Honors, Scholarships and Awards in Political Science

Honors in Political Science

Students can add a distinguishing mark to their undergraduate record by graduating with honors. Completing honors communicates to graduate programs and future employers that a student not only has an excellent overall academic record, but is also capable of sustaining a demanding research project to conclusion. A student's official transcript will indicate that s/he has graduated with department honors.

To graduate with honors in political science a student must:

• graduate with an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, and a PSCI GPA of 3.5 or above
• complete either the Honors Seminar (PSCI 4900), the Seminar in International and Comparative Politics (PSCI 4500), National Public Policy (PSCI 4050), or Gender and the Law (PSCI 4210)
• complete a thesis and thesis defense

The department honors program is not the same as the program offered through the Lee Honors College. It is possible to complete department honors without being affiliated with the Honors College. Many students, however, complete both programs. A single thesis will serve for both department honors and Honors College requirements.

There is no formal admission process for department honors. A student must simply meet the requirements stated above. It is recommended that a student interested in honors discuss this with a department faculty member and the honors adviser, Dr. Ashlyn Kuersten.

An honors student, after consultation with a department faculty member, defines the thesis project. A three-person committee participates in the thesis project with the student, a principal adviser and two readers. It is suggested that once the thesis topic has been determined, the three-member committee should meet with the student to make sure that everyone is clear about the project and how it to be done. The principal adviser will be a member of the political science faculty; the other committee members need not be. Once the principal adviser is satisfied that a thesis project is close enough to conclusion, the full committee will conduct a thesis defense (oral examination on the thesis). Generally, one final revision of the thesis following the defense will bring the project to conclusion.

A thesis may be done on any topic acceptable to the thesis committee. There are many, many possible topics. To see what some WMU Political Science students have chosen as their research project, go to our student research page.

Application to write Honors Thesis:

• Version to print, fill out and sign.
• Version to fill out, then print and sign. (Word document)

Turn the application in to the Political Science department. Due date: the first semester of your senior year.

Scholarship & Awards

The department announces the winners of its awards and scholarships at the honors luncheon in April or each year. With the exception of the D.C. and Zoa D. Shilling Awards and the William Ritchie Prize in Political Theory, an application is required for all awards and scholarships (no student can win one of these scholarships without having completed the application process). The application includes an essay by the applicant and the names of three faculty references. Applications are dowloadable from this page. All application forms can be filled in, then printed. Completed applications and names of faculty references for most of the awards must be submitted by the Friday, February 1, 2008. The deadline for the Klein awards is March 14, 2008.

• Arden J. Elsasser Memorial Award
  A scholarship established by the League of Women Voters of the Kalamazoo area in memory of Arden J. Elsasser, who gave faithful service to this organization and contributed significantly to the Kalamazoo community. The award is given annually and is normally about $400. Application is open to undergraduate or graduate students in political science at Western. Graduate students may be nominated by faculty or self-nominated. Print undergraduate application form. Print graduate nomination form.
  
  
• D.C. Shilling Junior and Senior Awards
  Annual awards presented to outstanding political science majors for excellence in scholarship and academic performance. The funds which support the scholarship were given by Mrs. Zoa D. Shilling in memory of her husband, D.C. Shilling, the first chair of the Political Science Department. The scholarship is divided into two awards: one for the distinguished graduating senior, and one for the outstanding junior. Declared majors will be considered without having to apply.
  
  

  Yvonne Siferd, the 2006 Presidental Scholar in Political Science (with President Judi Bailey and Senate President Paul Pancella)

  
  

• John R. Borsos Endowed Scholarship
  This award, intended for graduate students of Political Science, was established in memory of John R. Borsos by his family. An excellent student of Political Science, John R. Borsos received the M.A. degree posthumously. The award, which is made annually, will normally be about $1,000, depending on the earnings received from the Endowment. Students who will be enrolled in the Political Science graduate program in the fall semester are eligible. Application is made through nomination by faculty or by self-nomination. Print nomination form.

• Mark Denenfeld Memorial Endowed Scholarship
  An annual award for a major beginning his/her senior year. The fund which supports this award was established in the memory of Mark Denenfeld, one of our best and most dynamic undergraduate majors. The award is made to a student who has demonstrated superior academic performance at Western and compiled a record of community service. The award is normally about $500. Students must apply for this award. Print application form.

• George Klein Scholarship in Central and East European Studies
  Undergraduate students (and in certain circumstances, graduate students) may apply for the George Klein Scholarship for Study Abroad in Central and East European Studies. The late Dr Klein was a long-time member of the faculty of the Department of Political Science and devoted his career to the study of the region. Application is open to majors in Political Science; preference will be given to students planning to enroll in a WMU Study Abroad program in the Czech Republic. Deadline for spring semester: October 14. Deadline for summer and fall semesters: March 14. Print application form.

• The Peter Renstrom Prize
  Given annually to a senior intending to attend law school upon graduation. The prize was established in 2006 to honor Dr Peter Renstrom, who joined the WMU faculty in 1969. He was an expert on constitutional law and U.S. elections, and taught courses on the American judicial process, criminal justice, civil liberties and civil rights and American politics. He was honored by the College of Arts and Sciences in 2002 for his role in preparing students in the Political Science Department's public law program for professional roles in government and the law. Read about Peter Renstrom here. Print application form.

• Stanley S. and Helenan S. Robin Scholarship
  A scholarship of $500 established by WMU President Diether Haenicke at the time of their retirement from the Sociology and the Political Science Departments, respectively, to honor the major contributions the Robins had made to the University. The award is given annually to a senior majoring in political science on the basis of academic scholarship, disciplinary and professional accomplishment, assessed potential and commitment to the field of political science. Applicants must state their intention to pursue a graduate degree in political science. Print application form.


• Zoa D. Shilling and D.C. Shilling Junior and Senior Awards
  Annual awards presented to outstanding majors in political science and public administration. Declared majors will be considered without having to apply.
  
  
• Zoa D. Shilling Scholarship for Foreign Study
  An annual award available to a student who will be studying abroad. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and political science majors who have demonstrated academic excellence. The award will be up to $1000. Students must submit an application in the academic year before they plan to study abroad. Print application form.
  
  
• Howard Wolpe Scholarship
  An annual award available to a senior, U.S. citizen (and preferably a resident of Michigan) majoring in political science. Students must have demonstrated overall academic excellence at Western, especially in political science. The award is normally $1,000 and was established by Congressman Howard Wolpe who endowed a fund to support the study of politics. Print application form.
  
  
• United Nations Association/Kalamazoo Chapter Scholarship
  This award for academic excellence in the field of international and comparative politics has been established by the Kalamazoo Chapter of the United Nations Association. The scholarship is awarded to an exceptional undergraduate majoring in International and Comparative Politics. The award is made on the basis of the students' academic scholarship and disciplinary and professional accomplishment. Other factors that my be taken into consideration include participation in extracurricular activities (particularly those with an international focus), and participation a study abroad program. Preference given to students with junior status. Print application form.
  
  
• Howard Wolpe Scholarship for African Study
  An annual award given to a student engaging in the study of Africa or selected African nations. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and political science majors who have demonstrated academic excellence. The award will be up to $1000 and was established by Congressman Howard Wolpe who endowed a fund to support African study. Students must submit an application in the academic year before they plan travel to Africa. Print application form.