Evaluation of Honors Work

Completion of the honors thesis does not assure the granting of Honors in History. Each candidate's Examining Committee will make a recommendation on Honors based upon an evaluation of her written work and her performance in the concluding oral examination.

The Examining Committee

The candidate's Examining Committee is composed of the thesis adviser, two additional members of the History Department (including the department chair or a designated representative), and one tenured faculty member from outside the History Department. In most cases, advisers will consult closely with students before selecting the members of the committee.

Criteria for Evaluation

If the members of the Examining Committee judge the candidate's completed thesis to be of very high quality and are satisfied with her performance in the oral examination, they will recommend that she be awarded Honors in History. It is possible, although uncommon, for a student to receive academic credit for the thesis but not be awarded the distinction of Honors.

History Department