Honors Program in History

The honors program provides an opportunity for capable and highly motivated history majors to develop their interest in historical research through the writing of a thesis in the senior year.

Eligibility for Admission

To be eligible for admission to the honors program, students must have completed at least 28 credits in history of which at least 16 upper-division credits have been taken at the University of Oregon. The grade point average in history must be 3.5 or above.

Procedures for Admission

Admission to the honors program is contingent upon the student’s obtaining the agreement of a faculty member in the history department to supervise the student’s research and writing and to chair the student’s oral examination committee. Students who satisfy the credit and grade eligibility requirements, and present to the director of undergraduate studies a faculty member’s written agreement to serve as supervisor, will be admitted to the program.

Course of Study

Honors students may initiate their thesis work either through enrollment in a HIST 405 "Reading and Conference" or elect to develop further a paper written in a HIST 407 seminar. In the first case, the 405 must be taken on a P/NP basis and the credits will not count toward the completion of the major. When the student is ready to submit the thesis, he or she should enroll in HIST 403 "Thesis" normally for 3 credits. These credits will count toward the completion of the major.

The Thesis

The thesis will demonstrate an ability to formulate a significant research problem; to do research in original sources, including sources in at least one foreign language if they are relevant, to interpret sources with imagination and technical skill, and to present the finished work in a form meeting professional standards in history. In quality and length, the thesis will go well beyond normal expectations for the senior research paper required of all history majors.

Completion of Thesis and Oral Examinations

At the beginning of the term in which a student intends to complete the thesis, she or he will notify the director of undergraduate studies of that intent and give names of 2 history faculty members besides the thesis supervisor who will serve as the oral examination committee. The thesis supervisor will serve as chair of the committee. When the thesis is completed, the chair of the examination committee will appoint the day and time of the oral examination on the thesis and related work. The finished thesis must be in the hands of the examining committee at least 10 days before the examination. The oral examination will be open to other students, faculty, and friends as observers.

Honors Designation

Students whose theses are approved by the committee, pass the oral examination, satisfy the history major requirements, maintain throughout their undergraduate studies at the UO a GPA of 3.5 or above in courses in the major, and have deposited a copy of the thesis with the director of undergraduate studies, are eligible for a baccalaureate degree with honors in history.