Program Requirements

Honours Program

In the Honours Program, students have the opportunity to study history more independently and intensively than is normally possible in the Major and General Programs. Through the Honours Seminar that explores historical methodology (HIST 480) and the Honours Thesis, a research project normally based on primary sources (HIST 497), the Honours Program encourages students to think critically and to deepen their understanding of both the content and craft of history. A Third-Year Honours Essay (HIST 398) is optional. While the primary intent of the Honours Program is to help any interested and talented student of history achieve an excellent education in the liberal arts, the program should be especially useful for students contemplating graduate work in history or careers in senior secondary teaching, journalism, law, library science or government service.

Admission to the Honours Program normally requires a minimum overall GPA of 6.0 as well as a minimum of 6.0 in 6 units of History courses, of which at least 3 units should be at the 100 or 200 level. These 6 units are not counted towards the 18 units of upper-level History required within the Honours Program.

Application for admission to the Honours Program should normally be made in the spring, during the student’s second year, although a small number of third-year applications may also be accepted. In certain cases, applications may be accepted any time up to the beginning of a student’s fourth year.

Honours candidates are required to have their program of courses approved by the Honours Adviser. To avoid overspecialization, Honours students must study more than one area of History and are strongly encouraged to take at least one course in pre-1800 history.

An Honours degree requires a graduating GPA of at least 5.0 and a GPA of at least 5.0 in Honours courses (HIST 398 if taken, 480, 497).

Candidates whose performance is unsatisfactory may be required to transfer from the Honours Program to the Major Program. Admission to the fourth-year Honours Program is conditional upon satisfactory performance in the third year.

Third- and Fourth-year Requirements

Students in the Honours Program must take 18 units of history courses numbered 300 or above:

A maximum of 3.0 units taken from GRS 332, 333, 336, 337, 342, 344, 346, 348, 349, 350, 461, 480A, 480C, MEDI 451 and MEST 308 may be accepted in lieu of a course in European history.*

1. Usually completed by the end of third year

2. As part of HIST 497 an oral examination will be conducted by a committee comprising the Faculty supervisor of the paper, the second reader and the departmental Honours Adviser. The examination will be open to other interested members of the department.

3. Of these 12.0 units, a maximum of 9 units may be selected from one area of interest.

Students are also required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of a language other than English by passing, with a grade of C or higher in each course, 3.0 units of 200-level language courses (FRAN 180 is also acceptable), or by passing a special translation examination administered by the Department of History.

Major Program

To be admitted to the Major Program, students require a minimum GPA of 2.0 in 6 units of introductory History courses.

Students interested in pursuing a Major in History are advised to consult a Majors' Adviser in their first year if possible, and History Majors are strongly encouraged to consult a Majors' Adviser regarding their third- and fourth-year programs.

Students in the Major Program must complete 15 units of History courses numbered 300 and above. Of these 15 units, a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 units should be selected from one area of interest. Students are strongly encouraged to take at least one course in pre-1800 history.

A maximum of 3.0 units taken from GRS 332, 333, 336, 337, 342, 344, 346, 348, 349, 350, 461, 480A, 480C, MEDI 451 and MEST 308 may be accepted in lieu of a course in European history.*

General and Minor Programs

History may be taken as one field of concentration in a General Program, or as a Minor. Normally, a student should complete:

1. 6 units of introductory History courses at the 100 or 200 level
2. 9 units of History courses at the 300 or 400 level

Students are strongly encouraged to take at least one course in pre-1800 history.

A maximum of 1.5 units taken from GRS 332, 333, 336, 337, 342, 344, 346, 348, 349, 350, 461, 480A, 480C, MEDI 451 and MEST 308 may be accepted in lieu of a course in European history.*

* Other than these, courses in the various studies programs (CS, ES, EUS, GERS, GRS, IS, MEDI, MEST, PAAS, RS, RUSS, WS) cannot be counted towards the General and Minor, the Major or the Honours degrees (exception: Special Topics courses may be considered on an ad hoc basis).