Honors Thesis Requirements
General Procedures
An International Politics and Economics (IPE) Honors Thesis is undertaken over the course of one academic year, normally in the Fall, Winter, and Spring terms of the senior year (or Spring, Fall, Winter for February graduates).
We strongly recommend that (1) students begin thinking about their thesis project and speaking with potential advisers in their junior year, (2) students who plan to write a thesis also enroll in PSCI 0368 and/or ECON 0211 before their senior year. To launch a thesis project, students must submit to their advisers a thesis prospectus for formal approval. For deadlines and a timetable, see "Deadlines" below. IPE thesis candidates should begin their project by enrolling in an independent study project (IPEC 0500) in the first of the three terms. During Winter and Spring term of senior year (or Fall and Winter for February graduates) thesis students register for IPEC 0700 to continue their thesis project.
Requirements
In order to qualify for writing a thesis, students must have a cumulative 3.3 average or better in their regular Fall and Spring term courses in political science and economics taken at Middlebury. No exception will be made to this requirement.
Background
Students are solely responsible for coming up with thesis topics. Those contemplating writing a thesis are strongly encouraged to search for topics during their junior year. They should either take seminars or conduct independent study projects in order to come up with research ideas. Students should also use their seminars and projects to cultivate potential advisers well in advance of the actual thesis writing process.
If students are spending their junior year abroad, they should contact potential advisers via email. In this way students are encouraged to keep their advisers appraised of their research interests well before they arrive back on campus in their senior year.
Advisory Process
Students need to have two advisers, one in the political science department and the other in the economics department. Students should designate one as a primary adviser and the other as a secondary adviser. Each potential thesis-writer must formally notify the IPE director of his or her choices at the end of the first weeks of classes as stated in the "Deadlines" timetable below. It is up to the students to seek out and schedule appointments with their advisers during the thesis writing process. Students are required to schedule a joint meeting with both advisers between submitting the first draft and the final prospectus and bibliography. Students should contact both faculty members early to find a time convenient to everyone.
In addition to these two advisers, students may seek another adviser from outside of these departments if this is necessary for their research. In order to make this addition, formal approval is required by the two main advisers.
Research Design
All IPE theses need to be absolutely clear on the following three points. First, students should clarify their question or puzzle, and show how and in what ways it fits into a specific theoretical literature in economics and/or political science. They should also clarify why anyone should care about their puzzle or question. Second, students should identify the most prominent explanations to answer their question or solve their puzzle. They can either use the theoretical literature to derive explanations or offer a new logically consistent explanation on their own. Instead of simply listing explanations or hypotheses, students should focus, above all, on making an argument. Third, students need to collect evidence that allows them to support their argument and refute competing explanations.
As a guide, students should consult Stephen Van Evera, Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science (Cornell University Press, 1997), and Thomas l. Wyrick, The Economist's Handbook: A Research and Writing Guide (West Publishing Company, 1994).
Thesis Prospectus
Generally, a thesis prospectus should: (a) define the research question(s) to be answered in the thesis; (b) explain the intellectual importance of the thesis: and (c) outline how the project will be completed, i.e., sources and methodology which make it clear how evidence will be gathered and assessed. The prospectus should be approximately 2000-2500 words long.
Both the First Draft Prospectus and Bibliography and the Final Prospectus and Bibliography should be turned in simultaneously to your two advisers. A third copy must be submitted to the IPE director.
Style/Format
All IPE theses should have the following parts in order: (1) A title page, identifying the title of the thesis and the name of the author, date, "Senior Thesis in International Politics and Economics, Middlebury College"; (2) acknowledgements; (3) a table of contents, identifying parts, chapters, etc., in the thesis; (4) an abstract of no more than 300 words, which identifies the main question and argument, summarizes the key evidence, and puts forth the conclusion; (5) body of the text, with each chapter beginning on a new page; and (6) a bibliography or reference list.
The thesis should be printed double-spaced, with adequate margins. Most theses range in length from 100-120 pages, with an average of 250-300 words per page. Footnotes should be at the bottom of the page, not at the end of chapters or the thesis.
Students should make absolutely certain to cite all sources, whether primary or secondary.
Upon completion, please provide a bound copy of your thesis to your advisers. A third copy must also be submitted in PDF format to the IPE coordinator to be forwarded to Davis Family Library for cataloging.
Honors/Regulation
In order to receive Honors, students must meet ALL of the deadlines as set out below. Failure to meet the deadlines for the thesis prospectus, the first chapter, the penultimate draft, or the final draft of the thesis will result in the denial of Honors.
The thesis grade is based on a written thesis and an oral defense. The grade will be based on the quality of the written thesis as well as the oral defense.
The determination of Honors, High Honors, and Highest Honors is based on (1) the level of the grade achieved on the thesis and (2) the level of the average grade received in Middlebury College courses. Note that courses taken abroad do not count toward the grade point determination. Honor candidates must have an IPE course average of 3.3 and a thesis grade of B+ to achieve Honors; an IPE course average of at least 3.5 and a thesis grade of A- or higher to attain High Honors; and an IPE course average of at least 3.7 and a thesis grade of A to attain Highest Honors.
Any appeal of a thesis grade, or the award of honors, shall be made to the IPE director.
Deadlines
The following schedules apply for all IP&E thesis writers:
May 2013 Graduation Thesis Deadlines
Declaration of Thesis Advisers: End of the first week of fall term classes
Friday, September 14, 2012
First Draft of Prospectus and Bibliography: End of fifth week of classes
Friday, October 12, 2012
Joint meeting with both advisers: Scheduled by students between submitting First Draft and Final Prospectus and Bibliography
Final Prospectus and Bibliography: End of ninth week of classes
Friday, November 9, 2012
First Chapter Draft: End of last full week of fall term classes
Friday, December 7, 2012
Penultimate Draft: End of eighth week of spring term classes
Friday, April 12, 2013
Final Version: Beginning of last full week of classes
Monday, May 6, 2013
Oral Defense: No later than the Friday of the week following submission of Final Version
by Friday, May 17, 2013
February 2013 Graduation Thesis Deadlines (class of 2012.5)
Declaration of Thesis Advisers: End of first week of spring term classes
Friday, February 17, 2012
First Draft of Prospectus and Bibliography: End of fifth week of classes
Friday, March 16, 2012
Joint meeting with both advisers: Scheduled by students between submitting First Draft and Final Prospectus and Bibliography
Final Prospectus and Bibliography: End of ninth week of classes
Friday, April 20, 2012
First Chapter Draft: End of last full week of classes
Friday, May 11, 2012
Penultimate Draft: End of last week of fall term classes
Friday, December 7, 2012
Final Version: End of second week of winter term classes
Friday January 18, 2013
Oral Defense: No later than the Wednesday of the last week of winter term classes.
By January 30, 2013
NOTE: See below for Class of 2013.5 graduates.
May 2014 Graduation Thesis Deadlines
Declaration of Thesis Advisers: End of the first week of fall term classes
Friday, September 13, 2013
First Draft of Prospectus and Bibliography: End of fifth week of classes
Friday, October 11, 2013
Joint meeting with both advisers: Scheduled by students between submitting First Draft and Final Prospectus and Bibliography
Final Prospectus and Bibliography: End of ninth week of classes
Friday, November 8, 2013
First Chapter Draft: End of last full week of fall term classes
Friday, December 6, 2013
Penultimate Draft: End of eighth week of spring term classes
Friday, April 11, 2014
Final Version: Beginning of last full week of classes
Monday, May 5, 2014
Oral Defense: No later than the Friday of the week following submission of Final Version
by Friday, May 16, 2014
February 2014 Graduation Thesis Deadlines (class of 2013.5)
Declaration of Thesis Advisers: End of first week of spring term classes
Friday, February 15, 2013
First Draft of Prospectus and Bibliography: End of fifth week of classes
Friday, March 15, 2013
Joint meeting with both advisers: Scheduled by students between submitting First Draft and Final Prospectus and Bibliography
Final Prospectus and Bibliography: End of ninth week of classes
Friday, April 19, 2013
First Chapter Draft: End of last full week of classes
Friday, May 10, 2013
Penultimate Draft: End of last week of fall term classes
Friday, December 6, 2013
Final Version: End of Second Week of winter term classes
Friday January 17, 2014
Oral Defense: No later than the Wednesday of the last week of winter term classes
By January 29, 2014
Note: Winter and Spring 2015 semester dates will be similar to the preceding February class and will be posted when calendar is set.