Honours
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.
Honours coordinator: Dr Catherine Kovesi
General Honours information
For general information on eligibility, entry requirements, application procedures, and course structure, see the Arts Faculty website:
Arts Faculty Honours information
History Honours information
Pure Honours
Combined Honours
Reading Course
Honours subjects 2008
Honours thesis
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 2008 must take the Reading Course in first semester 2008. Mid-year entry Honours students Students must take the reading course in second semester 2008.
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 9 June 2008 (first semester)
Monday 10 November (mid-year entry)
Semester One Honours subjects
| Code | Subject | Coordinator |
|---|---|---|
| 131-412 | The Economy and Jewish Identity | Gideon Reuveni |
| 131-460 | Fascist Europe | Steven Welch |
| 131-474 | New Histories of Australian Politics | Jackie Dickenson |
| 131-544 | Applications in Public History | Andrew Brown-May |
| 131-553 | International Relations: 1945-Present | Ara Keys |
| 131-545 | Writing and Making Histories | Mary Sheehan |
Semester Two Honours Subjects
| Code | Subject | Coordinator |
|---|---|---|
| 131-405 | History, Memory and Violence in Asia | Kate McGregor |
| 131-408 | The Medieval Body | Megan Cassidy-Welch |
| 131-411 | Major Issues in Roman History | Frederik Vervaet |
| 131-413 | Memory and Violence in Ireland | Elizabeth Malcolm |
| 131-418 | Historical Theory and Research | Mary Tomsic |
| 131-422 | Asia in Paradigms of World History | Justin Tighe |
| 131-458 | American Nation | Glenn Moore |
| 131-463 | World War II in Asia and the Pacific | Charles Schencking |
| 131-471 | Postcolonial and Indigenous Histories | T.B.A. |
The Honours Thesis
Fourth Year Thesis Draft Guidelines (PDF 80kb)
This document consists of notes that provide a useful guide to the preparation of your thesis draft.
Information and dates for 2008 (PDF 70kb)
Brief points for 2008 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 100kb)
Information on presentation and examination, as well as information on the presentation of evidence in Oral History theses.