REQUIREMENTS
All History Majors are required to write an extended-length research project that reflects historical scholarship. All Senior Essays and Theses are due by 3:00 pm on the first Monday of Block 8. THERE ARE NO EXTENSIONS BEYOND THIS DEADLINE. Additionally, al History Majors are required to present their research at a one-day conference on campus during Block 8.
THE SENIOR ESSAY VS. THE SENIOR THESIS
The fundamental differences between a Senior Essay and Senior Thesis are length and the level of commitment one intends to devote to their research project in their senior year. Typically, the Senior Essay is an article-length work of historical scholarship, about 25-35 pages, while a Senior Thesis is considerably longer, approximately 80-100 pages in length. In order to write a Senior Thesis, students must submit a Thesis Proposal for evaluation by the History Department faculty by 3:00 pm on the first Monday of Block 8 in their junior year. Students will be notified by the Chair of the History Department whether or not they have been selected to write a Senior Thesis before the end of the Academic Year.
RESEARCH AND WRITING: HY 410 AND HY 420/HY 430
All students will take HY 410, a one-unit course in which they will master methodology relevant to their project, complete a brief literature review, and develop a comprehensive research and writing plan. The following block, students will enroll in either HY 420 (Senior Essay) or HY 415 (Senior Thesis), during which time they will produce a complete draft of the Senior Essay or a complete draft of one chapter of the Senior Thesis. Following the completion of HY 410 and HY 420 (or HY 430), seniors will work with their advisor to develop a plan for revision and completion. Students who write a Senior Thesis take and additional block (HY 431) for research and writing while students who write a Senior Essay will have the option, following consultation and approval by their advisor, to take one block (HY 409) for research and writing. In such cases, students make take these blocks at an appropriate time during the academic year.
DEPARTMENTAL HONORS
Students who write Senior Essays and Theses are equally considered for The Robert J. Cosgrove Award for Excellence in Student Research, and equally evaluated in a student's application to graduate with Distinction in History.
THE HISTORY SENIOR RESEARCH CONFERENCE
During Block 8, all seniors will participate in the History Senior Research Conference where they will present their research to the History community in a conference format. Student papers will be organized in thematic panels and concurrent sessions, with History faculty commenting on the papers presented. This is an all-day conference and graduating seniors are required to participate as part of their Senior Exiting Experience. Hyphenate majors (History-Political Science, Classics, History, and Politics, and History-Philosophy) are welcome to present their senior projects at the History Senior Research Conference.