graduate course option, you will need to obtain permission numbers directly from the instructors of record. While most faculty are happy to have honors undergraduates in their graduate courses, they are under no obligation to provide permission numbers. The advanced or specialized nature of a particular graduate seminar may make it inappropriate to use for the honors thesis/project requirement. Questions you have on specific graduate courses should be directed to the instructor of record.

Thesis Option

Pros

  • Both options give you six POLS honors credits, but the thesis option fulfills your writing in the major requirement and provides an additional three POLS (but not honors) credits.
  • Both options are good preparation for graduate or law school, but in different ways. A thesis prepares you for the rigors and expectations of independent research. Doing well in either track will look good on graduate or law school applications.
  • The thesis provides an opportunity for one-on-one interaction with faculty members and allows you to devote your full attention to a topic, becoming an expert on it. Thesis advisors do not have to be political science faculty and can be drawn from any discipline.
  • The thesis process includes more structured guidance, with coursework and specific deadlines set throughout the year.
  • The fall thesis courses (POLS 4994 and 4997WH) are scheduled during a regular undergraduate course period. The spring thesis course (POLS 4997WH) is a supervised independent study and does not meet in person.

Cons

  • POLS 4994 must be taken at the beginning of the thesis process and is only offered in the fall. Therefore, if you wish to graduate in less than four years, you would need to begin the thesis class sequence in your third year.
Graduate Courses Option

Pros:

  • Gives you six POLS honors credits.
  • If you plan to graduate in less than four years, you don’t need to be as concerned with course sequencing as you would if you were doing the thesis option.
  • Both options are good preparation for graduate or law school, but in different ways. Graduate coursework prepares you for the rigors and expectations of coursework at an advanced, professional level.
  • Graduate coursework provides the potential to learn from two different political science faculty members with expertise in two different topics, thus allowing for variation of interest. Graduate courses taken to fulfill the thesis/project requirement must be POLS courses.

Cons:

  • Neither of the graduate courses will fulfill your writing in the major requirement, and the graduate course process doesn’t provide an additional three POLS credits.
  • Graduate course work does not conform to undergraduate course schedules. Courses meet in the afternoon, in two to three-hour blocks beginning at 1:30 p.m.
  • There is less one-on-one interaction with faculty members. Guidance in writing and research will vary according to the instructor and is typically less structured than the thesis process. Because of this, there may be more revisions requested at the end of the graduate course process and you run the risk of the papers not being of sufficient quality to pass as an honors thesis/project. Students are encouraged to meet with their instructors consistently for feedback on their work.
  • Graduate courses that count toward the honors requirement may not be used toward a graduate degree.
  • Doing poorly in either track, but particularly in graduate course work, will not look good on graduate or law school applications.

If I choose the thesis option, how do I find a thesis advisor and/or choose a topic?

Thesis Advisor

If you already have a close working relationship with a faculty member, whether in political science or another discipline, ask them to serve as your thesis advisor. You could also ask a faculty member whom you had for an interesting class. Most political science faculty have specific areas they research and can provide good thesis advice on a wide range of subjects.

If you don’t have a particular professor in mind but do have a topic you’re interested in, review the department’s faculty directory or contact the political science honors program director to obtain a political science faculty research bio sheet. Doing these things will give you some good ideas about the kinds of research political science faculty work on and who might align with your topic or interests. If there are a few people who seem appropriate, feel free to “interview” them to determine if they are a fit with your project and personality. Many faculty enjoy working with honors students even if they don’t know you, so don’t be afraid to approach them. (Be aware that some may be too busy to advise.)

Students should start approaching faculty members early to discuss acting as a thesis advisor because faculty may be approached by multiple students. Supervising a thesis is an intensive process and most faculty find it difficult to work with more than one student at a time. If you would like more guidance on how to find a thesis advisor, don’t hesitate to contact one of the political science honors advisors.

Thesis Topic

If you’re not sure what kind of topic to write about, discuss this and any ideas you might have with possible thesis advisors and/or one of the political science honors advisors. Many topics are appropriate for a political science thesis. The key to a successful thesis is to narrow the topic’s focus and develop an argument in the context of the scholarly peer-reviewed literature.

While your thesis advisor will guide you in this process, you should start looking at the academic literature on topics you’re considering as soon as possible. This will give you a feel for what kinds of arguments and research you can build from. Google Scholar is one of the best search engines to use for this kind of initial exploration. The Thesis Workshop Dinner, held during the second semester of your third year, will also give you guidance on how to begin narrowing a topic and developing an argument.

If I choose the graduate course option, how do I know what courses will be offered or which faculty are teaching them?

There are fewer graduate than undergraduate courses offered each semester, and what is offered varies widely. Usually, at least one course in every subfield is offered each semester, though the specific focus of a graduate course is typically based on the research interests of the faculty instructor. While the political science department prepares its course schedule a year in advance, unexpected changes do happen. For this reason, if you wish to pursue the graduate course option, you’ll need to be flexible about the kinds of topics you’d like to explore.

A tentative schedule of graduate courses and instructors for the coming academic year is sent to third-year honors students each spring along with the thesis/project requirement application. However, changes to the course listing or your own schedule may necessitate looking up the schedule of graduate classes for the coming semester. There are two ways to do so:

  • Use the Dynamic Class Search in StudentAdmin and refine your search according to POLS graduate-level courses in the coming semester. Remember that graduate-level independent studies cannot be used to fulfill the thesis/project requirement.
  • Alternatively, the schedule of POLS graduate courses for the coming semester is available on the Graduate Courses page. If there is a discrepancy between this list and StudentAdmin, you can assume the latter is more up-to-date.

Once you have the schedule of classes and know which graduate courses you’re interested in, email the instructor of record and ask for a permission number to take their course. Be sure to identify yourself as a political science honors student who wishes to use the course to fulfill the POLS thesis/project requirement. Remember that while most faculty are happy to have honors undergraduates in their graduate courses, they are under no obligation to provide permission numbers. Some graduate courses are inappropriate for use as a thesis/project requirement (such as independent studies or advanced methods).

Planning and Potential Semester Sequence

Completing the Honors Scholar component of the University Honors Laureate or the Honors Scholar in the Major takes a significant amount of planning for your last two years. A number of decisions and forms are required during your third year, including the Honors Preliminary Plan of Study and applications for the political science honors thesis/project.

This planning includes:

  • Earning at least six honors credits per academic year to avoid dismissal from the program. Enroll in courses taught by full-time faculty whenever possible.
  • Ensuring you will be able to enroll in the necessary POLS classes.
  • Being aware of all the political science-specific honors requirements.
  • Knowing the requirements for the thesis/project. Think about substantive political issues that interest you and meet with potential thesis advisors to discuss.
  • Thinking ahead. Do you plan to:
    • Study abroad?
    • Complete an internship?
    • Graduate early?
    • Do an accelerated graduate program?
    • Graduate in December?

If so, you need to plan ahead for how you’ll satisfy the requirements. The thesis option requires a specific course sequence that begins in the fall semester of the fourth year, continues in the spring semester, and cannot be taken out of order. Students should discuss this with their political science honors advisor as early as possible and meet with them on a regular basis.

Potential Semester Sequence

All POLS Honors Students (first and second year)

First Year

Fall

  • 1000 level POLS course, 3 credits
  • 1000 level POLS course, 3 credits

Spring

  • 1000 level POLS course, 3 credits
  • 2000+ level POLS subdivision course, 3 credits
Second Year

Fall

  • 2000+ level POLS subdivision course, 3 credits

Spring

  • 2000+ POLS subdivision course, 3 credits
  • POLS 4984, 1 credit (if you plan to do the thesis option and you would like to take this now)

Thesis Option (third and fourth year)

Third Year

Fall

  • 2000+ POLS subdivision course, 3 honors credits
  • Complete preliminary plan of study
  • Start thinking about possible thesis topics and talking to potential advisors

Spring

  • POLS 4984, 1 credit (if you haven’t taken it already)
  • 2000+ POLS course, 3 honors credits
  • Finalize thesis advisor and determine topic
  • Complete applications for POLS thesis/project
  • Attend Thesis Workshop Dinner
Summer before Fourth Year
  • Develop an annotated bibliography
Fourth Year

Fall

  • POLS 4997W, 3 honors credits
  • POLS 4994, 3 credits
  • Complete 1st draft of thesis
  • Attend Academic Conference Field Trip

Spring

  • POLS 4997W, 3 honors credits
  • Submit final draft of thesis by March; orally defend in April
  • Submit final draft of thesis to UConn Honors Program
  • Attend Frontiers in Undergraduate Research
  • Present at Research Excellence in Political Science (REPS)

Graduate Course Option (third and fourth year)

Third Year

Fall

  • 2000+ POLS subdivision course, 3 honors credits
  • Complete preliminary plan of study

Spring

  • 2000+ POLS course, 3 honors credits
  • 2000+ POLS course, 3 credits
  • Complete applications for POLS thesis/project
Fourth Year

Fall

  • POLS 5000+ course, 3 honors credits

Spring

  • POLS 5000+ course, 3 honors credits
  • Submit final drafts of graduate papers to the POLS Honors Program director and your instructors at least one week before the semester is over. They must certify that the papers are of sufficient quality to count as a thesis.
  • Submit approved graduate papers to the UConn Honors Program

Tips

Major Tips
  • POLS 4997W, POLS 4994, and graduate-level courses can be counted toward the major in section B2 – the non-distribution part of the major requirements.
  • POLS 4997W can be used to satisfy the writing in the major requirement.
Honors Tips
  • For students pursuing the thesis option, six Honors credits will come from POLS 4997W. You don’t receive Honors credit for POLS 4984 or 4994. The remaining nine upper-level Honors credits required in the major must be satisfied with other courses. Students may do that by enrolling in Honors sections, taking graduate courses, completing Honors conversions, or any combination of these three. See the Earning Honors Credits (Classes & Conversions) section below for more information.
  • POLS 4984 is a one-credit S/U graded seminar for which students attend and write about weekly research presentations by faculty members and learn about the research process. This course is taught only in the spring semester so students should plan ahead. Students do not receive Honors credit for POLS 4984.
  • For students pursuing the graduate courses option, six Honors credits will come from the two required graduate courses. The remaining nine upper-level Honors credits required in the major must be satisfied with other courses. Students may do that by enrolling in Honors sections, taking graduate courses, completing Honors conversions, or any combination of these three. See the Earning Honors Credits (Classes & Conversions) section below for more information.

Earning Honors Credits (Classes & Conversions)

Students can earn honors credits in political science in three ways. A grade of at least a B- must be earned in a class in order for it to count as honors credit.

Option One: Enrolling in Sections Designated as Honors Sections

The Department of Political Science tries to offer honors sections of courses at the 1000 level each year, and honors-designated courses at the 2000 or higher level each semester. A listing of honors-designated sections and courses is provided by the UConn Honors Program during course registration. Students enrolled in a designated honors section or a graduate-level course do not need to complete a conversion form, as these automatically count as honors credit.

Option Two: Completing a Graduate Seminar

Registration in a graduate course requires permission from the course instructor. Graduate courses that count toward honors requirements may not be used toward a graduate degree.

Option Three: Converting a Non-Honors Class to an Honors Class

Students should contact individual professors at the start of the semester to discuss whether they’re open to allowing a conversion of a class for honors credit, and their expectations for a conversion. Faculty are usually open to helping a student or group of students convert a class, although they are not obligated to agree to a conversion. We encourage students to try first to enroll in one of the department’s designated honors sections. If a student decides to pursue a conversion, students should seek to convert classes with members of the full-time faculty whenever possible. Once a student has arranged an honors conversion with an instructor, the student needs to complete an online honors conversion form. Review the UConn Honors Program website for instructions and forms.

Converting a Study Abroad Course

To ensure that you meet the honors program’s requirement of completing six honors credits every year, the best option for students who will be studying abroad is to plan ahead and take six honors credits in the semester that they are on campus.

However, using the conversion option, it’s possible to obtain POLS honors credit for a relevant study abroad course not already designated for honors credit. It requires advanced preparation on the part of the student and approval from the political science honors program director.

Students who wish to pursue this option must:

  1. Decide which study abroad course(s) is appropriate for conversion.
  2. Discuss a conversion project with the course instructor and political science honors program director prior to the start of the class.
  3. Once the course instructor and POLS honors program director agree to the conversion, the student must complete the online honors conversion form. The POLS honors program director is considered the instructor of record and would consult with the course instructor on site to confirm its successful completion.

An alternative method for obtaining POLS honors credit while studying abroad is to work under the supervision of one of the political science honors advisors from a distance. This option is typically only available when the research projects of an honors advisor and a student coincide. POLS honors advisors are not obligated to provide such supervision or approval.

Students might consider the Honors Congressional Internship Program in Washington, D.C. as a study away experience. Review the honors program website for information, application materials, and timelines. Questions should be directed to the UConn Honors Program.

Events and Programming

The Alan R. Bennett Honors Program offers a number of enrichment and professional development opportunities to enhance the intellectual experience of its students. Many of these events and opportunities are made possible through the generosity of UConn alumnus Alan R. Bennett.

Programs

Bennett Research Assistant (RA) Program

This program allows faculty members to hire a political science honors student to assist them with a research project. There are a limited number of awards each year and preference is given to proposals intended as the basis for an IDEASURF, or SHARE application. The political science honors program director solicits applications for the Bennett RA Program from honors students and faculty members every August.

Funding for Printing Frontiers and REPS Posters

All political science honors thesis students are required to present their research at the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research, and Research Excellence in Political Science (REPS) poster sessions in April. The cost of professionally printing the posters via UConn’s Document Production Center is covered with Bennett funds.

Travel Funding for Conference Presentations

Travel funds for conference presentation or research by political science honors students are available through the Bennett funds on a case-by-case basis, as funding allows. These funds are intended to supplement travel and research funding from other sources.

Bennett Honors Thesis Writing Prize

This end-of-academic-year award is given annually to the political science honors student who writes the best thesis.

Events

Academic Conference Field Trip

Every November, the Alan R. Bennett Honors Program sponsors a fully-funded, day-long field trip for students to attend the Northeast Political Science Association Annual Conference, the International Studies Association-Northeast Annual Conference, or another conference. Attendance acquaints students with the professional expectations of political science research. Thesis students are required to attend this event.

Research Excellence in Political Science (REPS) Poster Session and Reception

Every spring the POLS honors program hosts a poster session and reception to celebrate the research projects undertaken by its students that year. Thesis students are required to present at REPS. Research undertaken by other political science honors students and undergraduates is also included. REPS is typically held the week following the spring semester’s Frontiers in Undergraduate Research.

Luncheons with Visiting Speakers

Luncheons with visiting speakers related to political science are sponsored throughout the academic year and allow students to have one-on-one conversations with visiting professors, professionals, and alumni. Luncheons are organized on a case-by-case basis. Space is typically limited to 10 or fewer students and offered to POLS honors students on a first come, first served basis. Invitation-only receptions with visiting experts are also organized.

Thesis Workshop Dinner

The political science honors program director hosts a working dinner annually in late spring for all students who intend to write an honors thesis in order to review thesis expectations, scholarly literature, and methodology.

Frontiers in Undergraduate Research

Frontiers in Undergraduate Research poster exhibitions provide opportunities for UConn’s talented undergraduate researchers to share their work with the university community. Any undergraduate student may present their research or creative work at a Frontiers poster exhibition. Frontiers events are occasions to celebrate the efforts of student researchers and their dedicated mentors.