What is Distinction in
Policy Studies?
Who is eligible to participate?
What are the Guidelines for the Proposal?
(*Pending approved by the College of Arts and Sciences)
What is Distinction in Policy Studies?
Another name for Distinction in Policy Studies is “Departmental Honors,” but to avoid confusion with the university Honors Program, now called the Renée Crown University Honors, the program is called “Distinction.” Each Department in the University defines with approval of the Honors Program, the requirements for departmental Distinction.
In Policy Studies, you can achieve “Distinction in Policy Studies” by writing an original, high quality research study related to a public policy issue or completing a hands-on project that is formally documented and evaluated. This product will be called a “thesis.”
Policy Studies majors seeking to complete a Renée Crown University Honors Program can also use the thesis completed for the Distinction in Policy Studies to satisfy the thesis requirements of the Renée Crown University Honors. Both Policy Studies Distinction and Honors will be designated on your graduation certification. All Policy Studies Distinction students have access to the resources of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, including use of the Honors Computing Cluster, the Honors Library, and the Honors Writing Consultant. A special section of Honors 309 is offered for Policy Studies majors but all other requirements of the University Honors Program have to be met. Consult the information provided by that program.
Students do not have to be enrolled in Renée Crown University Honors to participate in the Program of Distinction. To prepare a thesis project in Policy Studies, a student must successfully complete two semesters of PAF 499 which is credit earned for intensive work on gathering information and writing the thesis.
Who is eligible to participate?
Requirements include at least a 3.4 cumulative grade point average, at least a 3.6 in courses taken to complete the major and completion of PAF 315 with a B or better, and the completion of a project proposal described in detail below. Once your proposal has been approved by Professor Coplin, you are ready to write your thesis. You are never “in” the Distinction Program and cannot list it on your resume. When you complete the thesis, you achieve Distinction.
How do I find more information?
Start talking with Professor Coplin as early as possible about your project. As soon as you have an idea of what you might want to do, even in your freshman year, make an appointment to explore the possibilities. Email him with questions and to set up appointments at wdcoplin@syr.edu Carol Dwyer provides additional academic support to students pursuing the thesis project as do other Policy Studies faculty throughout the University. See critical guidelines on the next page for the thesis proposal.
What are the Guidelines for Preparing the Thesis Proposal?
Once your topic has been approved, you will develop a formal proposal of 8-17 pages in length that must be submitted to Professor Coplin no later than October 1, for May graduation and Jan. 30 for December graduation. Since a proposal usually takes one semester to produce, you must start the discussion no later than six months before that deadline.
Complete the thesis one month prior to graduation, that is, April 1st for May graduation and November 20th for December graduation. Students enroll in Honors Thesis Project PAF 499 once they have submitted their thesis.
Your proposal should provide the following for Distinction:
a. Title:
b. Intended Audience:
c. Problem Statement: (What problem does your written thesis seek to address in no more than 100 words?)
d. Sections Topics and Estimated Pages: (Your thesis must have the following topics but you will need to add others, including specific appendices)
e. Executive Summary: 1 page draft
f. Introduction: In 1-3 pages, state how the topic was selected; what you hope to accomplish with your thesis and how the thesis will be useful.
g. Literature Review: In 2-5 pages, detail how you will find similar projects and research related to your work. Describe at least three publications that are related or similar. Indicate how many more you plan to include in your thesis.
h. Findings: In 2-5 pages, identify the types of findings you expect to report. If you are collecting original data, this will be similar to PAF 315 Project. If you are producing a product that will be used to run a program (like mentoring for example), describe the material you will produce, how you will conduct your project and how you will evaluate it.
i. Recommendation for Further Products or Studies: In 1-2 pages, suggest how your anticipated findings will yield recommendations for additional or revised products or research.
j. List of Appendices: In 1 page, list items in the appendix. In some cases such as producing manuals or research protocols and raw data, the appendices may be longer and as important as the sections above.
k. Submit a one page agenda: This must follow the PAF 315 agenda format, with your proposal that starts with the date the proposal is to be approved and ends with the submission of the final product.
i. Date you will finish the first draft of the introduction and literature review.
ii. Date you will finish the first draft of the findings and recommendations for further products or research studies.
iii. Dates you will finish the final versions of the appendices (list each appendix and the date may be before the drafts listed above)
iv. Date you will submit the final draft of the entire project
v. Date you will receive revisions from your faculty and readers
vi. Date you will submit the revision
vii. If also submitting to satisfy the Renee Crown Honors Program, the dates course requirements are to be completed and other submission and presentation dates required by that program.