Guidelines for the 2025-26 Honors Program

To apply to the History Honors Thesis Program, you must propose a thesis topic and secure the agreement of a faculty member to advise the project. Since all thesis topic ideas require discussion, development, and preliminary research to transform them into viable research projects, you should consider topics of interest to you and discuss them with potential faculty advisors as early as possible. Ideally, topics will emerge from prior coursework.

Students graduating in 2026 apply for admission to the History Honors Program using this form:

HISTORY HONORS PROGRAM APPLICATION FORM

The form asks for details of history courses you have taken, your GPA (overall and in history specifically), and the name of the faculty advisor who has agreed to work with you. It also asks that you upload a research proposal.

The proposal should be about 4-5 pp long and do the following:

* define your topic

* explain your central research questions

* briefly discuss the historiography surrounding your topic

* identify the potential primary sources you will use to help you answer your research questions

The proposal should be accompanied by an annotated bibliography that includes at least five secondary sources.

Your application will be evaluated primarily on whether you have secured the approval of a faculty advisor and on your meeting the minimum GPA standards (3.0 GPA overall and 3.5 in history – with at least 5 history classes completed before fall term 2025).

If you are interested in writing a thesis but do not meet the criteria based upon GPA or number of history courses taken, you may consider submitting a petition for special admission, explaining your interest in the program and your experience in history courses at Dartmouth, alongside the application form and proposal. If you plan to submit a petition you must contact the History Honors Program Director, Professor Leslie Butler (leslie.butler@dartmouth.edu), in advance to discuss this option.

The deadline for applications to the Honors Program is Friday, May 9th, 2024. Students will be notified of their acceptance into the program before the end of spring term and will then enroll in HIST 98 during the course change period over the summer or at the beginning of fall term.

Funding for research travel to archives or to acquire copies of archival records, etc. is available through UGAR, the Rockefeller Center for Public Policy, and the Leslie Center for the Humanities. Please visit the individual websites to learn about eligibility and application deadlines and procedures. The Department of History can also provide limited funding for conducting honors research, details of which will be made available to honors students with the approval of their honors applications. 

• April 30– UGAR thesis funding for Summer Term (up to $2,500)
• May 25 – Rockefeller Center Thesis Funding for Fall  (up to $2,000)
• May 10th – Leslie Center Student Research Grant for Summer (up to $1,800)
•  Late July (check UGAR website) – UGAR thesis funding for Fall Term (up to $2,500)

UGAR, the Rockefeller Center, and the Leslie Center also offer funding for research during and winter and spring term. The deadlines for this additional funding are during the fall term and can be found on the relevant websites. Be sure to consult your advisor about your funding applications; in addition to providing a letter of support, they can help you develop a budget and craft your application.

If you have any other questions about the application process or the Honors Program in general, please do not hesitate to contact Professor Leslie Butler (leslie.butler@dartmouth.edu), 2025-26 History Honors Program Director.