BC Academic Awards
International Studies majors and minors are consistently recognized for academic excellence, community service, and leadership while at Boston College. We are proud to acknowlege their recognition in many categories.
Hailey Burgess
Matthew Eckstein
Naseem Moussavian
Matteo Ricci, SJ
Students who submit a completed and approved thesis by April 15 are considered for the Matteo Ricci, SJ International Studies Thesis Prize, given to an exceptional IS thesis each year. The award is named in honor of 16th century Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci, known for his nearly 30-year work in China as a scholar, scientist, and missionary.
Recent winners include:
2020: Zoë Fanning
"Civilian Healthcare under Fire: International Healthcare Intervention in Post-Cold War Armed Conflicts" (Advisor: Prof. Erickson)
2019: Name
"Title" (Advisor: Prof. Name)
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.700 or higher are eligible to apply for the MCAS-wide Scholar of the College designation, which allows students to claim 9 or 12 credits for their thesis project, in exchange for increased expectations for depth and quality of work. Scholars of the College theses are eligible for the McCarthy Prizes (see below).
If you are interested in pursuing a Scholar of the College thesis, speak with your faculty advisor, thesis advisor, and the IS Program thesis coordinator (Prof. Nakazato) in the Spring or Summer before senior year.
Applications for a 12-credit SOC thesis are due to the MCAS Dean's Office the the first week of the fall semester; applications for the 9-credit SOC thesis are due in mid-December.
Scholars of the College who submit a completed and approved thesis by April 15 may be considered for a McCarthy Prize, given to the best Morrissey College thesis project in each of the Natural Sciences, the Social Sciences, and the Humanities. McCarthy Prizes are awarded at the Scholars Banquet and recognized at the university's Commencement Awards Ceremony.