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Fall Semester 2009

Dear History Concentrators!

Here is a quick guide to pre-registration period. As always, we divide students according to the first letter of their last names. The concentration advisors are:

A-D Tim Harris / Sharpe 302 / 3-2627

E-H Francoise Hamlin / Sharpe 102B / 3-6210

I-M Jorge Flores / Peter Green 200A / 3-2956

N-Sh Mary Gluck / Sharpe 103 / 3-2352

Si-Z Naoko Shibusawa / Peter Green 206 / 3-1037

Click this link to see advisors’ office hours.

Professor Nancy Jacobs is serving as Director of Undergraduate Studies (Sharpe 202). Professor Doug Cope is again serving as transfer credit advisor (Peter Green 004). In addition to their office hours, advisors can be available by appointment.

The concentration requirements are posted on the website http://www.brown.edu/Departments/History/undergrad/index.html . Please consult this link for further information relevant to your class.

Please scroll down for special consideration for members of each class.

Sincerely,

The History Department Undergraduate Advisors

Frosh – Welcome to Brown!  Whether you’re considering history as a concentration or just wishing to sample our offerings, we welcome you to our courses.  You are welcome to take any history courses apart from capstone courses (limited enrollment 1970- and 1980-series seminars).  Feel free to discuss any class with the professor or a concentration advisor if you have questions about whether it is appropriate for you.

Sophomores – During your sophomore year, we encourage you to sign up for seminars and lecture courses numbered either below or above 1000, depending on your background and interests. The limited enrollment 1970- and 1980-series seminars are considered capstone courses, so in those courses we give enrollment priority to juniors and seniors.

Juniors  -- If you wish to do honors, you’ll be studying under the newly revised requirements. The centerpiece of the new program will be the “History Honors Workshop,” which will be offered for the first time next year (2010-11).  In the Honors Workshop, students at all stages of thesis writing will meet periodically to present and critique each other’s work.  The workshop will be numbered HIST 1992 (for students applying to enter the program) and HIST 1993 (for students writing their thesis) and will be offered every semester.  This workshop will incorporate the thesis preparation course currently offered as HIST 1992 and the two semesters of independent thesis writing currently offered as HIST 1993 and HIST 1994.

What does this mean for you?  Well, not so much until next year, really.  For right now, If you are considering Honors, your decision is whether you want to take the high-risk or the low-risk route of entry to the program. 

  • The low-risk route is to write your thesis prospectus (which serves as your application for entry into the program) as a student in HIST 1992, the thesis preparation course. The course allows you to work with other students, your thesis advisor, and the Director of Undergraduate Studies to conceptualize and begin work on a thesis topic.  It will be taught during first semester on Thursdays 4:00-6:20 by Professor Sacks and during second semester on Fridays 3:00-5:20 by Professor Jacobs. 
  • The high-risk route is to submit a thesis prospectus prepared without the benefit of HIST 1992 before the first day of classes of your seventh semester.  This requires securing the agreement of a faculty member to advise your thesis and writing a prospectus of a quality equal to those prepared in HIST 1992.  The Director of Undergraduate Studies and the prospective thesis advisor will decide upon your application to the program.

Three other factors to consider as you decide whether to enroll in HIST 1992 during fall semester, spring semester, or not at all.

  • If you begin the honors program during your 5th semester with HIST 1992, you can complete your thesis at the end of your 7th semester.  (Please see Professor Jacobs to discuss this option.)
  • If you intend to take honors and plan to go abroad in the spring semester of your junior year, we strongly advise that you take HIST 1992 this fall.
  • HIST 1992 can count for one of the 10 courses for the concentration.

You can read full description of the new honors requirements here:

http://www.brown.edu/Departments/History/undergrad/Honors2012andLater.html

If you have any questions, please contact the honors advisor, Nancy Jacobs.

Seniors - If you who did not take HIST 1992 because you were abroad, yet you still wish to enter the honors program, you must submit your prospectus to the Director of Undergraduate Studies by the first day of classes of the fall semester. Students writing honors theses must register for HIST 1993 with their advisors.

All members of the class of 2010: We recommend that you check in with us before registration for your final semester, so we can be sure that you’re on track to fulfill your concentration requirements.