Honors

There are two honors designations available to students in political science and international relations: University honors and program honors.

University honors

Students in political science and international relations graduate with University Honors if they successfully complete the requirements of the Honors Program, a highly-selective and rigorous academic program in which students complete honors tutorials and a substantial honors thesis.

Students in the political science and international relations major graduating in fall 2026 or sooner, to maintain good standing in the honors program, must meet the standards of the University honors program.

Students in the political science and international relations major graduating in spring 2027 or after, to maintain good standing in the honors program, must meet the standards of the University honors program and also:

  • Successfully complete at least one honors tutorial with a faculty member in the political science and international relations program by the end of their fourth semester at Marymount (or by the time they complete 70 credits).
  • Pass at least one course in statistics, which may be satisfied by MA 129, MA 132, MA 218, or PSY 201, by the end of their fourth semester at Marymount (or by the time they complete 70 credits).
  • Complete at least one of the following extracurricular research, leadership, or civic engagement activities before graduating:
    • a summer research program (for example, Marymount’s Summer Discover Program, the Oxford summer program, an REU program through the National Science Foundation, or any other similar program at another site or university),
    • a semester-long study abroad program organized through the Marymount Global Education Office,
    • a sustained community engagement project (for example: working as an election volunteer, working in a leadership role in an advocacy organization, etc.), registered through Marymount’s office of service learning, or
    • an officer position in a Marymount student organization on campus.

Program honors

Students in political science and international relations graduate with Program Honors if they meet the criteria for either the Pi Sigma Alpha national political science honors society or the Sigma Iota Rho national international affairs honors society.

Students in the political science and international relations major may join either honors society if they meet the coursework and GPA requirements.

  • Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honors society: To be eligible students, must be current juniors or seniors at Marymount. They must be majoring in political science and international relations and have a GPA of 3.0 or better in all courses in the major.
  • Sigma Iota Rho, the national international affairs honors society. To be eligible, students must have completed at least 21 hours of coursework in international affairs with a GPA of at least 3.4 or better in those courses.