DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Certificates of Achievement

Political Science majors can also qualify for special certificates of achievement.  The department offers:

Mastery of a foreign language is important to the understanding of politics at home as well as abroad. To encourage students to become proficient in a foreign language, the Political Science Department offers a Certificate of Achievement in a Foreign Language that may be earned either through:

1.  Coursework in political science conducted in a foreign language (two or more courses, usually completed during study abroad) or
2.  The substantial use of foreign language materials in a major research project, such as a senior thesis or independent study (POL 399).

Faculty advisors can discuss options with students.

The certificate must be submitted at least one month prior to your graduation date and must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Application for the Certificate of Achievement in a Foreign Language

The Department recognizes that quantitative skills are increasingly important in many careers as well as in social science research. To encourage political science majors to seek out more advanced quantitative skills, the Department offers a Certificate of Achievement in Quantitative Skills.

To earn this certificate, the student must complete the following requirements:

1. Obtain a grade of B or better in Political Science 312 “Statistical Research Methods”
2. Obtain a grade of B or better in one additional advanced quantitative training course (usually offered in other departments)
3. Complete a research project that applies these methods to research in political science (e.g., research paper for 395 course; honors thesis; research paper for another 300-level Political Science course besides 312; research paper for 399 independent study).

Students should provide a copy of the research project that applies these methods to the DUS for review.

Application for the Certificate of Achievement in Quantitative Skills