Programs of Study
PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND GOALS
The Honors Tutorial Program in history introduces students to an exciting and intellectually rewarding discipline through small group tutorials and independent work with individual tutors. It provides a more flexible course of study than that of traditional undergraduate programs, offering an unprecedented opportunity to explore the varied political, social, cultural, and institutional dimensions of human civilization across six continents from the ancient world to the modern era. The History Department strives to reinforce such breadth of exposure with depth of knowledge. Our faculty exploit the intimate tutorial format to delve into specific topics of student interest, developing articulate graduates with critical thinking skills who can comprehend, contextualize, and interpret the past.
The Department’s HTC program is ideally suited for students considering graduate study in history. But because the program emphasizes reading comprehension, written expression, and cultural literacy, it also offers optimal preparation for those considering careers in business, foreign service, theology, and even medicine. Students interested in a legal career will find that the Honors Tutorial Program in history provides the most thorough preparation for law school as well as the most appealing academic background for the law school admissions process. The History Department also encourages all of its HTC students to apply for nationally competitive awards, such as the Fulbright, Marshall, or Truman scholarships, in pursuit of their research interests.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Tutorials: Students take a total of eleven tutorials in four years. Freshmen and sophomores complete seven of them in conjunction with courses that introduce the Department’s three major fields – history of Western Civilization, history of the United States, and Non-Western history. After completing one additional tutorial of their choice, students must select a field of concentration. The three tutorials taken in the junior year relate exclusively to that chosen field.
History Courses: In addition to tutorials, students must take nine 300/400-level history electives. In preparation for the senior thesis requirement, they will also take HIST 301J, the junior research seminar for history majors.
Collateral Courses: Students are required to take twelve collateral courses outside the discipline of history to supplement their chosen fields of interest and provide a firm base of knowledge in the liberal arts. They will choose these electives in consultation with the History Department HTC director.
Foreign Language: Students must take at least two full years of a foreign language during their time in the Honors Tutorial program. This may include continued work in a language previously studied or an entirely new language. Note that the History Department’s language requirement is more rigorous than that of the College of Arts and Sciences, which asks for only the equivalent of two years of college language study. HTC students are encouraged to take advantage of study abroad opportunities related to their fields of historical interest.
Thesis: During the senior year, students will write a thesis on a subject chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor and the History HTC director. The thesis is designed to introduce them to historical research and writing, provide an opportunity to apply and supplement their knowledge of a given field of specialization, and prepare them for future graduate work in history where applicable.
EVALUATION AND GRADING
Evaluation in the Department of History’s program is based primarily upon the quality, preparation, and effort exhibited in written assignments and oral discussions. The exact grading criteria for each tutorial are included in the syllabus devised by the faculty member and student at the beginning of the quarter.
ELIGIBILITY
The Department of History’s Program Director and the Dean of the Honors Tutorial College select students on the basis of superior academic ability and the potential for self-motivated undergraduate study and research. A high school class rank in the upper 10%, high scores on standardized tests (a minimum combined score of 1300 on the SAT or an ACT composite of 30), an essay, and a personal interview are all required for entry as a freshman. A student currently enrolled at Ohio University who carries a minimum G.P.A of 3.5 may apply before the beginning of the fourth quarter of study.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Paul Milazzo
Director of Studies
Department of History
449 Bentley Annex
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
(740) 593-4359
milazzo@ohio.edu
And visit the Ohio University Department of History website at http://www.ohio.edu/history/index.cfm