The Political Science Department offers several awards in recognition of special scholarly achievement by undergraduate students. These awards are made each spring, prior to graduation. Each of the awards carries a cash prize.
Arnold J. Lien Prize
The Lien Prize is awarded each year to the outstanding graduating political science major. The prize is named in honor of a former long-term chairman of the Washington University Political Science Department.
Todd Lewis Friedman Memorial Prize
This prize is awarded each year for outstanding work in comparative and/or international politics.
Antoinette Dames Prizes
There are three Dames prizes awarded to undergraduate students:
- An award for the best senior honors thesis.
- An award for the best lower-division undergraduate paper (a paper done for a 100- or 200- level course).
- An award for the best upper-division undergraduate paper (a paper done in connection with a 300- or 400- level course).
William Benton Parshall Prize
The Parshall Prize is awarded each year for the outstanding undergraduate paper on women in politics.
Robert H. Salisbury Prize
The Salisbury Prize is in honor of our late Professor Emeritus Robert H. Salisbury. The prize is to be presented at the conclusion of the student's junior year and is awarded on the basis of a broad record of initiative, leadership and service both on and off campus.
Grossman-Alexander Prize
The Grossman-Alexander Prize is awarded each year to an outstanding graduating senior with an emphasis on American Politics.
The selection of recipients of these awards is made by the Honors Committee each spring. Papers completed for the preceding spring and the preceding fall semesters are eligible for consideration. Papers are submitted for the competition by faculty members.
In addition to the Senior Latin Honors and special prizes, the Department recognizes exceptional scholarship in Political Science by offering a select number of students the opportunity to join Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Honorary Political Science Society. Students who meet the requirements for admission will be invited to join during the spring semester. For more information on Pi Sigma Alpha and departmental prizes, please see Ingrid Anderson in Seigle 207.