Honors Program in International Security Studies
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The deadline for applying to the CISAC Honors program is Friday, February 16.
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- Program Overview
- Course requirements
- Policy-relevant internship
- Honors college
- Honors seminar
- Honors thesis
Program Overview
The CISAC Interschool Honors Program in International Security Studies provides an opportunity for seniors from all undergraduate schools and majors who have strong academic records and interest in international security to receive Honors in International Security Studies. Students are admitted to the program on a competitive basis during winter quarter of junior year. The award of Honors is in addition to the student's major, which may be in any department or program. The CISAC Honors Program has drawn students from 28 different major departments and programs since its inception in 2000 and has an alumni network of 191 students through the class of 2017. Alumni consistently cite multiple strengths of the program, including inclusion of undergraduates in CISAC's vibrant intellectual environment, highly personalized attention from faculty, the program's unique focus within the university and beyond, and the program's interdisciplinary character. The program is currently co-directed by Amy Zegart and Coit Blacker. The program has five central requirements.
Course requirements
Succcessful completion of two courses is required as part of the honors conferral process.
Policy-relevant internship
A policy-relevant internship with a security-related organization or government agency, in order to gain real-world policy experience. Internships served before or during junior year, by approval of the program director, count toward the requirement. If students have not served an internship before the summer between junior and senior years, CISAC will assist in placing them and offer a small stipend for living expenses if need is demonstrated. Please note that conducting research on campus for a Stanford faculty member on an academic subject will not qualify as an internship. Please contact Marisa MacAskill if you have questions regarding whether or not an internship opportunity will fulfill this requirement.
Honors college
Program members are expected to participate in the CISAC Honors College, a two-week program that takes place in Washington, D.C., and on the Stanford campus in September before the start of the fall quarter of senior year.
Honors seminar
Participation in a weekly honors seminars throughout the academic year is required. The seminar is led by two CISAC instructors and a teaching assistant.
Honors thesis
Students will engage in research and analysis producing an honors thesis at the end of senior year that makes a substantive contribution to the understanding of an international security issue. Each student's research is directed by an individual adviser specializing in his or her field of study. To see what previous honors students have researched while at CISAC, please visit SearchWorks here.
Honors Program Faculty 2017 - 2018
Facts & Stats
What is Honors College?
Honors College is a two-week program that takes place in Washington, D.C., and on the Stanford campus in September before the start of the fall quarter of senior year. Students will have the opportunity to discuss their thesis ideas with policymakers, members of the media, and think tank representatives, and to learn more about international security policy from a variety of sources.
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