Honors Program
Take your studies to the next level
The Honors Program in History is designed for students who want deeper intellectual challenge and the chance to produce original research. Honors students join an advanced seminar, work closely with a faculty mentor and complete a substantial thesis grounded in primary source analysis. Many describe it as the most rewarding experience of their major.
If you’re curious, motivated and ready to explore a topic in depth, the Honors Program gives you the structure, support and freedom to make a meaningful contribution to historical scholarship.
- Dive into a topic you care about through a sustained, two-semester research project
- Strengthen your writing, analysis and research methods in a supportive, scholarly community
- Work one-on-one with a faculty mentor who guides your project from start to finish
- Build excellent preparation for graduate study, law school or research-based careers
- Graduate with Honors in History on your official transcript
You may apply to the Honors Program if you:
- Have completed at least four history courses, and
- Hold a minimum GPA of 3.33 (B+) in the major, or
- Have a letter of support from a faculty member who is willing to supervise your project
If you are interested, meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to discuss your plans and confirm eligibility.
Honors students complete the regular requirements for the History BA along with a two-semester thesis sequence:
HIS 497 I (Honors Thesis Seminar)
You will identify a research question, explore relevant scholarship, analyze primary sources and draft the foundation of your thesis.
HIS 497 II (Honors Thesis Tutorial)
You will continue your research and complete a polished thesis of roughly 30 to 40 pages, guided by your faculty mentor. Most students complete the thesis during their senior year.
With approval from their mentor and the Directors of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, Honors students may also take a graduate-level seminar that supports their research.
Students who complete the thesis and maintain at least a 3.33 GPA in the major graduate with Honors in History.
If the program sounds like a good fit, your next step is simple: reach out. The department can help you understand the process, connect you with potential faculty mentors and answer any questions you may have.
