Political Science Honors Program

Requirement for admission for continuing NIU students:

Any student who has completed at least 60 semester hours of course work at NIU and has completed 15 semester hours of political science courses at NIU with a grade point average of 3.70 or higher (both cumulative and in the major) is eligible for admission to the political science honors program.

Requirement for acceptance for transfer students:

Transfer students must meet the following three criteria for acceptance into the honors program:
1) Students must complete at least 15 semester hours at NIU, including two 300- or 400-level political science courses. Students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.70 in those courses. 2) Students must obtain a letter of nomination from one political science tenured or tenure-track faculty member. The letter of nomination should be sent to the department’s director of undergraduate studies. The letter must be received no later than March of the student’s junior year. 3) Students must be approved for the honors program by the department’s undergraduate committee.

Senior transfer students will not be eligible for the honors program. 

The Political Science Honors Program is separate from the University Honors Program, but students admitted to both programs may, with permission, use their political science honors thesis to satisfy the University Honors Program’s requirement of a senior year independent study project. Details about the program are available in the department office (Zulauf 415).