The Early Modern Studies Programme, much like the Contemporary Studies and the History of Science and Technology programmes, can only be completed as a combined honours degree, meaning it must be paired with an arts, social science, or science discipline at Dalhousie University.

An EMSP student is required to take the programme's three core classes (EMSP 2000.06, 3000.06 and 4000.06), plus at least two half-credit EMSP electives. The requirements for the second honours subject are dependant on that department, and vary from programme to programme. Combined honours students are encouraged to visit the Registrar's Office for help structuring their degree, an experience that can be adjusted to suit individual interests and needs.

For more details, please refer to the outlined degree requirements available in the Early Modern Studies Programme section of the King's calendar.

Honours Degree Requirements

Early Modern Studies Programme students may fulfil the honours requirement (which gives them the 21st credit necessary to graduate with honours) in either of the two honours subjects. Usually this subject will be the one in which the student has taken more classes. In the Early Modern Studies Programme, completion of the Honours Seminar (EMSP 4500.06) fulfils the requirement of the honours qualifying examination; alternatively, with the approval of the director, an honours thesis (in conjunction with EMSP 4550.06) may also fulfil the requirement of the honours qualifying examination. Both the Honours Thesis and Honours Seminar are full-year classes. They are normally taken as part of a regular (five credit) course load.

Honours Thesis

The honours thesis is a substantial piece of intellectual work on a subject chosen by the student and agreed to by the supervisor, normally a member of the EMSP teaching staff. It is the responsibility of the student to approach potential supervisors and obtain their agreement to supervise the topic chosen. The thesis should normally be between 50 and 70 standard pages in length (between 12500 and 17500 words). The following deadlines must be met by students writing honours theses:

The honours thesis will be examined by a committee of the supervisor and two other members of the EMSP teaching staff. Theses will be defended at a half-hour oral exam the week of April 15-19. Students will be expected to answer the examining committee’s questions about the substance and methodology of their work.

Honours Colloquium

A fourth-year honours colloquium for graduating students addresses issues relevant to the honours requirement, graduation, etc. Students in the colloquium meet with the director twice a term. Attendance at the honours colloquium will be required of students who are fulfilling their honours requirement in EMSP by writing an honours thesis; students who are not fulfilling their honours requirement with EMSP or are doing so by completing the Honours Seminar are welcome to attend these meetings but do not have to. There is no need to register for the honours colloquium; it does not count as an ordinary class. The colloquium will meet on the following dates (all meetings will be held in the Seminar Room, 2nd floor, NAB):

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of another author in such a way as to give one’s reader reason to think it to be one’s own.  A student who is in any doubt as to what constitutes plagiarism is urged to discuss the matter with the thesis supervisor.  Plagiarism may constitute grounds for expulsion - see the statement on discipline in the  University Calendar (University Regulations).