HIST 499: RS: Senior Seminar in History

HIST 499-001: RS: World of the Founders
(Fall 2016)

01:30 PM to 04:15 PM M

Research Hall 201

Section Information for Fall 2016

In HIST 499, students use the knowledge and skills they develop in HIST-300 and other classes to conduct research in both primary and secondary sources and produce a substantial paper of 20-25 typed, double-spaced pages, plus footnotes and bibliography. This course has relatively little assigned common reading. Students will instead work independently and with the instructor over the course of the semester to define their topic and do their research, and then to organize, write, and revise the final paper.

This seminar focuses on the people, events, and culture of the Founding Era of the American Republic, roughly 1776 through 1800. Students are free to choose any viable research topic pertaining to this period, but topic should be narrow to allow for in-depth research and analysis. Primary sources (both digital and print) are surprisingly accessible for this period, so politics, religion, family life, popular culture, and war are just a few of the possibilities. Since choosing an interesting and doable topic is the key to success in this seminar, students should seriously begin considering their options before the first class meeting in January.

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Research on specialized historical topic culminating in seminar paper and oral presentation. Synthesis course; students expected to integrate knowledge and skills acquired in Mason Core courses. Notes: Subject determined by instructor. Student may present no more than 3 credits for graduation credit. Must receive passing grade to graduate with BA in history. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Synthesis
Specialized Designation: Research/Scholarship Intensive, Topic Varies, Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: History majors with 90 credits
Registration Restrictions:

Required Prerequisites: (HIST 300C or 300XS) and (ENGH 302C, ENGL 302C, ENGH 302XS, HNRS 110C, 110XS, 210C, 302C or 302XS).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.

Enrollment is limited to students with a major in History.

Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.