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History majors have the option of
writing a senior thesis during the two terms of their senior year. In unique
circumstances, students may be given permission to write the thesis in one
term. Writing a senior thesis involves original research, normally with
extensive use of primary materials. Theses
ought to be between 13,000 and 17,000 words, with a lower limit of 10,000 words
and an upper limit of 20,000 words, for exceptional cases. Determinations of
honors rest on quality, not length. Verbosity and diffuseness mitigate against
the awarding of honors and prizes. A thesis is required-but not
sufficient-for a student to receive departmental honors.
Historiography requirement:
The historiography course requirement for students intending to write a senior thesis is under review:
HIST W 2901: Historical Theories and Methods will not be offered during the 2011-2012 academic year.
HIST W 4900: The Historian's Craft will be
offered in the Spring 2012 term for those who are interested in more intensive
study of historiography.
Students who
will be juniors in the 2011-2012 academic year will not need to fulfill the
historiography requirement to write a thesis in 2012-2013.
Thesis Seminars/Independent Writing: It is strongly
recommended that the thesis be written in one of the Senior Thesis Seminars
(HIST C4398/C4399). Students submit applications for the year-long Senior
Thesis Seminar in the spring semester of their junior year. Students may also write a thesis independently with a faculty advisor. In
this case, students register for the faculty member's section of HIST C4997/8
Independent Senior Thesis in History for one or two terms. Independent thesis
writers should identify an appropriate advisor in the term before they begin
the thesis and should submit an advisor-approved proposal to the Director of
Undergraduate Studies before the beginning of the thesis term (August 1st for the fall and December 1st for the spring). Once the project
is approved, students should contact the Undergraduate Administrator for assistance with
registration.
Thesis Seminar Application DOC
Thesis Funding Opportunities
Edwin Robbins Summer Research Fellowship: The department offers two fellowships of $2,500 each year
to support summer research in preparation for writing a senior thesis.
Interested students must identify a faculty member willing to supervise the
research project and submit a proposal of no more than 1,500 words, with
evidence of the faculty supervisor's support (a faculty signature on the
proposal itself, or an email by the application deadline from the faculty
member to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.) The Robbins fellowships are
fully explained at the Prospective Thesis Writers Meeting held every spring.
Edwin Robbins Summer Research Fellowship DOC
CC/GS Thesis Funding:
Columbia College and the School of General Studies both offer seniors grants
towards writing senior theses. Grant amounts normally range from $50 to $500
and cover expenses like photocopying and traveling. The two schools have
different deadlines, but these applications are made during the senior year.
Columbia College Thesis Grant
Application DOC
General Studies Thesis Grant
Application DOC
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