Honours
Honours coordinator: Dr Catherine Kovesi
The History Honours year is a richly rewarding experience. It provides scope to refine your analytical skills and research techniques while significantly enhancing your range of options after graduation. A fourth year of study at Honours level is valued by employers. It signals your ability to acquire advanced skills of analysis, to develop original ideas, and to apply innovative solutions to complex problems.
You can jump to specific sections on this page:
- General information about Honours in the Arts Faculty
- Requirement for both pure and combined Honours
- Human research ethics information
- Information about the History Honours reading course
- A list of Honours subjects
- Guidelines for the thesis
- Thesis cover sheet
General Honours information
For general information on eligibility, entry requirements, application procedures, and course structure, see the Arts Faculty website:
Arts Faculty Honours information
Once you are notified of the success of your application, you will be sent a Thesis Proposal Form by the Faculty of Arts. This form will need to be completed and returned no later than 14 December 2009.
Human Research Ethics
Honours students undertaking research that involves interviews and/or questionnaires may need to submit an ethics application to the School Human Ethics Advisory Group (HEAG). Such an application needs to be approved BEFORE commencing your research. It is recommended that honours students aim to submit their ethics applications either to the April HEAG meeting or, for mid-year entry, the October HEAG meeting. For further information, consult your supervisor, and follow the link:
Pure Honours
Students undertaking pure honours in History must complete:
131-505 History Thesis (37.5 points); and
Five honours subjects (seminars) in History (totalling 62.5 points).
Students who have not completed 131-418 Historical Theory and Research must do this as one of their five subjects in second semester.
One of the five seminars can be taken as a Reading Course (see below).
Combined Honours
Students undertaking combined honours in History and another discipline must complete:
131-505 History Thesis (37.5 points); and
Two honours subjects in History (totalling 25 points); and
Three honours subjects in the combining discipline (totalling 37.5 points)
OR
An honours thesis in the combining discipline (37.5 points); and
Two honours subjects in the combining discipline (totalling 25 points); and
Three honours subjects in History (totalling 37.5 points)
Reading course
This subject can be taken as one of the five required subjects for Pure Honours in History. Students who choose to do the Reading Course must complete it in the first semester of their enrolment period as an Honours student, i.e. those who commence Honours in first semester 2009 must take the Reading Course in first semester 2009. Mid-year entry Honours students Students must take the reading course in second semester 2009.
The subject involves a study of theoretical or historiographical issues broadly related to the thesis topic and conducted through extensive reading, decided by the student in conjunction with the supervisor leading to an essay of 5000 words. Regular meetings with the supervisor are required.
The subject should enhance the student's powers of independent inquiry, should encourage initiative in self-directed research, and should strengthen the student's capacities in theoretical analysis and argument.
[Download sample essay #1 4.8M PDF]
[Download sample essay #2 1M PDF]
Submission dates: Monday 8 June 2009 (first semester)
Monday 9 November 2009 (mid-year entry)
You can download further information about the Reading Course (PDF 50kb)
2009 Honours subjects
See the School of Historical Studies website for 2009 History Honours subjects
The Honours Thesis
Useful Documents
Fourth Year Thesis Draft Guidelines (PDF 70kb)
This document consists of notes that provide a useful guide to the preparation of your thesis draft.
Information and dates for 2009 (PDF 60kb)
Brief points for 2009 fourth year honours (and postgraduate diploma) history students, including information on important dates, contacts, coursework and assessment.
Notes on the presentation and examination of fourth year thesis (PDF 95kb)
Information on presentation and examination, as well as information on the presentation of evidence in Oral History theses.
How is my Honours thesis assessed? (PDF 35kb)
Criteria, examination procedures and marks required in the assessment of your thesis.
Thesis Cover Sheet
Students should fill out the thesis cover sheet (Word doc 35kb) and attach it to their thesis when submitting.