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 provides students majoring in any Stanford academic department the opportunity to conduct an independent honors thesis focused on the fields of democracy, development, and the rule of law. Students are required to complete a three quarter long honors research seminar that begins Spring Quarter of the junior year. They will spend the last quarter of the senior year working independently with their faculty adviser 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 advisers 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, rule of law, and human rights course work; 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 duration of the CDDRL Undergraduate Honors program.

Department: Institute for International Studies