Students complete a senior project related to coursework in their international studies track and complete the following.

Students prepare for the senior project (or Honors Thesis) by completing IS:3010 - Writing and Research for the World, in which they learn research methodologies and prepare a project proposal. During their last year of study, they enroll in IS:4990 - International Studies Senior Project (or IS:4991 - Honors Thesis in International Studies) and complete a semester-long individual research project that culminates in a substantial written or creative work. They complete the course and project under the supervision of a faculty mentor.

NOTE:  Any research which involves "human subjects" must be reviewed by the University of Iowa Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to the initiation of the project.  Proof of the determination/review process must also be submitted to the International Studies Program before the international experience proposal can be approved. Read a summary of the IRB process on the International Programs website.  For all questions contact the IRB at 319-335-6465; or complete the IRB Determination Form to find out if your research meets the definition of human subjects research.

What is the International Studies Senior Project?

The international studies senior project is a semester of independent work under the guidance of a faculty mentor which culminates in the completion of a written or creative project. Every senior project must be approved by a faculty mentor and the International Studies Program, and it must include research, discussion, and documentation of sources. Students should register for IS:4990 - International Studies Senior Project when registering for the semester in which the senior project will be completed (this is an independent research experience with meeting times arranged by student and faculty mentor). Students earn 3 s.h. of graded credit for completing the IS:4990 - International Studies Senior Project.

• The senior project must focus on an international topic and clearly relate to a student’s international studies track.
• The senior project may either be a 15-20 page research paper or a creative research project. Students planning to complete a creative project are required to make an appointment with the International Studies Program to discuss their proposal before they are allowed to register for the senior project.
• Students may combine their IS Senior Project with an honors thesis or senior project for a second major.
• If a student is building on a project completed for a previous course, it is important that the student not simply "quote themselves", but instead use that previous project as a starting point to explore a topic from another perspective, take the work in another direction with a new research question, or delve more deeply into the previous topic. Simply adding additional pages to a previous work and submitting it as your senior project constitutes academic fraud under the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences guidelines.
• Students must submit a Progress Report to the International Studies Program during Week 7 of the semester in which you are enrolled (this requires your faculty mentor's signature).

What is the Honors Thesis in International Studies?

The honors thesis in international studies is an academically rigorous research project undertaken under the direct supervision of a University of Iowa faculty mentor. Every honors thesis must be approved by a faculty mentor and the International Studies Program, and it must include research, discussion, and documentation of sources. Students should register for IS:4991 - Honors Thesis in International Studies when registering for the semester in which the thesis will be completed (this is an independent research experience with meeting times arranged by student and faculty mentor). Students earn 3 s.h. of graded credit for completing the honors thesis.

• The Honors Thesis must focus on an international topic and clearly relate to a student’s international studies track.
• The Honors Thesis may either be a 30-50 page thesis paper or a creative research project. Creative projects must be approved by the International Studies Program prior to registration.
• Students may NOT enroll in the Honors Thesis during the summer session.
• Students may combine their IS Honors Thesis with another thesis or senior project for a second major.
• Students are encouraged to register in IS:3990 - Independent Study in International Studies under the direction of their faculty mentor a semester preceding the honors thesis registration, if appropriate. A maximum of 3 s.h. of this independent study can be used as an upper-level International Studies track course.
• If a student is building on a project completed for a previous course, it is important that the student not simply "quote themselves", but instead use that previous project as a starting point to explore a topic from another perspective, take the work in another direction with a new research question, or delve more deeply into the previous topic. Simply adding additional pages to a previous work and submitting it as your honors thesis constitutes academic fraud under the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences guidelines.
• Students must submit a Progress Report to the International Studies Program during Week 7 of the semester in which you are enrolled (this requires your faculty mentor's signature).

How Do I Find a Topic and a Faculty Mentor for my Senior Project or Honors Thesis?

Students should plan to find a topic and a faculty mentor in the semester prior to registering for IS:4990 - International Studies Senior Project (or IS:4991 - Honors Thesis in International Studies). Faculty eligible to supervise the course include tenured, tenure-track, clinical, or visiting or adjunct faculty, at the rank of lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor. If you need help finding a topic or a faculty mentor, make an appointment with the International Studies Academic Advisor.

Suggestions for finding a topic include:

• Gauge your interest in global events/debates/issues by reading coverage found in the national and international media.
• Refer to notes, readings, and bibliographies from your International Studies Track coursework (as your senior project or honors thesis must clearly relate to your international studies track).
• Schedule a research consultation at the UI Main Library.
• Complete the required course, IS:3010 - Writing and Research for the World, during which you will complete a draft of your senior project or honors thesis research proposal.
• Enroll in the optional course, IS:3011 - Global Research.

Suggestions for finding a faculty mentor include:

• Consider faculty with whom you’ve taken classes - they already know how great you are!
• Read through the International Studies Tracks pages for listings of faculty who are teaching, researching and mentoring in areas related to each IS track. 
• Do keyword searches on MyUI to search course title and subtitle. Search several semesters' course listings to find which UI faculty are teaching courses which may relate to your research questions.
• Read faculty bios on their home department's website. Learn more about their current research interests to see if they are an appropriate mentor for your topic.
• Read the information for senior project faculty mentors (or honors thesis faculty mentors) so that you are prepared to answer any questions that a potential faculty mentor might have about the senior project or honors thesis process.
• Contact faculty members by email, providing a brief description of yourself, the international studies senior project or honors thesis requirement, and your specific research project. Let them know that you plan to visit them during their upcoming office hours to discuss things further in person. (If you don’t know their office hours, contact the faculty's department to find out when their office hours are before writing the email).
• Meet with your potential faculty mentor. Take a draft of your senior project or honors thesis research proposal and a copy of Information for Faculty Mentors to your meeting. Be prepared to tell the faculty member how your topic relates to their work. Ask him or her to scan your list of references and give you suggestions on other resources to consult to further define your research question. Expect that your research question will continue to evolve as you delve deeper into your topic.

What are the semester specific deadlines for my senior project or honors thesis?

Spring 2022 Honors Thesis/Senior Project Steps and Deadlines

How Do I Enroll in IS:4990 International Studies Senior Project?

• Print the Senior Project Registration Preapproval Form and have your faculty mentor sign the form.
• Submit your senior project registration preapproval form, and your senior project research proposal (completed during IS:3010 - Writing and Research for the World) to the International Studies Program.
• Receive an email from the International Studies Program that you now have permission to enroll in senior project; then enroll in IS:4990 - International Studies Senior Project on MyUI by choosing your faculty mentor from the list. If your faculty mentor is not on the list, contact the International Studies Academic Advisor.

NOTE: The deadline to submit the registration preapproval form and senior project research proposal is 4:30 pm on the final day that MyUI can be used to enroll in semester-length courses (see semester-specific deadlines above). To add IS:4990 - International Studies Senior Project after the deadline to add/drop on MyUI, submit the registration preapproval form, senior project research proposal and an Add Slip signed by your faculty mentor to the International Studies Program. The academic advisor will review these materials then email you to pick up your signed Add Slip which you must then submit to the UI Service Center.

How Do I Enroll in IS:4991 Honors Thesis in International Studies?

• Print the Honors Thesis Registration Preapproval Form and have your faculty mentor sign the form.
• Submit your honors thesis registration preapproval form, and your honors thesis research proposal (completed during IS:3010 - Writing and Research for the World) to the International Studies Program.
• Receive an email from the International Studies Program that you now have permission to enroll in senior project; then enroll in IS:4991 - Honors Thesis in International Studies on MyUI by choosing your faculty mentor from the list. If your faculty mentor is not on the list, contact the International Studies Academic Advisor.

NOTE: The deadline to submit the registration preapproval form and honors thesis research proposal is 4:30 pm on the final day that MyUI can be used to enroll in semester-length courses (see semester-specific deadlines above). To add IS:4991 - Honors Thesis in International Studies after the deadline to add/drop on MyUI, submit the registration preapproval form, honors thesis research proposal and an Add Slip signed by your faculty mentor to the International Studies Program. The academic advisor will review these materials then email you to pick up your signed Add Slip which you must then submit to the UI Service Center.

How Do I Submit My Completed IS:4990 International Studies Senior Project?

International studies students are advised to keep a copy of all senior project materials for their own records.

Faculty mentor: Turn in one copy of your senior project to your faculty mentor for grading. Be sure to communicate with your mentor about an appropriate deadline that will give him/her time to review your final draft so that he/she can then sign your senior project cover sheet. You must also discuss the submission agreement form with your mentor.

International Studies Program: Prior to 4:30 pm on the Friday before finals week, email to intlstudies@uiowa.edu a final draft of your 15-20 page senior project along with the following materials:

• an senior project cover sheet signed by your faculty mentor,
• a title page,
• a one to three paragraph abstract (400 words or less),
• a careful citation of quoted or summarized material (discuss the appropriate format with your faculty mentor), and
• a required bibliography.

Students who complete a creative project submit a copy/recording of their project, an abstract, a 5-page discussion of the aesthetic issues addressed in the project and the relation of the project to international issues (with proper citation and bibliography).

How Do I Submit My Completed IS:4991 Honors Thesis in International Studies?

International studies students are advised to keep a copy of all honors thesis materials for their own records.

Faculty mentor: Turn in one copy of your senior project to your faculty mentor for grading. Be sure to communicate with your mentor about an appropriate deadline that will give him/her time to review your final draft so that he/she can then sign your honors thesis cover sheet. You must also discuss the submission agreement form with your mentor.

International Studies Program: Prior to 4:30 pm on the Friday before finals week, email to intlstudies@uiowa.edu a final draft of your 30-50 page Honors Thesis along with the following materials:

• an honors thesis cover sheet signed by your faculty mentor,
• a title page,
• a one to three paragraph abstract (400 words or less),
• a careful citation of quoted or summarized material (discuss the appropriate format with your faculty mentor), and
• a required bibliography.

Students who complete a creative project submit a copy/recording of their project, an abstract, a 5-page discussion of the aesthetic issues addressed in the project and the relation of the project to international issues (with proper citation and bibliography).

Iowa Research Online: All students completing honors in the international studies major have the option of submitting their thesis materials to the Iowa Research Online repository. Please refer to the CLAS honors thesis or project submission page for detailed instructions. Submission requires a submission agreement form completed online by the faculty mentor (the faculty person with whom you worked on your thesis), and the International Studies Honors Advisor. Once the form is completed online, the thesis can be uploaded to the repository. The deadline to submit thesis materials to the repository is 11:59 p.m. on the Wednesday of Final Examination Week.