Honours in History

The Convenor of Honours in History is Dr Matthew Fitzpatrick.

What is an Honours degree?

The BA honours degree is conferred after one year's full-time study or two years part-time study at fourth year level. Entry to the honours program follows the completion of the ordinary BA degree. For students with the appropriate qualifications, the great advantages of an honours degree are the opportunities it offers for advanced study in various specialised fields and the training it provides in research methods and critical analysis. An honours degree is highly regarded by many employers; for some positions it is a prerequisite. It is also a necessary qualification for students wishing to do postgraduate research work. The honours year offers students many intellectual and personal benefits. Although challenging, it can be an immensely rewarding experience.

What are the prerequisites for entry to History Honours

To qualify automatically to enrol in Honours History, a student needs to have at least a 5.25 GPA (a Faculty-wide standard), together with a major in History, preferably with at least one DN in an upper level History topic. In addition, there are some practical limitations on the Department’s capacity to provide topics or supervision in some areas a student may wish to study--although there remains a fairly wide range of possibilities, as illustrated by the special topics for 2005 and by the variety of thesis topics that former Hons students have chosen.

What does the Honours program in History involve?

The honours program in History consists of 36 units which includes two main components: 18 units of special honours topics and a 15,000 - 18,000 word thesis (worth 18 units).

Full-time students will complete their degree in one year by enrolling in 18 units of honours topics and completing a thesis.

The honours program is normally completed in one year of full-time study. However, students who have substantial commitments outside their studies may, with the approval of the Standing Committee, enrol for honours part-time, over 18 months or two years, mid-year entry is also possible. For further information contact the Convenor of Honours in History, Dr Janet Phillips.

The honours topics are taught in small groups, meeting weekly. In discussions and their essays, students are encouraged to explore in depth those subjects in which they have a particular intellectual interest.

Honours topic taught in the History Department are:

Semester 1

HIST 7000D History Honours Thesis Part 1(9 units)
HIST7036A The Spanish Civil War
HIST7045 Hitler's Third Reich
HIST 7049 History in Theory and Practice

Semester 2

HIST 7000E History Honours Thesis Part 2 (9 units)
HIST 7022 New Ways in Social History
HIST 7050 Reading Imperialism
HIST 7052 Community History and Heritage

View History Honours Theses, 1985-2005.