Departmental Distinction
Political Science Departmental Distinction Certificate Program
Purpose: The goal of the Departmental Distinction Certificate Program is to challenge and recognize excellent Political Science students both for their academic and academic-related work.
Eligibility: Students majoring in Political Science in their fifth semester (junior year) with a 3.2 overall GPA are eligible. The Department will contact all eligible students. Eligible students should complete an application.
Requirements: Students must fulfill grade point average, extra-curricular, and curricular requirements.
- They must upon graduation have a 3.2 overall GPA.
- They must be a member of Pi Sigma Alpha.
- Complete one of the following:
- Internship experience (POL 389)
- Study Abroad or Study USA experience in Political Science
- Mock Trial
- Complete a POL course with a “Model Legislatures” simulation.
- Another activity approved by the Chair.
(The activity must be extra-curricular and related to political science.)
- They must complete a senior seminar in last four semesters. The senior seminar courses are:
- POL 401 – Senior Seminar in American Politics
- POL 421 – Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics
- POL 431 – Senior Seminar in International Politics
- POL 490/491 – Directed Readings in Political Science (Honors Thesis)
Certification: Students will need to complete the Departmental Distinction Application and submit it to Dr. Skipworth to confirm completion of program requirements. Students receiving departmental distinction will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the semester for which the student is graduating.