Sections
Global Studies Distinction Project
International and Global Studies majors are strongly encouraged to develop a research project based on their thematic area of focus to synthesize and further develop their knowledge of the area. The distinction project asks students to conceive, plan, and undertake independent academic research under the guidance of an interdisciplinary committee interested in the chosen topic. Only a small number of students achieve this accomplishment, and it is a way to demonstrate your experienced research abilities to graduate schools or potential employers.
Past distinction projects have focused on the following topics, among others:
- The Transformation of HIV/AIDS Prevention in Thailand
- Economic Conditions as a Factor in Terrorism: Egypt 2004-2006
- Hydropolitics: The International Water Transfer and Commodification
- Ethnic Conflict and Resolution in South Tyrol, Italy
Find out more about the Distinction Project.
Students speak...
"Pursuing a distinction project helped me the most in learning how to manage a months-long project. Much like projects in the 'real world,' a distinction paper can't be written the night before and involves more than one person. Also, having this project on my resume helped a lot after graduation. I was often asked about it during interviews and explaining the project enabled me to show off my knowledge of the area of the world that I studied at Illinois." Jonas V.
"The most important thing that I got out of the distinction project was that after it was completed, I felt like I was really a part of the discourse and the academic world. You can publish your work, submit it to conferences, or just put it in your resume--either way, you've proved to yourself and to everyone else that you can bring something new and individual to the field." Annamarie W.
