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Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law
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  1. Home
  2. Programs
  3. Undergraduate
  4. Democracy Development And The Rule Of Law
  5. Interdisciplinary Honors

Interdisciplinary Honors

IHN
  • Institute for International Studies opens in a new tab
Program Minimum Units
9 Units
Interests
Social Justice, Literature & Culture
Academic Areas
Social Sciences, Law

Overview

The Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) provides opportunities for undergraduate research through the CDDRL Undergraduate Honors Program and the CISAC Interschool Honors Program in International Security Studies.

The Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) Undergraduate Senior Honors Program allows students majoring in any Stanford academic department to conduct an independent honors thesis focused on the fields of democracy, development, and the rule of law. Students must complete a three-quarter-long honors research seminar that begins spring quarter of their junior year. They will spend the last quarter of the senior year working independently with their faculty advisor to complete and submit their honors thesis ahead of their formal defense in mid-May. Upon fulfilling individual department course requirements and completing the honors program, students graduate with a certificate in Honors in Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law.

Students interested in the program consult with their prospective honors advisors in their junior year to determine the tentative thesis topic, which should have some degree of policy relevance. Prerequisites for the program include a 3.5 grade-point average at the time they apply; a strong overall academic record; sufficient depth and breadth in the fields of democracy, economic and social development, the rule of law, and human rights coursework; and demonstrated skills in writing and conducting independent research.

Students are required to attend honors college in Washington, D.C., in September before autumn quarter classes begin. Applicants are discouraged from studying abroad during the CDDRL Undergraduate Honors program.

Requirements

Program Requirements

Required Preparatory Coursework

In addition to the one course listed below, two additional courses that explore the areas of democracy, development, and the rule of law are to be approved by the faculty director are required. Required Preparatory Courses are additional courses required as part of the application process. These courses do not count towards the units required for completion of the Interdisciplinary Honors Program.

  • Complete two related courses, such as (these are just suggestions and should serve as examples of courses that explore the areas of DDRL):

    • Comm 137w The Dialogue of Democracy

    • Econ 106 World Food Economy

    • Econ 118 Development Economics

    • History 145B Africa in the 20th Century

    • HumBio 129S Global Public Health

    • POLISCI 147 Comparative Democratic Development

    • POLISCI 245R Politics in Modern Iran

    • POLISCI 248S Latin American Politics

CDDRL’s flagship undergraduate lecture course is taught during autumn quarter, which ideally should be completed before the student enters the honors program. DDRL Honors Research Methods Seminars meet weekly to present their project theses and receive feedback. 

Admitted students must be able to fulfill all course requirements in their individual majors by the time they graduate, in addition to the units required for the honors program. For more information, contact Kristin Chandler, CDDRL Administrative Manager at kdchandl@stanford.edu or go to http://cddrl.stanford.edu/ opens in a new tab.

Complete all of the following course(s):
POLISCI 114D

Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law

3-5 Units
or
INTNLREL 114D

Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law

3-5 Units

POLISCI/INTNLREL 114D: Democracy, Development, and Rule of Law (may be taken in the Fall quarter of senior year*) - 5 units and must be taken for a letter grade. 

*If not yet taken prior to the start of the Honors Program

Required Courses

The following courses are required, and should be taken during specific quarters, as follows:

  • DDRL 189 - Spring of Junior Year

  • DDRL 190 - To be taken twice, in both Fall and Winter of Senior Year

Complete all of the following course(s):
DDRL 189

Finding and Refining a Research Question in Democracy, Development and Rule of Law

3 Units
DDRL 190

Interschool Honors Program on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law

1-3 Units

  • Complete DDRL 189 Honors Research Methods in the spring quarter of their junior year (3 units). Applicants should, therefore, plan quarters abroad accordingly. While some exceptions are made, we encourage students to be on campus during the spring term of their junior year.

  • DDRL 190 Honors Research Workshop (3 units per quarter, repeatable for credit) in the fall and winter quarters of their senior year.

OPTIONAL - Independent Study

Students may choose, but are not required, to enroll in DDRL 191 in their Senior Year.

Complete all of the following course(s):
DDRL 191

DDRL Independent Study-Work with Adviser

1-5 Units

In addition to required courses, admitted students may earn up to 10 units through independent study with their advisor during their senior year for their completed thesis. Please note that this will not count toward major requirements in the student’s respective department.