Honors
Graduating with Honors
Graduating with Latin honors - cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude - in History requires the completion and defense of an honors thesis. A thesis is a substantial research paper (ca. 50-60 pages) based on original research in primary sources.
Honors Qualifications
- MajorÌýin History
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.3*
- Minimum History GPA of 3.5*
- Must complete HIST 1800/1830 & HIST 3020 prior to taking the Honors Seminar
- Junior or senior class standing (60+ credits)
*Under special circumstances, it is possible for a student with a GPA(s) lower than the minimum to write a thesis and graduate with honors.Ìý
Honors Thesis Process
Writing an honors thesis is a serious undertaking and, as such, students who wish to pursue an honors thesis in History must apply to and be accepted into the History Honors Program. Eligible students will be sent an email inviting them to apply to the program during the spring semester (usually late February). Interested students will need to fill out an application and provide an unofficial CU transcript.Ìý
Writing an honors thesis is a year-long process. During the fall semester, students enroll in HIST 3110: Honors Seminar. Taught by the History Honors Director, thisÌýcourse is an intensive seminar on historical research methods and fulfills the capstone senior seminar major requirement.ÌýIn the spring semester students work on their thesis independently (with the guidance of aÌýfaculty advisor) and receive credit by enrolling in HIST 3120: Honors Thesis. Most students defend their theses in theÌýspring;Ìýhowever, some students continueÌýworking on their theses and defend a semester later in theÌýfall.
ÌýÌýHIST 3110 The Honors Seminar and HIST 3120 The Honors Thesis may not be taken simultaneously.
In line with Honors Program policy, the History Department typically requires students to select a Thesis Advisor who is a member of the History Department faculty. In rare cases, students may request a Thesis Advisor from a department other than History. Requests must explain why the thesis topic necessitates a non-History Department thesis advisor and must be approved in advance by the Honors Director. The second member of the thesis committee must be the Honors Director or Assistant Honors Director (as assigned by the Department) and the third committee member must be faculty in a department outside of History.