A good choice of adviser is key. Ideally, the student would know the faculty member from previous course work. Most importantly, the adviser should have expertise in the area the student wishes to investigate. An essential requirement is that the adviser will be available to meet with the student and review his or her work throughout the senior year. Students are strongly encouraged to arrange to meet frequently with their advisers throughout both semesters. The adviser may also wish to see drafts of portions of the essay at various times throughout the academic year and will, in all likelihood, want to see a completed draft before the student submits it.
In some cases, students are interested in working with a faculty member who is going to be on leave for one of the semesters during the student’s senior year. In these cases, the student should consult with the DUS before asking him or her to serve as an adviser. Key criteria are whether the advisor will be available to read draft material and meet with the student in person or remotely (via email, Skype, etc.).
Note: Your adviser must be a PLSC faculty member. Please find a list of our faculty here. Only the DUS can grant exceptions. Please also consult with the DUS if you are having difficulty selecting an adviser.