Sigma Iota Rho
The Global Studies Program recognizes graduating Seniors who have either been officially inducted into the National Sigma Iota Rho Honorary, or who have actively participated in the local chapter of Sigma Iota Rho at Wash U. Students will be given gold cords to wear at graduation. A maroon/gold cord is given to students who serve the local chapter at the executive level.
In order to be inducted into the National SIR Honorary, students must maintain a 3.4 cumulative GPA and major in Global Studies, any other World Area Studies (i.e. Latin American Studies or East Asian Studies), or Political Science in either the Comparative Politics or International Politics track. They must also pay a one time $45 fee.
Latin Honors
Per Arts & Sciences requirements, to receive Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude) in Global Studies, students must be prime majors in Arts & Sciences, write a Global Studies senior honors thesis, and achieve an overall GPA of 3.65 or higher at the end of eight semesters. Note: in order to be eligible to write an honors thesis in Global Studies, students must have maintained an overall 3.65 GPA through the sixth semester.
The Madeleine Albright Award
This award is given to an exceptional junior majoring in Global Studies in recognition of special scholarly achievement. Nominations are solicited from Global Studies faculty each spring and the award is announced in late April. It carries a cash prize.
Past recipients: Riley Novak (2024); Julia Blanchard (2023); Sarah del Carmen Camacho (2022); Adelaide Choi and Meenu Bhooshanan (2021); Nicci Mowszowski (2020); Jacob Finke (2019); Veronica Winters (2018); Mattie Gottbrath and Joanna LeFebvre (2017); Shaun Ee (2016); Ryan Mikkelsen (2015); Seiko Shastri (2014); Nay'Chelle Harris (2013); Erin Humphries (2012); Shweta Joshi (2011); Toby Shepard (2010); Grace Van Voorhis (2009); Claire Bangser (2008); Lauren Grady (2006); Rachel Simon (2005).
Research Scholar in Global Studies
To receive this designation at graduation, Global Studies students must accomplish either one of the following:
- Write a senior honors thesis
- Complete either the Research Methods Proseminar/Assistantship (L97 GS 4007) or Directed Research in Global Studies (L97 GS 4005)
If a student completes one of the above options, they will receive the Research Scholar distinction, and be recognized at the Global Studies graduation reception.
Outstanding Senior Honors Thesis
The Global Studies faculty choose these awards, which carry a small cash prize. These awards (if given) are announced at the Global Studies graduation reception, and appear on a student's final transcript.
Past winners:
- 2024 - Omaer Naeem "Imaginination, Performance, Expression: Unraveling Global Pakistani Identity"
- 2024 - Jessie Wills "Power, Politics, & Pressure in Lesotho Garment Factories: Lessons from the Bottom of the Supply Chain"
- 2023 - Sarah del Carmen Camacho "Centroamerica y Zhongguo: A Story of Converging and Conflicting Perspective in Chinese-Central American Relations"
- 2022 - Sophie Young "A Comparative Analysis of Prostitution and Sex Trafficking Policies and Outcomes in Spain & the U.S."
- 2021 - Rachel Olick-Gibson "Morocco’s Family Code: Islamic Feminism & Legislative Reform"
- 2020 - Hanna Khalil "Black September: Sovereignty, Dispossession, and the Politics of National Memory"
- 2020 - Daria Locher "The Assimilation of Russian Literary Phrases into Russian Oral History as Winged Words"
- 2019 - Sophia Goodman "Contra tu Madre: Sol Diaz's Comics and Chilean Gender Norms"
- 2018 - Kelly Barr "An Irish Exit: Modeling the European Union Referendum in Northern Ireland"
- 2017 - Shaun Ee "The Voice of Kenya: Competing Visions of Nationhood in a Post-Colonial State"
- 2016 - Jenna Epstein "France in Focus: Exploring the Relationship between Proximity to Ethnic Enclaves and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment"
- 2015 - Janice Cantieri "Losing Paradise: The Role of the Maneaba in Adaptation to Climate Change in the Republic of Kiribati"
- 2014 - Monica Meeks "Liberté, Égalité, Santé: The Intersection of Immigration and Health Care in France and Toulouse’s Medico-Social Solution"
- 2014 - Sam Taffer "Demystifying the Dragon: Chinese Foreign Direct Investment in the United States" (East Asian Studies)
- 2013 - Diana Jack "Identity Crisis: the Fundamental Question of European Sentiment in Defining, Legitimizing and Perpetuating the European Union" (European Studies)
- 2013 - Sadie Smeck "Evolutions in Class Visibility, Morality and Representation in Chilean Teleseries: From Military Regime to Current Moment" (International Studies)
- 2012 - Lian States "L'excision est un crime': Understanding French Feminism Through the Lens of FGM" (European Studies)
- 2012 - Rachel Zemke "Weaving a National Narrative: the AKP project in Turkey" (International Studies)
- 2011 - Colleen Brady "Public Space in Paris and its Periphery" (European Studies)
- 2011 - Rachel Meyer "Pricing Nature: the Politics of Global Climate Change" (International Studies)
- 2010 - Michael Goodwin "The Souls of Nations: Repatriation, National Museums, and Cultural Identity in Southern Europe" (European Studies)
- 2010 - Annie Seibert "There is an Incredible Malaise: Youth Exclusion in Morocco as a Consequence of Contemporary Globalization" (International Studies)
- 2009 - Meghan Luecke "'A Slap in the Face': How the Media's Use of National Narratives Fuels International Conflicts" (International Studies)
- 2008 - Emily Schlickman "The Evolving Vernacular Landscape: An Examination of Homeless Architecture in Japan" (International Studies)