Every students' journey toward graduation with honors at the University of Arizona is unique, but all Franke Honors students have the opportunity to seek, connect, create, evolve and celebrate along the way!
In the School of Government & Public Policy, students can excel in their chosen field by engaging in an honors program in their SGPP major through the W.A. Franke Honors College. All four of our undergraduate degree programs offer courses and honors thesis research opportunities with the faculty in our school.
Get to know our faculty and their research interests on our website. Students should feel free to reach out them with questions about research supervision and advising.
Student's honors thesis journey begins for students their first year at the university. Students are encouraged to begin thesis discussions with their Honors Advisor and their major Academic Advisor during their sophomore and to attend the Honors Thesis Information Sessions.
Students should review the Honors College Thesis Guide early (and annually) to make sure they are meeting milestones and personal goals.
If you are interested in exploring some previous honors theses from our students, view the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences sample website.
Professor Suzanne Dovi is the Honors Faculty Liaison for School of Government & Public Policy students.
Suzanne Dovi is a distinguished philosopher and political theorist known for her work on democratic theory, representation, and the ethics of governance. Her work has appeared in American Political Science Review, Journal of Politics, Political Theory, Gender & Politics, Contemporary Political Theory, Constellations, and Polity. Her book, The Good Representative, was published by Blackwell in 2008 and was the subject of a special issue in PS: Political Science & Politics. Her current book project is entitled Toxic Representation and examines how the corrupt and unaccountable behavior of representatives undermines democratic legitimacy and contributes to structural injustice.
BA Law students interested in pursuing an Honors Thesis in the James E Rogers College of Law should reach out to the Director of the BA Law program, Keith Swisher. He will work with students to connect them to Law Faculty who are engaging in research areas of interest to students.
Interested students should reach out to their SGPP Academic Advisor as soon as possible because it is never too early to start planning, but ideally during your sophomore/second year. You will want to avoid the last minute anxiety of not being able to secure a faculty advisor as some will receive multiple requests so it is also best to reach out as soon as possible.
If you wrote a paper previously about a topic that interested you, consider reaching out to the professor and ask how you could make that paper into an Honors thesis. If you have not taken a class on the topic that you want to study, you can meet with Honors Liaison, Professor Dovi about the faculty whose research most closely aligns with your interests.
Your thesis is written over two semesters, typically during the Senior/final academic year during the fall and spring semesters. The first semester is typically understood as the research gathering and the second is the written analysis. Both semesters will require multiple (typically weekly) check-ins with your faculty advisor.
Yes, students can complete their honors thesis with a faculty member that have not had as an instructor in a course. However, some faculty prefer to only supervisor students they have previously taught. You are encouraged to write a professional, detailed, and respective email describing the topic of your thesis, why you are interested in it, and any relevant classroom or internship experience. You should also take the opportunity to tie your research topic into the research that the faculty member is engaged in. Ask to schedule an in-person meeting to determine if you like their approach.
Yes, students who transfer to the University of Arizona for their Junior year can complete an honors thesis and still graduate in 4 years. This is an abbreviated schedule so students interested in completing an honors thesis should reach out to their assigned SGPP Academic Advisor as soon as possible, ideally before classes begin your first semester.
Honors Liaison, Professor Dovi recommends that students start by listing out topics that interest you generally. Then talk with people (Professors, friends, family etc.) about those questions and try to figure out what questions interest you most about that topic. If you are torn between a couple of different questions, she recommends students write brief 1-paragraph abstracts for the possible questions. Usually, writing about the topic shows which one is most likely to keep your interest.
Yes, students can change their topic as their research advances and topics begin to develop differently than initially laid out. Some students have started the research semester with one topic in mind and through their reading find another one. Be open alternatives as your research develops. Students should settle on the topics and research questions during their first semester of their final year.
Your thesis can be publicly available online through the University of Arizona library so your final thesis should be polished and well-written. Students have to agree to have theses published.
Yes! Any honors student can apply for an exploratory mini-grant, and these mini-grants can fund projects inside or outside of your primary major. Studying biochemistry but have an amazing idea for a children's book? Get a grant to offset the cost of writing, publishing, and promoting it. Working toward a degree in education and have a great idea for an app? An exploratory mini-grant can provide the resources you need to get your idea off the ground.
Questions about these grants? Contact Tori Nardinelli, Assistant Director of Research, Creative Expression, and Professional Initiatives in the W.A. Franke Honors College.