CISAC Honors College in Washington, D.C., Summer of 2012

CISAC alumni have often noted that their participation in the undergraduate Honors Program influenced post-graduate plans and, in many cases, played a direct role in providing post-graduation academic and job opportunities. Many Honors alumni have described their year at CISAC as one of the highlights of their undergraduate careers, and several have identified the experience as their best, favorite, most formative or most rewarding academic pursuit at Stanford.

The CISAC Honors Program has drawn students from 21 different major departments and programs since its inception in 2000 and has an alumni network of 137 students  through the class of 2012. Alumni consistently cite multiple strengths of the program, including inclusion of undergraudates in CISAC's vibrant intellectal environment, highly personalized attention from faculty, the program's unique focus wihin the university and beyond, and the program's interdisciplinary character.

The CISAC Interschool Honors Program in International Security Studies provides an opportunity for undergraduates with strong academic records and interest in international security from all undergraduate schools and all majors to earn a certificate of Honors in International Security Studies. Students are admitted to the program on a competitive basis. Two courses are prerequisites for admissions: PS 114S (International Securty in a Changing World) and MS&E 193 (Technology and National Security). The cerificate is in addition to the student's major, which may be in any department or program.

The Program has four central requirements: 

• An internship with a security related organization or government agency, in order to gain real-world policy experience. Internships served before or during junior year, by approval of the program director, count toward the requirement. If students have not served an internship before the summer between junior and senior years, CISAC will assist in placing them and offer a small stipend for living expenses if need is demonstrated.

• Participation in the CISAC Honors College, a two-week program that takes place in Washington, D.C., and on the Stanford campus in September before the start of the fall quarter of senior year.

• Participation in weekly honors seminars throughout the academic year, led by two CISAC instructors and a teaching assistant.

• Research and analysis producing an honors thesis at the end of senior year which makes a substantive contribution to the undersanding of an international security issue. Each student's research is directed by an individual adviser specializing in his or her field of study.

Social media: Get to know the 2012 Honors Graduates

Story: The 2012-2013 Honors students take on diverse global challenges

Meet brother and sister Varun and Uttara Sivaram in this video:

Please see the links below for required courses and a list of all current Honors Program students and alumni, including their home departments and thesis topics.

CISAC Honors Program Students 2012-2013 (145.9KB )

CISAC Honors Alumni 2001-2012 (133.6KB )

Required Courses

How to Apply to the Honors Program

CISAC will begin accepting applications for the 2013-2014 Honors Program in January 2013. Applications are due by February 25, 2013.

The 2013-2014 application form is now available. Please have your prosepctive honors advisor complete and sign the Honors Consultation form and submit it along with your application. Both forms are here:

2013-2014 Consultation Form (67.3KB )

2013-2014 Honors Program Application and Criteria (108.0KB )

Please direct applications and inquiries to:

Dmitry Soustin, Fellowship and Student Programs Coordinator

Phone: (650) 725-9132
Fax: (650) 723-0089

Email: dsoustin@stanford.edu

2012 CISAC Honors Graudation