CISAC Interschool Honors Program in International Security Studies Application (2026-27)
The CISAC Interschool Honors Program in International Security Studies provides an opportunity for seniors from all undergraduate schools and majors to conduct rigorous, scholarly research on international security issues, and to graduate with Honors in International Security Studies. The conferral of Honors is in addition to the student's major, which may be in any department or program. Students are admitted to the Honors Program on a competitive basis, with applications due winter quarter of junior year. The CISAC Honors Program has drawn students from 28 different departments and programs since its inception in 2000 and has an alumni network of over 200 students. Alumni consistently cite multiple strengths of the program, including the inclusion of undergraduates in CISAC's vibrant intellectual environment, highly personalized attention from faculty, the program's unique focus within the university and beyond, and the program's interdisciplinary character.
Applying to the Honors Program: The application will be open for submissions in early December each year. Applications are due in mid-February. There will be an informational session on the application process, and the program itself, in mid-January. Specific details regarding the application and info session can be found at the top of this page. Information regarding the next application period will typically be posted at the end of fall quarter.
- Honors College: A two-week program in Washington, D.C. and on the Stanford campus in September, prior to the start of the fall quarter of senior year. Students will have the opportunity to learn about international security policy and discuss their thesis ideas with government officials, legislators, journalists, and think tank scholars.
- Honors Seminars: IIS 198 (Spring quarter, 1-unit course during students' junior year) & IIS 199 (Year-long, 3-5 unit course during students' senior year)
- Honors Thesis: Completion of an original research thesis represents the culmination of the Honors Program.
- Work closely with experts in the field of international security to learn about the requirements and skills needed to succeed in the industry.
- Attend CISAC events for invaluable learning experiences led by respected leaders in diverse areas of policy and government. Students can engage with influential industry leaders in ways that are rarely available on campus.
- Fulfill all course requirements in their individual departments by the time of graduation, in addition to the units required for the Honors Seminar series, IIS 199 (a minimum of 3 units/quarter).
- Demonstrate sufficient depth and breadth of international security coursework by completing two out of three required courses (POLISCI 114S: International Security in a Changing World; EPS 194: Technology, National Security, and Sustainability; and INTNLREL 115: Spies, Lies, and Algorithms). If needed, students may enroll in these required courses during their senior year. Those who apply without having taken the required courses will, if admitted, be required to complete the courses before graduation.
- Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 at the time of application, which must be maintained throughout the program.
- Provide a letter of recommendation written by a Stanford faculty member or teaching assistant with whom the student has worked closely. This recommender may or may not be the student’s prospective advisor.
- Select at least one Honors advisor who is a member of Stanford's Academic Council (typically, a Professor of any level, a Senior Fellow, or a Center Fellow). Students who wish to be advised by someone who is not a member of the Academic Council should also identify a co-advisor who is a member. Advisors should have research interests that closely align with those of the student. Approval of the prospective advisor must be submitted as part of the Honors application, in the form of an Honors Consultation Form.
- Complete a one-quarter policy relevant (broadly defined) internship with a governmental office, international organization, or non-governmental organization engaged in work with implications for international security policy. Students should provide, as part of their application, a letter of reference/evidence of internship completion from an internship supervisor or human resources department noting the student’s title, internship dates, and responsibilities. If you're uncertain whether your internship meets this requirement, please detail in your application how it will contribute to your success in the honors program or how it has prepared you for future endeavors. We cannot assess whether an internship aligns with this requirement through email, which is why we strongly encourage you to provide your reasoning in the application.
- Be on campus all three quarters of senior year.
