The Honours Degree in History is a rigorous and rewarding program of study for History Majors interested in developing a piece of independent research and writing. Honours students in History develop many of the necessary skills and preparation for graduate school, law school, or work in the heritage sector.

Honours Guidelines

(The following is taken from the 2024/2025 University Calendar section 15.10.4 and is subject to change - please refer to the latest version to ensure accuracy. If there are any discrepancies between this listing and the listing prepared by the Registrar's office, the Registrar's office official listing will be taken as correct.)

1. Students intending to take an Honours Degree with a Major in History must comply with the Regulations for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Arts.

2.  Students are required to complete at least 60 credit hours in History according to the following pattern, of which there must be a minimum of 36 credit hours at the 3000-level or above:

   1. 36 credit hours chosen in accordance with the pattern set out under the Major in History above; and

   2. 12 additional credit hours in History electives beyond the first-year level and 12 credit hours in Honours courses: History 4800, 4821, 4822, and 4999.

3. Applicants must apply by June 30th for the Fall semester and by November 1st for the Winter semester in order to be considered for admission. Applications received after June 30th will be considered for the Winter semester and applications received after November 1st will be considered for the next Fall semester. Students intending to complete an Honours degree in History will be assisted by a faculty advisor in planning their academic programs. The academic programs for Honours students must be approved by the Head of the Department or delegate.

4. Students electing Joint Honours are required to complete at least 51 credit hours in History according to the following pattern:

   1. 36 chosen in accordance with the pattern set out under the Major in History above;

   2. History 4800 and 4821;

   3. 3 additional credit hours in History electives beyond the first-year level; and

   4. if the student chooses to write the Honours Essay in History, the student must successfully complete History 4822 and History 4999; or

   5. if the student chooses to write the Honours Essay in another Department, the student does not need to complete History 4822 and History 4999. However, these courses must be replaced with 6 additional credit hours in History electives at the third-year level or above.

5. The minimum grades required are (see Graduation Requirements):

   1. 70% on each of the prescribed courses beyond the first-year level or an average of 75% on those courses;

   2. 70% or higher in History 4999; and

   3. an average of at least 2.75 points on the total number of credit hours in the courses required for the degree.
      
      Note: A student may, with the written approval of the Head of the Department and the Faculty's Undergraduate Waivers and Appeals Committee, repeat or substitute up to three courses in order to meet the requirements of Clause 5. above. In counting repeats, each attempt at the same course will count as one course towards the maximum. That is, the same course, repeated three times, would place a student at the maximum and no additional repeats or substitutions would be allowed. The Honours essay may not be repeated or substituted.
      
      

6. No more than 27 transfer credit hours may be included in the minimum 60 credit hours required for the Honours degree in History.

• HIST 4800 Historiography is an introduction to the major historians and historiographical traditions of the West. This course is for Honours students and other selected students, including those intending to apply for graduate studies.
  PR: permission of the Head of Department

  UL: may not be used to meet the requirements of a Major in History without the prior written approval of the Head of the Department of History

• HIST 4821 Reading Course is a directed reading course for Honours and selected students including those intending to apply for graduate studies. Readings will be taken from a list of works by historians, or social theorists whose works are related to history.
  PR: permission of the Head of Department

  UL: may not be used to meet the requirements of a Major in History without the prior written approval of the Head of the Department of History

• HIST 4822 Writing History explores the various ways in which history is written, while also discussing the variety of historiographical traditions. The course is aimed at advanced History majors, minors, and Honours students. If a student intends to complete HIST 4999, a proposal for the honours essay will be a requirement of the course.
  CR: the former HIST 4820

• HIST 4999 Honours Project is the honours essay (or equivalent project) required as part of the honours program.
  PR: HIST 4822, admission to the Honours program

  UL: may not be used to meet the requirements of a Major in History without the prior written approval of the Head of the Department of History

Contact

For more information, please contact the Honours Coordinator for the Department of History at Memorial University, Dr. Sébastien Rossignol, at srossignol@mun.ca or (709) 864-2602.