B.A. with History Honors
Introduction
The B.A. with History Honors is the highest accolade UNC Charlotte History undergraduates can receive. It attests to your advanced methodology training in History and the successful authorship of a publishable article-style thesis, as well as your exemplary grade point averages in your major and undergraduate courses. History Honors is great preparation for graduate training and a stellar addition to your resume. History Honors Candidates may receive dual early-entry graduate credit for the History Master’s program. The honors thesis satisfies the University Honors Program portfolio requirement and the Levine Scholar’s distinction for graduation with honors.
Those interested should contact the Honors Director early on to determine the best time to enter the program (the Honors sequence starts each Fall). This is especially important if you also plan to complete teacher licensure, study abroad, or add another major or honors program to your studies.
Application
To become a History Honors Candidate, you must complete HIST 3600 History Skills Seminar with a grade of A, achieve a 3.5 GPA in History, and a 3.0 GPA overall.
The Honors Committee will consider applications of majors who received a B in HIST 3600 and/or have an overall and History GPA of 3.0 or above, upon recommendation of their HIST 3600 instructor.
You apply for History Honors directly with the Honors Director by submitting an application proposal via email. This proposal should contain the following:
- One paragraph outlining your motivations for applying to the History Honors program.
- An outline of a potential thesis topic. A thesis statement is not needed yet, but you should describe a specific area of interest and research question you could explore within a year-long project, as well as primary sources you might draw on. You may change your thesis topic later when working on your thesis proposal in HIST 4797.
- The names of a potential advisor and first reader for your committee. Their expertise should be relevant to your proposed project.
- (On a second page:) a bibliography for your proposed topic that lists at least ten relevant secondary sources and one or more primary sources or collections of primary sources. Format in Chicago Style.
- The descriptive part of the proposal should cover one full page (double-spaced, 12-pt font) and be written out in full sentences.
Applications for the History Honors program are accepted on a rolling basis during the spring semester prior to starting HIST 4797 (= Part 1 of the Honors sequence). The Honors Director will review your proposal in consultation with the Honors Committee and issue an authorization to enroll in HIST 4797 upon admission. For questions about the application process, please contact the Honors Director.
Curriculum
The History Honors sequence consists of two courses. HIST 4797 Honors Methods and Practice/Davenport Seminar is taught in the Fall. It prepares you for your thesis work by providing training in historiography, research methods, source development, and writing. During the course, you will meet separately with your thesis advisor to craft a formal research proposal and begin your thesis draft. HIST 4799 Honor Research and Thesis is a writing seminar offered in the Spring that supports the completion of your thesis while you continue to be guided by your advisor and first reader.
HIST 4797 satisfies the department’s 4000-level methods course requirement (Historiography). HIST 4799 replaces the senior seminar HIST 4600. You achieve History Honors by obtaining a grade of A for HIST 4797 (or B with permission to proceed) and an A for HIST 4799, while maintaining your 3.5 History/3.0 overall GPA. If you do not reach one of these thresholds, you move back to the regular curriculum. Were you to score a C for HIST 4797, you would take HIST 4600 to graduate. If you pass HIST 4799 but did not score an A, you will still have completed your capstone course, and thus be ready to graduate upon completion of the courses and credit hours mandated for the History B.A..
Thesis and Thesis Defense
Honors candidates write a thesis of between 25 and 45 pages in length (double-spaced 12pt font), which adheres to the conventions for scholarly articles. Your thesis should pose an innovative/relevant research question, offer a sophisticated historiographical discussion, engage in analytical discussion, as well as mobilize a substantial number of primary sources. Successful theses would be publishable in peer-reviewed journals.
You conduct your research and craft your thesis in close concert with your advisor. Your thesis must undergo at least one full revision based on the comments of your advisor and readers before you may defend it for the full committee (consisting of your advisor and first reader, plus the Honors Director as second reader). You must schedule your thesis defense no later than the Reading Day of the semester you complete HIST 4799 and submit your revisions to your committee at least five days prior to that date. A thesis defense lasts about forty minutes. During this meeting, the committee will question you on your content expertise, research methodology, and findings before assigning a final grade. The committee members (including the Honors Director) must sign off on your Application to Candidacy Form Part 2 (see below).
Thesis Advisor and Readers
Honors candidates select a thesis advisor and a first reader either when enrolled in HIST 4797, or in the semester prior to HIST 4799. The thesis advisor must be a tenured or tenure-track member of the History Department faculty or a History Department lecturer. The first reader may be a tenured or tenure-track member from History or another department, or a History Department Lecturer. The second reader may be a tenured or tenure-track member from History or another department, or a History Department Lecturer. Part-time faculty in the History Department may serve as readers on Honors committees with the permission of the Honors Director.
Your advisor meets with you regularly to discuss your progress and review your research and writing. A first reader assists when needed and comments on your penultimate draft (at a minimum). The Honors Director typically serves as the second reader on all Honors committees. In consultation with their advisor, Honors candidates may seek additional input from faculty with specific expertise in the field of study.
Candidates and advisors should carefully review needed expertise, collaborative fit, time schedules/commitments, etc. before agreeing to work together on an honors thesis. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ask for assistance, schedule meeting times, and meet agreed deadlines. The advisor and readers should review work in a timely fashion and give the candidate direct feedback on progress. Candidates may change their advisor at any time in consultation with the Honors Director.
M.A. Early Entry and Co-Credits
Early-entry B.A./M.A History candidates may apply their History Honors credit both to their undergraduate and graduate studies. Please contact the Honors Director and the Director of Graduate Studies for details prior to enrolling in the History Honors program.
The B.A. History with History Honors also combines well with UNC Charlotte’s leadership-oriented University Honors Program. Students who are enrolled in both University Honors and History Honors receive a waiver for their UHP senior capstone portfolio course requirement. Levine Scholars may receive additional academic honors by completing the History Honors program. Please visit the website of the Honors College to learn more about the University Honors Program:
https://honorscollege.charlotte.edu/
Application Forms for Graduation
The Honors College formally bestows all honors recognitions. Please consult this website to access the forms required for graduation:
https://honorscollege.charlotte.edu/living-honors/graduation-process/
All Honors candidates must submit to the Honors College an Application to Candidacy Form. This electronic form consists of two parts:
- Application to Candidacy Form (Part 1) must be submitted by Reading Day of the semester PRIOR to the semester in which you expect to complete your thesis. This form requires you to append a) an abstract of your project; b) a polished thesis proposal of 12-15 pages, which you will prepare as part of your HIST 4797 seminar. Your Application to Candidacy may be reviewed by Honors Faculty at the Honors College and sometimes requires revisions. It is your responsibility to assure that the Honors Director and your committee members approve your proposal and sign your application electronically prior to the submission deadline. This Application to Candidacy process is required before enrolling in HIST 4799. Failure to follow this procedure will result in denial of graduation with honors.
- Application to Candidacy Form (Part 2) must be submitted by Reading Day of the semester in which you defend your thesis. You must append both your completed thesis and a thesis abstract to this form. You will submit this form electronically right after your thesis defense and circulate it to your committee members and the Honors Director for their signature. One digital copy of your thesis must be deposited with the History Department. Your accomplishment will be noted on your diploma and in the commencement program. For questions and/or further information, please contact the Honors Director.