Honors

The History Section has a large and very active contingent of undergraduate students pursuing both University Honors and Departmental Honors. To graduate with University Honors, a student must complete 24 hours of coursework in honors classes. At least 18 of these hours must be in General Education courses and at least 3 in the student’s major or minor. Every semester History faculty teach honors courses that can be used to help satisfy the requirements for University Honors.  To graduate with Departmental Honors in History, a student must take 9 hours of honors coursework in History and then complete the senior thesis (3 credit hours), for a total of 12 hours of departmental honors work in History. 

Every year anywhere from two to five of our honors students write an honors thesis and graduate from EMU with Departmental Honors in History.  Many of these students also complete the requirements for University Honors.  In each of the past four years, one of our history majors writing the thesis has won the prestigious Undergraduate Symposium Award. Several years ago, one of our students was the keynote speaker at the Honors graduation ceremony.  In addition, numerous honors students have been awarded undergraduate research awards to work with History faculty on various scholarly and academic projects. Students who pursue honors work in History discover the academic challenges to be very rewarding, as they take small honors classes and, while writing the thesis, enter into a tutorial relationship with their thesis adviser.

For more information, please contact History Honors Adviser Dr. Ron Delph or the Honors College.