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 is a commitment over two years 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. * Please note this curriculum reflects changes that will apply beginning with the 2025-2027 cohort. *

Junior Year Curriculum

Prior to enrolling in Dean’s Scholars

All students must meet their Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs (BAIA)/ Bachelor of Science in International Affairs (BSIA) Research Methods requirement prior to enrolling in Dean’s Scholars. To fulfill this requirement, students must take one course focusing on qualitative or quantitative social science research methods.

Spring Semester

Summary

• IAFF 3192: ESIA Dean’s Scholars Workshop (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, the Dean’s Scholars Workshop class, IAFF 3192. This 3-credit course will help students refine their research design and data collection plan. Students will be introduced to the theories and approaches to conducting research in international affairs and will develop an in-depth understanding of 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 to collect data in the summer of their junior year. The Director and faculty mentors will guide students throughout this process.

By the end of the semester, students will identify a faculty mentor who is an expert in the students’ individual research areas. 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 3193: ESIA Dean’s Scholars Seminar (3-credit WID course)
• Write up 30-page senior thesis from research conducted the past summer 
• Submit fellowship applications
• Participate in Dean’s Scholars events
• Scholars cannot study abroad during this semester

 

About the Curriculum

During the fall semester of their senior year, students will take their third and final required Dean’s Scholars course, IAFF 3193: 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. Consequently, the class reinforces students' data analysis and writing skills as they complete their final research paper. Students will each also present their final research product at the Dean's Scholars Annual Symposium.

Additionally, students in the program will be supported in revising and submitting their applications for conferences and fellowships identified throughout the previous year. The Dean's Scholars faculty and students' faculty mentors will guide them through the different activities undertaken throughout the semester.

Spring Semester

Summary

• Present at Dean’s Scholars Annual Symposium
• Present research project at conferences
• Submit work for publication in the Dean’s Scholars peer-reviewed journal and other scholarly outlets
• Submit any remaining fellowship applications
• Participate in Dean’s Scholars events
• Scholars can study abroad during this semester

 

About the Curriculum

There are no course requirements for the final semester. During this semester, program participants will present their research at conferences and revise and submit their final paper for consideration in the Dean's Scholars Journal or other peer-reviewed publications. 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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