Monash University - Faculty of Arts

Honours - School of Historical Studies

• Research Supervision
• Combined Honours
• Honours Enquiries
• Historical Studies Honours Units

Introduction

The School offers the opportunity for students to undertake honours in Archaeology and Ancient History, History, Jewish Civilisation, and Religion and Theology. Joint-honours courses which combine study in any of these disciplines with other disciplines in the Faculty of Arts are also available with permission.

Honours involves intensive advanced study combining coursework with a research project, or dissertation, in which the student engages in independent research on an approved topic under the supervision of a member of academic staff. For many students honours provides a stimulating and satisfying completion to their undergraduate work and for others it also offers a gateway to postgraduate research since the entry requirement for research degrees usually involves honours study to a specific level.

The skills which students acquire during their honours year extend those already established during the arts degree in a significant way and are widely recognised by employers and professional associations. These include developing your analytical skills, your understanding of conceptual frameworks and your capacity to formulate a research project and undertake independent research. Honours work is also designed to enhance students' capacities to express their ideas and conclusions in a lucid and coherent way. The experience of preparing a dissertation under supervision can help to equip honours students for future professional tasks involving research, analysis of data, writing reports and so forth. There is a qualitative difference between most pass degrees and an Honours graduate. An Honours degree qualifies you for higher-level positions and for a more interesting range of careers, in research or communication, or administrative or critical spheres, in either the public or the private sector.

For staff in the School of Historical Studies, and in the Faculty of Arts in general, honours teaching is a particularly enjoyable part of their work. Students undertaking honours are likely to get to know their teachers rather better than in earlier years and will work closely throughout the year with the individual staff member who supervises their dissertation. Honours students often enjoy the camaraderie of the year, which involves intense work and deep personal rewards and there are many aspects of this work which the "honours year" shares as a group. In Historical Studies the General Seminar involves all students undertaking honours and provides a forum to support students as they progress through their dissertation work. This seminar is run by the School Honours Coordinator, whose specific responsibility is to guide honours students through the year from their initial application to the submission of their dissertation.

Research Supervision

For students seeking supervision for honours theses, a list of the research interests of historical studies staff can be viewed at:

• Areas of Staff Research & Supervision

N.B. This list is neither exhaustive nor exclusive. Not all staff will be available in any given year or semester. Staff members' interests range widely, and students who wish to work on topics not covered in this list can possibly be accommodated. Dissertation topics should be discussed by interview with the Honours Coordinator.

Combined Honours

Combined honours in History (or Archaeology & Ancient History, or Jewish Civilisation or Religion & Theology) and disciplines within other schools are possible with the approval of the heads of both schools. Arrangements for combined honours should be discussed with the Honours Coordinator.

Honours Enquiries

For more information please contact us via the Contact the School of Historical Studies web page.