Students receiving a score of 5 on any AP history examination will be guaranteed a place in the 100-level History seminar of their choice.
Advising
Both majors and non-majors are encouraged to talk at any time with the department chair, Ms. Saharczewski, the department secretary, or any other member of the department about the History major.
All majors will be given the option of choosing a department faculty advisor and encouraged to meet with their advisors at least once each semester. But, in any case, all majors must meet with their advisors, the department chair, or another designated faculty member at the time of the spring semester. Students who are interested in the senior honors program or graduate school should contact the Chair . Prospective study abroad students should contact Linda Saharczewski, the study abroad advisor.
Foreign Languages
Study of a foreign language is basic to the understanding of other cultures. Particularly those students who might wish to do graduate work in History are encouraged to enroll in language courses at Williams.
The Degree with Honors
The History Department offers a thesis route to the degree with honors in History. This involves a ten-course major as well as an independent WSP. Students wishing to undertake independent research or considering graduate study are encouraged to participate in the thesis program and honors seminar. Juniors considering writing a thesis are encouraged to enroll in the winter study course, HIST 010, Historical Research and Thesis Writing, in their junior year, in advance preparation for thesis writing as a senior.
Application to enter the honors program should be made by spring registration in the junior year and should be based on a solid record of work of honors caliber, normally defined as maintaining at least a B+ average in courses taken for the major. Students who intend to write an honors thesis must submit a proposal to the History Department at this time. Students who will be away during the spring semester of their junior year should make arrangements to apply before leaving. Normally, it is the responsibility of the individual student to procure the agreement of a member of the department to act as his or her thesis advisor, and the student must therefore consult with a member of the department about a thesis topic and a possible thesis advisor prior to submitting a proposal to the department. A student who is uncertain of which member of the department might be an appropriate advisor, or who otherwise is unable to find an advisor, should contact the chair of the honors committee. An honors thesis proposal must be signed by a member of the History Department. Normally, the thesis topic should be related to course work which the student has previously done. Students should be aware, however, that while the department will try to accommodate all students who qualify to pursue honors, particular topics may be deemed unfeasible and students may have to revise their topics accordingly. Final admission to the honors thesis program will depend on the department's assessment of the qualifications of the student and the feasibility of the project.
Once the student has been notified of admission to the honors thesis program, he or she should register for History 493, Senior Honors Thesis Research Seminar, in the fall semester, for WO 031 during winter study, and for History 494, Senior Honors Thesis Writing Seminar, in the spring. In addition to doing the research for and writing a thesis of approximately 75-100 pages, students will attend special presentations under the History Department's Class of 1960 Scholars Program.
During the fall, students should work regularly on their research and consult frequently with their advisors. Throughout the semester, honors candidates will also present written progress reports for group discussion to the seminar (History 493). Performance in the seminar will be evaluated on the basis of class participation and completed written work and will determine if a student will continue in the thesis program. For students proceeding to WO31 and History 494, performance in the fall semester will figure into the thesis grade calculated at the end of the year.
Students who are deemed to be making satisfactory progress on their research and writing at this point will be allowed to continue with the thesis. They will devote the entire winter study period to thesis work. They should conclude their research during winter study and complete at least one chapter of their thesis for submission to their advisor before the end of winter study. At the end of winter study, the honors committee will formally consult with advisors and make recommendations to the department concerning which students should be allowed to proceed with the thesis. During the early weeks of the second semester, students will present a draft chapter of their thesis to the honors seminar.
Completed theses will be due in mid-April, after which each student will prepare and present a short oral presentation of his or her thesis for delivery at the departmental Honors Colloquium. Another student who has read the thesis will then offer a critique of it, after which the two faculty readers of the thesis will offer their own comments and questions. Finally, there will be a general discussion of the thesis by students and other members of the department.
Study Abroad
We believe that immersion in and familiarity with a foreign culture are not only valuable in themselves, but also provide an important way of understanding the past. We therefore encourage you both to study a foreign language and to consider studying abroad during your junior year. History courses abroad from a program that is recognized by the college normally can satisfy departmental distribution and elective requirements, up to a maximum of three courses. Remember that you must take at least six history courses in residence at Williams College, though, so the total number of course credits that you can receive towards your major from both study abroad and AP is three. This limit does not apply to history tutorials taken as part of the Williams-Oxford Program.
If you are interested in studying abroad during your junior year, you should discuss your plans with a member of the department as well as with the department study abroad advisor. The Department Chair or the study abroad advisor must approve your study abroad courses that you wish to apply towards your major before you begin your study abroad program. If you will be abroad for the full year, you should plan to take History 301 during your senior year or during your sophomore year.
Linda Saharczewski, Department Administrative Assistant, is the study abroad advisor.
Other helpful links:
Dean's Office Study Away page -- includes Guide to Study Abroad, approved foreign study programs with links to country and program homepages, and frequently asked questions