The History Department’s Honors Program consists of enrollment in HI 401/402, a two-semester seminar course that will guide students through the research and writing of an Honors thesis. The ultimate goal will be the production of a 45-50 page Honors thesis on a subject of the student’s choice, grounded in primary research. The seminar instructor will advise students individually and facilitate a workshop environment for all thesis writers. Students will also work with a faculty advisor in a related research discipline.
The Honors Program offers dedicated students the opportunity to work closely with department faculty, participate in a stimulating and supportive intellectual community, and engage in deep and sustained research on a historical topic. As such, it promises to be a rewarding capstone experience that will be celebrated during graduation ceremonies with silver cords and special distinct in the convocation program.
Requirements and Application
To complete the History Department’s Honors Program, senior History majors must have completed HI 200 (or transfer equivalent) and possess the requisite GPA: at least 3.0 in all courses and at least 3.5 in all history courses.
In addition to completing the application (linked below), students who wish to write an Honors thesis must secure the approval of both a faculty advisor with whom they have taken classes or worked closely before (see list of faculty by geographical area) and the seminar instructor in order to be enrolled in the Honors course.
Seminar Instructor for 2025-2026: Madeline Williams
Download the Application for Honors Program in History.
Please Note: Students are encouraged to submit their application by June 1st but no later than June 30th. Students should turn in their applications to the History Department and/or seminar instructor as soon as they would like it to be considered. The seminar instructor will contact interested students once the application is received. An in-person or Zoom meeting may be required in addition to the application.
Credits
HI 401/402 will count jointly as a single 400- or 500-level seminar towards completing the History major. You may not apply the remaining four credits to your History major; these are considered Honors Program credits earned on top of the courses required for the concentration. In the unlikely event that you do not make acceptable progress on your thesis in HI 401 during the Fall semester, you may be asked (in consultation with your advisor) not to enroll in HI 402 in the Spring. Students who complete only HI 401 with a passing grade may still apply the seminar to the history major seminar requirements. Students who fulfill the requirements for HI 401 and HI 402 and who receive a grade of B+ or higher on the thesis will graduate with Honors in History.
Research Funding
Boston University offers several opportunities for funding undergraduate research, particularly through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and the CAS Honors Research Travel Award.
The History Department offers a Department Honors Program Research Grant to students currently enrolled in the Honors thesis course. This grant is intended as a supplement to the above research funding opportunities already available at the university. Applications for this departmental research grant will not be reviewed until students have determined how much funding they can expect to receive from these other programs.
Interested Honors students should fill out the Department Honors Research Grant Application Form and include the following attachments:
- Copies of all decision letters received from the above research funding opportunities at BU
- An itemized budget proposal, including transportation, accommodations, research supplies, etc.
Completed applications should be delivered to the current Honors Program instructor.
Recent Thesis Topics
- “Light Under a Bushel: US Women’s Hidden Lighthouse Labor,” Priscilla Bright (2023)
- “Warnings Unheeded: The Truman Doctrine and its Early Critics,” Daniel James Mitrano
- “Diplomacy in Development: Ballet in the Cold War,” Molly Kopp
- “Faith in Isolation: Seventh-day Adventism in East Germany 1953-1961,” Caryne A. Nicholas (2021)
- “Attractive “Females” and Explicit “Sex:” A Discourse Analysis of New York Times Help Wanted Ads, 1964-1973,” Lolo Serrano (2021)
- “Anna May Wong: Chinese American Identity and Film Representation in the Early 20th Century,” Aoife Madden