Dean's Scholars Curriculum

About the Curriculum

The Dean’s Scholars Program provides an intensive research opportunity for undergraduate students who want to distinguish themselves both professionally and academically. Students will develop their research and communication skills as they construct a research project and work alongside a faculty mentor.

The program involves a commitment over two semesters and scholars will be required to take two 3-credit courses to complete the program. Please see below for a semester-by-semester breakdown of the requirements for the program.

Junior Year Curriculum

Prior to enrolling in Dean’s Scholars

Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs (BAIA) students should meet their first research methods requirement by taking an approved qualitative or quantitative research methods course from the BAIA research methods course list (see below) prior to enrolling in Dean's Scholars. They can meet their second research methods requirement with their first course in the Dean's Scholars sequence.

Bachelor of Science in International Affairs (BSIA) students should meet their
research requirement by taking an approved quantitative research methods course
from the BSIA research methods course list (see below) prior to enrolling in Dean's
Scholars.

Approved Qualitative or Quantitative Methods Courses

CSCI 1012	Introduction to Programming with Python
DATS 1001	Data Science for All
or PSC 2990	Special Topics (Data Science for All)
DNSC 1001	Business Analytics I: Statistics for Descriptive and Predictive Analytics *
DNSC 2001	Business Analytics II: Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics **
ECON 2123	Introduction to Econometrics
or  STAT 2123	Introduction to Econometrics
GEOG 2104	Introduction to Cartography and GIS
IAFF 2101	Qualitative Methods in International Affairs
IAFF 2102	Quantitative Methods in International Affairs
PSC 2101	Scope and Methods of Political Science
PSC 2990	Special Topics (Data Science for All)
or  DATS 1001	Data Science for All
PUBH 2140	Foundations of Research Methods
SMPA 2151	Research Methods
SOC 2101	Social Research Methods
STAT 1051	Introduction to Business and Economic Statistics *
STAT 1053	Introduction to Statistics in Social Science *
STAT 1111	Business and Economic Statistics I *
STAT 1127	Statistics for the Biological Sciences *
STAT 2123	Introduction to Econometrics
or  ECON 2123	Introduction to Econometrics
*Credit for only one of the following courses can be counted toward an Elliott School undergraduate degree: DNSC 1001, STAT 1051, STAT 1053, STAT 1111, or STAT 1127.
**Credit for only one of the following courses can be counted toward an Elliott School undergraduate degree: DNSC 2001 or STAT 2112.

Spring Semester

Summary

• IAFF 3190 Dean's Scholars Research Design Seminar (3 -credit course)
• Select research topic and question
• Develop problem statement, literature review, and research design/proposal
• Develop data collection strategy
• Select faculty mentor
• Submit IRB request
• Submit applications for research funding
• Scholars cannot study abroad during this semester

About the Curriculum

During this semester, students will take their first required course, IAFF 3190 Dean's Scholars Research Design Seminar. In this 3-credit course, students will refine and deepen their research skills and apply them to  refine their research design and develop a data collection plan. Students will apply the theories and approaches to conducting research in international affairs and will engage in the research process. Class activities help students identify a real-world problem, conduct a literature review to identify a gap in the scholarly literature, formulate a research question, and design a research project to answer their question. Working closely with the Director, students create a feasible research plan and data collection strategy. Scholars working with human subjects will also submit their research through GW’s Institutional Review Board to ensure their research is approved before they begin collecting data in the summer of their junior year. The Director and faculty mentors will guide students throughout this process.

Before the end of the semester, students will identify a faculty mentor who is an expert in the students’ individual research area(s). Students and their faculty mentors will be required to sign the Faculty/Student Agreement Form to formalize their relationship and identify clear expectations for the duration of the program.

Summer Semester

About the Curriculum

Scholars will use the summer semester to conduct their research and collect and analyze data. These activities may include international travel, depending on the project. Each Dean's Scholar will be eligible to receive funding to support this research. During the summer, scholars will also work on their fellowship applications and receive continued guidance from Dean's Scholars faculty and their faculty mentors.

Senior Year Curriculum

Fall Semester

Summary

• IAFF 3193W ESIA Dean’s Scholars Seminar (3-credit WID course)
• Write a 30-page senior thesis using data collected over the summer
• Submit fellowship applications (optional)
• Submit applications to present at research conferences (optional)
• Scholars cannot study abroad during this semester

About the Curriculum

During the fall semester of their senior year, students will take their second and final required Dean’s Scholars course, IAFF 3193W ESIA Dean’s Scholars Seminar. This 3-credit course counts as a Writing in the Disciplines (WID) course because of the extensive research and writing students will do throughout the semester. In this course, students apply and refine their data analysis and writing skills as they complete their final research paper. Program faculty and students' faculty mentors work together to provide individualized guidance and support throughout the writing process.

Program faculty will also support scholars in drafting, revising and submitting applications for conferences and fellowships. 

Spring Semester

Summary

• Present at Elliott School Research Showcase
• Present research project at conferences (optional)
• Submit work for publication in scholarly outlets (optional)
• Submit any remaining fellowship applications (optional)
• Scholars can study abroad during this semester

About the Curriculum

There are no course requirements for the final semester. During this semester, Dean’s Scholar will present their research at conferences and revise and submit their final paper for publication in peer-reviewed scholarly outlets. Students will also submit any remaining fellowship applications. This semester concludes the Dean's Scholars Program. Students will receive special recognition at graduation.

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