Junior Qual
The junior qualifying examination in Political Science is a primarily diagnostic instrument designed to determine whether and to what extent individual second-semester juniors majoring in political science are well-prepared – conceptually, theoretically, and methodologically – to engage serious scholarly materials in the discipline. Such engagement is, of course, a pre-requisite for doing original independent research in political science, including senior thesis research. The junior qual thus functions as a tool for helping determine whether and to what extent a student is well prepared – “qualified” – to have a successful and rewarding senior thesis experience.
The examination consists of a research design. In the design, students propose a research question, discussing its significance; briefly review the relevant literature; generate one or more researchable propositions from that review; identify data sources and propose a methodology to be used in researching the topic; and present a short bibliography of relevant secondary works and/or primary sources. The research design is 4–5 pages (1000–1250 words), not including the bibliography. It will be due Monday of finals week at 9 AM, and is turned in to the Political Science Junior Research Seminar Moodle (Spring semester) or the Political Science Junior Qualifying Examination Moodle (Fall semester). If you are taking the qual in a semester when you are not signed up for the Political Science Junior Research Seminar, email the department administrator for access.
The junior qualifying examination in political science is an open-book examination. Do not use AI bots such as ChatGPT or “learning support” platforms (e.g., Chegg, CourseHero) for any part of the qual process whatsoever.
Normally, evaluation of examinations will be made by the department as a whole. As indicated above, the examination is understood to be largely diagnostic in nature – an opportunity for the faculty to assess both the progress of individual students and the overall quality of the educational program in political science, as well as an opportunity for students to assess themselves. It is possible to fail this examination, but historically failures have been extremely rare. The faculty fully expects all students to pass, though “conditional passes” in which students are asked to rewrite a portion of the exam have not been unusual.