Honours

If you're interested in graduate studies or would like to engage in a serious intellectual exercise, you should consider a Bachelor of Arts - History with Honours. It's an opportunity for you to select a topic, engage in systematic study under the supervision of a faculty supervisor and produce a scholarly finished project. Please note, the History Honours Program is not for everyone - you will have greater success if you have strong time-management skills, self-discipline and works well independently.

DescriptionThe Honours Program is an in-depth experience with the discipline of History. You will complete a two-course sequence in your last year of study (HIST 5110 and HIST 5120). During these courses, you will define a topic, conduct a literature review, and produce a thesis or project based on original research. The completed thesis will range between 50 and 60 pages of text, not including footnotes and bibliography. Less commonly, you may - with the approval of a sponsoring faculty member - choose to do a project based on your research rather than a traditional thesis. In addition, the general graduation requirements for Honours vary somewhat from the general graduation requirements for the Bachelor of Arts - History. For instance, you must take a minimum of 20 History courses instead of a minimum of 16 History courses. If you are enrolled in the Honours Program, but fail to satisfy all the requirements for an Honours degree (for instance, you do not complete the thesis), but has satisfied all requirements for a Bachelor of Arts - History, you will receive a BA - History degree upon graduation. EligibilityAdmittance to the Program is competitive, you must have a 3.0 GPA in your last ten courses to apply. History faculty members determine which of the qualified applicants will be admitted into History Honours Program. Once admitted, you must maintain a 3.0 GPA in your major courses, as well as an overall 3.0 GPA.

ApplicationStudents may apply to the History Honours Program after completing 20 courses. Your application must include the following items:

The Mount Royal University Honours application form obtainable from the History major advisor.
The History Honours application form obtainable from the History major advisor.
An unofficial transcript of all college/university courses including courses completed at other post-secondary institutions.
Applications are due by May 1 - no exceptions. Application materials must be submitted to the Chair of the Department of Humanities located in EA 3147. You will be notified by June 15 if you have been accepted to the program and you will have until June 30 to notify the Associate Dean of Arts if you accept the offer to join the Honours Program in History.

Potential Supervisors

Joe Anderson, PhD
Nazak Birjandifar, PhD
David Clemis, PhD
Sabrina Datoo, PhD
Travis Hay, PhD
Emily Hutchison, PhD
Scott Murray, PhD
Carmen Nielson
Kirk Niergarth, PhD
Jennifer Pettit, PhD Specific Graduation Requirements

You must meet the general graduation requirements for the Bachelor of Arts - History with Honours, as indicated in the Mount Royal University calendar. In addition, as a History Honours student, you must meet the specific History course requirements outlined below:

You must take at least four introductory (1000-level) HIST courses, including one 1000-level course each in Canadian, American and European History. If you declared a major in History as of Fall 2011 and onwards, you must take HIST 1100 - Introduction to History and at least three other introductory (1000 level) HIST courses, including one1000-level course each in Canadian, American and European History.

You must take at least 14 HIST courses at the 2000 level or higher. In satisfying this requirement, you must also satisfy the following requirements:
HIST 2202 - The Historian's Craft
HIST 5110 - Honours Project I
HIST 5120 - Honours Project II*

Minimum six HIST courses at the 4000 level or higher (including HIST 5110 and HIST 5120)

*You are strongly advised to select a topic for your Honours Project from subject areas in which you've taken a minimum of four courses, at least one at the 4000 level.

You must take a minimum of 20 HIST courses (not including courses taken in the fulfillment of the General Education requirements).

You may take a maximum of 24 HIST courses (including electives, courses taken in the fulfillment of the General Education requirements, and non-HIST courses** specified as satisfying the requirements of the History program).

**The following courses can be used to satisfy HIST course requirements: CNST 1131, CNST 2233, HUMN 2219 and HUMN 2221.

You must achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last eight History courses completed in the program.

If you are enrolled in the Honours Program but fail to satisfy all the requirements for an Honours degree (for instance, maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA in your last eight History courses), but has satisfied all requirements for a Bachelor of Arts - History degree you will receive a BA - History degree upon graduation.