Departmental Thesis Requirements

A History Honors Thesis should be a publishable-quality, article-length essay that uses research in primary and secondary sources to make a meaningful contribution to the field. There is no concrete length requirement, but we generally expect that a thesis should be 7,500–10,000 words long. It should adhere to the usage guidelines in the Chicago Manual of Style. A student’s thesis advisor will provide more specific recommendations and expectations based on the subject matter of a student project.

Each academic department submits the specific requirements that must be met for a successful Honors thesis in its respective major. If you are seeking more information on your department’s thesis requirements, please contact your Departmental Honors Liaison and/or the Honors Thesis Team in the Honors College.

Faculty Thesis Mentors

All History faculty are eligible to be mentors. Should a faculty mentor leave the University before the thesis is complete, the student and mentor may decide together if it is appropriate to continue the mentorship remotely or transfer it to a faculty member that remains in the Department of History.

Collaborative Theses

Collaborative theses are not appropriate submissions for majors in History.

Joint Thesis

Joint theses are permitted.

How does the Honors Thesis relate to other aspects of the major, like a Capstone Project?

In their junior year, History majors will take HIST 3100: The Historian's Craft, which requires the development of a research proposal. In the Fall of their senior year, Honors History majors will take HIST 4990: Senior Seminar, which will facilitate a first draft of their thesis. In the Spring of their senior year, they will take HIST 4999: Honors Thesis, completing their final draft.

Additional information for students

As soon as their sophomore year, Honors History majors may meet with the History Department's Departmental Honors Liaison (DHL) to work on identifying an appropriate thesis project and advisor. The advisor should be identified by the beginning of the Honors History major's senior year.