Theses Procedures and Schedule
(Revised July 2013)
A. General Procedures
Prerequisites: Students must have a cumulative 3.33 average in their regular Political Science
courses taken at Middlebury through the end of the junior year in order to undertake an honors
thesis project. ("Regular Political Science courses" include fall and spring political science
courses, plus a maximum of one winter term Political Science course.) A proposal for an Honors
Thesis must be submitted to-and approved by-a student's thesis advisor. No exceptions will be
made to these requirements.
A thesis project normally is inspired by a research or seminar paper written during the junior or
senior year, often in a 400-level seminar or 500-level Independent Project. We strongly
recommend that (1) students begin thinking about their thesis project and speaking with
potential advisors in their junior year, (2) students enroll in PSCI 0368 before their senior year,
and (3) students planning to write a Philosophy thesis take a 300-level Political Philosophy
course before their senior year.
A Political Science Honors Thesis is a three-term project. Normally, students register for PSCI
0500 in the first term of the thesis process, PSCI 0700 in the second term, and PSCI 0700 (again)
in the final term. May graduates will normally work on theses in the fall, winter, and spring
terms of their senior year, while February graduates will work on theses during the spring, fall,
and winter terms.
B. Schedule
1. Last term of junior year: begin discussions with potential advisors about possible topics.
Secure their commitment to advise your thesis.
2. Early in the First Term of senior year: Enroll in PSCI 0500 - Independent Project. Discuss,
develop, and finalize your topic with your advisor, and in consultation with a second reader. It is
the student's responsibility to select a thesis topic and to find a main thesis advisor from the
Political Science Department. Students are encouraged to start this process informally in
their junior year. This advisor will serve as the student's first reader and guide the student
through the thesis process. Students are expected to meet frequently with their advisor over the
course of the year, both to obtain guidance and to keep their advisor abreast of progress on the
thesis. They are strongly encouraged to set up a schedule in consultation with their main advisor
that allows them to meet the departmental deadlines for honors theses. A second reader must be
chosen as well, in consultation with the advisor. A third reader is optional and may be chosen
from outside the department. The deadline for declaring thesis advisors is by Friday of the
2nd week of classes of the term. Students declare a thesis advisor by notifying the departmental
thesis coordinator (in 2013-14, the departmental thesis coordinator is Assistant Professor Amy
Yuen).
3. Prospectus and Bibliography in the First term: Students must submit to their advisor a draft
of a thesis prospectus and bibliography by the end of the 5th week of classes. After
subsequent revisions, students must provide their advisor a final version of the thesis
prospectus by the end of the 10th week of classes. The written thesis prospectus should also be
given to the second reader(s) for consultation with the advisor and student. A late prospectus
will not be accepted, and may be used to disqualify a student from the thesis project. The
prospectus must be approved by the student's advisor, and only students whose prospectus
has been approved will be permitted to continue writing the thesis.
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.
4. Deadline for First Chapter Draft: Students are required to hand in their first chapter draft
to their advisor on the last day of classes in the first term of the three term project. Failure
to submit a chapter draft will automatically result in the termination of the thesis project.
There will be no exceptions to this rule. Students who are unable to complete a first chapter
draft in accordance with departmental deadlines cannot be expected to responsibly complete a
full-blown thesis in a timely fashion over the course of the year. Please note that individual
advisors may expect more than a first chapter draft as a requirement to continue the thesis project.
5. Second term of senior year: Thesis students register for PSCI 0700 - Thesis Project, which will
allow them to continue work on their theses. Students are expected to meet regularly with their
advisors, and reader(s) if appropriate. The absence of competing coursework during Winter Term
affords a precious opportunity for research, writing, and consultation with the advisor and
reader(s).
6. Third term of senior year: During the third term, thesis students again register for PSCI 0700,
which will allow them to continue work on their thesis. The penultimate draft of the thesis
should be completed, and submitted to the advisor and reader(s) for comments, by the
Monday of the 8th week of classes in spring term of the Senior year (May graduates) or the
last day of classes in fall term (February graduates). The final draft of the thesis must be
completed, with copies submitted to the thesis advisor and reader(s), by the Friday of the
11th week of classes in the third term (May graduates) or the end of the second week of
winter term (February graduates). The final draft of the thesis may not be returned to the
student for revisions prior to the oral defense.
7. The thesis advisor schedules the oral thesis defense during the first week of the final exam
period, and for February graduates, during the last week of Winter Term.
C. Honors Regulations
1. Students must have a 3.33 average or higher in all regular Political Science courses taken at
Middlebury through the end of the junior year in order to apply to write an Honors Thesis; a
thesis is required for departmental Honors. A student whose departmental GPA falls below 3.33
during the senior year may continue with the thesis project, but is not eligible to receive
departmental honors. No exceptions will be made to these requirements.
2. Students must meet all of the deadlines in the above procedures and schedule in all three
semesters involved in the Honors project. Failure to meet the deadlines for the thesis prospectus
or the final draft of the thesis, will result in the denial of Honors. Failure to meet the deadline for
the penultimate draft of the thesis will mean that the thesis writer will receive no comments from
the second reader. Students should note that departmental deadlines can only be extended by the
department Chair, and will be so extended only in medical or other emergencies.
3. The thesis grade is based on the quality of the written thesis as well as the oral defense, with
the preponderant weight given to the written work. Grammar, spelling, and typographical errors,
or lack thereof, will be included in the evaluation.
4. The determination of awards 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 other
regular Political Science courses taken at Middlebury (courses taken abroad do not count toward
the grade point determination). Honors candidates will have a Political Science course average of
at least 3.33 and a thesis grade of B+ or higher to attain Honors; a Political Science course
average of at least 3.50 and a thesis grade of A- or higher to attain High Honors; and a Political
Science course average of at least 3.67 and a thesis grade of A to attain Highest Honors.
5. Any appeal of a thesis grade, or the award of Honors, or the termination of a thesis project
shall be made to the department Chair, who will either make the final decision or request an
evaluation by another colleague.
D. Research Resources and Thesis Format
1. The department recommends Wayne C. Booth et al., The Craft of Research (University of
Chicago Press), Charles Lipson, How to Write a B.A. Thesis, and Stephen Van Evera, Guide to
Methods for Students of Political Science (Cornell University Press). In addition, the reference
desk at the College Library has some useful bibliographic guides for various fields and
geographic areas which the student should consult. For more specific and technical matters,
students should consult Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and
Dissertations (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, latest edition) or The Chicago Manual of
Style (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, latest edition).
2. The thesis should be printed double-spaced, with adequate margins. Most theses range in
length from 80 to 100 pages, based on an average of 250-300 words per page. Notes may be at
the bottom of each page, at the end of each chapter, or at the end of the thesis. The title page
should be prepared according to the example available in the department office. You must also
provide a 1" x 4" spine label for each reader's copy, stating your thesis title, your name, and the
month and year you completed your thesis. One copy of the thesis must be submitted to the
departmental coordinator (MNR 213) to be forwarded to the College Library.
3. The department also strongly recommends that students consult Honors Theses from prior
years for guidance on thesis format, structure, and argument. These Honors Theses can be found
in the Special Collections department of the College Library.
2013-2014 Deadline Schedule
Deadline for:
Fall-Winter-Spring Thesis Writers
Declaration of Thesis Advisors
Friday, September 20, 2013
First draft of Prospectus &
bibliography
Friday, October 11, 2013
Final draft of Prospectus &
bibliography
Friday, November 15, 2013
First chapter draft
Friday, December 6, 2013
Penultimate draft
Monday, April 7, 2014
Final draft of thesis
Friday, May 2, 2014, 5pm
Oral defense
No later than Friday, May 16, 2014
Deadline for:
Spring-Fall-Winter Thesis Writers
Declaration of Thesis Advisors
Friday, February 21, 2014
First draft of Prospectus &
bibliography
Friday, March 14, 2014
Final draft of Prospectus &
bibliography
Friday, April 25, 2014
First chapter draft
Monday, May 12, 2014
Penultimate draft
Last day of classes, fall 2014
Final draft of thesis
End of second week of winter term,
2015
Oral defense
Last week of winter term, 2015