Special Programs and Courses

Directed Studies: A student who wishes to work on a project with a faculty member may ask that instructor to supervise a Directed Study (HI 491 in Semester 1, HI 492 in Semester 2). A detailed plan of study, which may be obtained in the CAS Academic Advising Office (CAS 105, 725 Commonwealth Avenue), is required. Ordinarily faculty members do not supervise Directed Studies on topics covered in regularly scheduled classes.

Independent Work for Distinction: Work for graduation with distinction presupposes attainment of the requisite College of Arts & Sciences grade point level (a minimum of 3.0 in all courses, 3.5 in all history courses). In the senior year, the student must prepare an honors thesis, which will be credited as one course each semester, and defend it in an oral examination toward the end of that year. Students interested in work for distinction should discuss the possibility with the faculty member with whom they wish to work and apply to the Independent Study Committee in their junior year. Work for distinction does not fulfill the departmental seminar requirement, but it may fulfill the distributional requirement and counts toward the twelve courses required for the major.