History: Honors (BA.HIS.HON)

Bachelor of Arts in History Honors

The History Honors Program provides a more rigorous version of the History major than the regular Bachelor’s program and it offers the opportunity to work even more closely with the department’s faculty to produce an original piece of historical research. The program is strongly recommended for students who wish to pursue graduate study but it is appropriate for any student wishing to study history more broadly and in greater depth.

Eligibility

The candidate must be a History major with a GPA above 3.0 in History (HIS) courses as well as an overall GPA of at least 3.0.

The candidate must be recommended in writing by two members of the History faculty, one of whom will serve as the student’s Honors advisor.

The candidate must then be approved as a History Honors major by the HGEP Department; such acceptance ordinarily occurs before the end of the sophomore year. The Department then forms an Honors Committee (comprised of the Honors advisor, the History Thesis Seminar instructor, and a third reader) that consults regularly with the candidate to help him or her complete the requirements below.

Requirements:

1. Complete the requirements of the History major. 
2. Demonstrate intermediate reading proficiency in a foreign language. This can be satisfied by passing a reading examination or acquiring six credits of college-level foreign language courses.
3. Pass a comprehensive written examination based on the candidate’s coursework and interests. The questions are designed by the History faculty with whom the candidate took courses. This examination normally takes place during the second semester of the senior year.
4. Submit a History Honors Thesis that demonstrates mastery of a historically significant topic, a thorough engagement with a wide range of primary and secondary sources, and advanced knowledge of—and ability to employ—historical methods, theories and research skills.
5. Conduct a public defense of the History Honors Thesis in which the candidate satisfactorily presents, explains, and defends the research, writing, organization, and conclusions of the thesis. The oral defense takes place no later than the last week of the candidate’s final semester.