Recognizing high achievers

Students majoring in international relations and political science can enhance their educational experience by earning honors in the major. Additionally, our honors students are often competitive candidates for high-level fellowships and scholarships, such as the Truman, Fulbright, and Rhodes, and are provided personalized assistance preparing those applications.

Requirements

• Political Science Honors in the Major Requirements (General Catalog)
• International Relations Honors in Major Requirements (General Catalog)

Departmental Honors vs. University Honors
Graduating with Departmental Honors and graduating with University Honors are two opportunities available to high-achieving undergraduate students, each with specific and distinct requirements. Some students pursue both options while others pursue one or the other. Membership in Honors at Iowa is encouraged, though not required, to earn Departmental Honors. Visit Honors at Iowa to learn more about the University's honors program.

Honor Societies

• Pi Sigma Alpha
  Pi Sigma Alpha is the National Political Science Honors Society. Membership for this organization is by invitation based on number of hours and GPA. Pi Sigma Alpha has over 730 chapters on college and university campuses in the U.S. and Canada, including the University of Iowa. For more information on how to be involved, contact Brian Lai or Nicholas Martini.
   
• Phi Beta Kappa at UIOWA
  The Phi Beta Kappa Society is the oldest and most prestigious national academic honorary society in the United States. Since 1776, election to Phi Beta Kappa has been a recognition of academic achievement. The Greek initials for the society's motto of Philosophiae Biou Kubernetes ("Love of learning is the guide of life") were used to create the name Phi Beta Kappa. The Alpha of Iowa chapter was chartered at the University of Iowa’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1895. Outstanding students who are eligible are invited to join the Society each semester. Every student inducted into the Society receives a lifetime membership in Phi Beta Kappa. The Department of Political Science is proud to have many students inducted each semester and we encourage all who are invited to accept this prestigious membership.