Honors

young woman with brown hair and a light brown coat in front of a green hilly landscape with a quote block on top of part of the image.

Why should I do an honors thesis?

Graduating with Honors and writing a thesis can help you stand out from other job applicants, can get you published, is incredibly beneficial if you are considering graduate school, and the research can be practical and life changing.

Majors in the International Affairs Program have the opportunity apply for the IAFS Honors Program to graduate with departmental honors with three grades: cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude. Honors are awarded by the University Honors Council on the basis of: overall academic record, performance in the writing of an honors thesis, and performance in an oral exam. Please refer to our IAFS honors standards for specific information. 

Visit the CU Library database of IAFS Honors Thesis to see the wide range of topics and research completed by all our IAFS Honors students.

IAFS Honors Program Flyer

Information Sessions

decorative flyer with info on webpage

If you're interested in learning more about the honors program we will be hosting two informational sessions in the Spring 2026 semester for students to attend. 

  • In-person session: Wednesday, February 4th, 10-11am, CASE building Room W313
    • We will have Voodoo Donuts and coffee!
  • Virtual session: Monday, February 9th, 2:30-3:30pm, on Zoom (registration required).
    • The virtual session will be recorded. If you are unable to attend but would like to receive the recording, please register!
General Timeline Requirements Application Information A&S Honors Program
General Timeline
  • Spring (Application Term)
    • Review the IAFS Honors Program Requirements.
      • Tip: Take a look at previous IAFS 4800 syllabi for an overview of the course structure, expectations, and the thesis research and writing process.
    • Prepare and submit your IAFS Honors Program Application.
      • The application requires describing a research topic, identifying academic sources, and contacting faculty, tasks which may be unfamiliar to some students. Please contact the IAFS Honors Program Director with questions about what is expected or how to get started.
  • Fall (First Honors Coursework Term)
    • Register for IAFS 4800: Honors Seminar in International Affairs, an in person class where you will learn about research methodology and begin your research.
    • Attend class and complete course assignments.
    • Finalize your thesis topic and research plan; begin research and initial writing.
  • Spring (Thesis Completion Term)
    • Register for IAFS 4810: Honors in International Affairs, an asynchronous online class focused on writing your honors thesis in consultation with the IAFS Honors Program Director.
    • Complete your written thesis and prepare a one-hour oral thesis defense for your committee.

Candidates for honors in International Affairs must have achieved the following by the time they register for the Fall IAFS 4800 course:

  • at least a 3.3 overall grade point average,
  • at least a 3.4 grade point average in International Affairs courses (use this worksheet to calculate IAFS GPA),
  • and must have 90 or more credits and should apply one academic year before they will be graduating.
    • For example, students graduating in Spring 2026 should apply in March 2025 to be part of the Fall 2025-Spring 2026 cohort.

Candidates for honors in International Affairs must also:

  • Register for IAFS 4800: Honors Seminar in International Affairs in the Fall semester and IAFS 4810: Honors in International Affairs (thesis writing class) in the Spring semester.
    • Please visit the IAFS Syllabi page to review the IAFS 4800 syllabi for an idea of what the course entails and an overview of the honors thesis process and relevant deadlines.
    • IAFS 4800 counts towards the senior seminar requirement for IAFS Majors.
    • IAFS 4810 may count towards your geographic concentration or functional area if the thesis topic is relevant.
    • Only students accepted into the IAFS Honors Program are able to register for IAFS 4800 and IAFS 4810.
  • Complete an honors thesis, in close consultation with a faculty member who serves as the primary thesis advisor. The primary thesis advisor, IAFS Honors Program Director and at least one other CU faculty member will form your thesis committee. Please reach out to the IAFS Honors Program Director if you have questions or need help forming your thesis committee.
    • IAFS honors students should choose a member of the IAFS Faculty Committee as an advisor or reader whenever possible.
    • For details on faculty eligibility requirements, roles, and additional resources, please review the Building your Thesis Committee section on the A&S Honors program website.
    • Visit the CU Library database of IAFS Honors Thesis to see the wide range of topics and research completed by all our IAFS Honors students.
  • Complete a one-hour oral exam administered by your thesis committee, who will then make the recommendation for your Latin honors designation (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude). 

The deadline to submit your application for the 2026-2027 IAFS Honors Program is 11:59PM on Friday, March 13th.

Please gather and complete the following before submitting your application:

Once your application materials are gathered, please complete the IAFS Honors Application Form. 

(Microsoft Form - must be logged in with CU Boulder Identikey).

Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status by Thursday, March 26th.

College of Arts & Sciences students from any major who have an overall GPA of 3.3 or higher are also welcome to participate in the Arts and Sciences Honors Program.

While the Arts & Sciences (A&S) Honors Program sets the foundation for the process of graduating with Latin Honors, including requirements and deadlines, the IAFS Honors Program has established the additional requirements and application process as a departmental honors program. 

Students should also visit the Your Thesis Journey section of the A&S Honors program website for a roadmap to writing and defending an honors thesis, including links to thesis registration forms, deadlines, info about general (interdisciplinary) honors, etc.

Questions?

The Honors Program Director is Dr. Molly Todd, please email Dr. Todd or IAFS@colorado.edu with any questions about the IAFS Honors Program. 

Honors Research in Action

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Elle (Schlageter) Haley (IAFS ’22) completed the research for her Honors Thesis on a boat in the Mediterranean Sea as she helped rescue refugee migrants with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF – also known as Doctors Without Borders). You can read her paper here. After Elle graduated from CU Boulder, she returned to the Mediterranean Sea with MSF where she continued to assist in refugee rescues.