Woman laying on floor in grocery store, covered by pillows and blankets
Food policy scholar Rujia Xie, clothed in her dress and blankets in the middle of the Durham Food Co-op, emphasized the value of small, local food networks in her honors thesis research.

Students who successfully complete an honors thesis can graduate with distinction or highest distinction. Graduating with distinction is among the highest honors that Duke bestows on its undergraduates.

The honors program is a two-semester sequence, most commonly completed in spring of junior year through fall of senior year (PUBPOL 495S and PUBPOL 496S).

To qualify for the honors program, a student must have a 3.4 GPA* in the following core courses: 

  • PUBPOL 155
  • PUBPOL 301
  • PUBPOL 302/GLHLTH 210
  • PUBPOL 303

* Beginning with the class of 2026, the GPA cutoff to qualify for the honors program will be a 3.7.

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Best Honors Theses

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Best Honors Thesis 2024

Christina Wang won the 2024 Best Honors Thesis award. Her Honors Thesis, titled "What Do Americans Think Democracy Means?” includes research that reflects her dedication to understanding democratic principles and amplifying the voices of the American people.

Read about Christina's experience
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Best Honors Thesis 2023

Mary Monti won 2023 Best Honors Thesis for her work looking into the regional differences in high school textbooks to assess how different perspectives  might help shape different political beliefs and ideologies. 

Read about Mary's experience
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MORE QUESTIONS?

CONTACT THE HONORS THESIS PROGRAM DIRECTOR

E-mail Mallory SoRelle

Undergraduate Handbook

Get information about the honors program and more - review the Undergraduate Handbook. 

The Honors Thesis

One Student's Story

Ysanne Spence PPS'22 talks about what writing an honors thesis has meant to her.