Program Information : Thesis

During an ISCOR students last semester in the ISCOR Program, they are required to either complete a research thesis (ISCOR 497: Internship in ISCOR) or work as an intern (ISCOR 495: Internship in ISCOR). Many ISCOR students chose to complete a thesis so that they can better prepare for law school or graduate school.

Students who decide to take ISCOR 497 must meet with the professor assigned to supervise the course during a given semester. This professor will provide all of the information and guidance a student will need to research and write a thesis.

Students who participate in the ISCOR thesis program are expected to write a substantive research paper pertaining to their specialization in the major. For example, a Global Systems student may research the impact of Most Favored Nation Status designations on American diplomacy in Southeast Asia, the security concerns of Hungary vis-à-vis its involvement with NATO, or the history and development of American foreign policy regarding Chechnya. A Cooperation, Conflict & Conflict student may provide a post-modernist critique of the pacifist philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, an evaluation of Mexico's water policies concerning the Rio Grande River during the Vicente Fox Administration, or the efforts of Non-Governmental Organizations to apply technology to assist developing countries with education reform. An Environment & Security student may evaluate the global trade in toxic waste on developing countries, the possible impact of alternative energy development on the politics and economy of the Gulf States, or the rise in eco-terrorism in the wake of globalization.

The goal of the thesis is to allow the ISCOR student to engage in secondary and primary source research and apply the critical thinking skills they learned in the classroom to his or her findings. Once again, the thesis coordinator for a given semester (see the Schedule of Classes) will advise students choosing the thesis option.

See ISCOR Advisor Dr. Greb (iscor@mail.sdsu.edu) for general thesis information.