Students must apply to participate in the honors program. Normally, students will apply to this program after the first or second semester of their sophomore year, but applications from more advanced students are accepted as well. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Students not admitted to the program in a given term may reapply in subsequent terms. However, the program requires a minimum of three semesters remaining in residence on this campus, including the fall and spring semesters of their final year of undergraduate studies.

In addition to an application form, students are required to submit an official or unofficial transcript, a résumé, and writing sample from a political science, political theory or other social science course. Admission decisions are made by a departmental committee. Students who are admitted to the program must be able to demonstrate they have the interest and academic capacity to complete a senior thesis successfully. The program is open only to political science majors.

To apply for the honors program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Completion of 9 hours of political science coursework from the University of Illinois.
• Of those 9 hours, at least 3 hours must be advanced political science (300- level or above).
• An on-campus Political Science GPA of at least 3.50.

Apply for the political science honors program online.