The Undergraduate Honors Program in Humanities

Office Location:
Building 240, Rm. 108
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-2022

Phone: 650-723-3413
Fax: 650-725-1838
Program Administrator: Monica Moore
email: monica.moore@stanford.edu

The Humanities Honors Program differs from departmental honors programs most obviously in that it is open to qualified undergraduates from all majors at Stanford; many students graduating with honors in Humanities in any given year are from non liberal-arts majors. It offers students the opportunity to complement the in-depth study of their chosen fields by gaining a broader understanding of the humanities. (Click here for a Timetable and Checklist for thesis writers)

In addition, students who have been admitted to the program may choose to major in Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, (which also includes a humanities major for pre-medical students), developing their own interdisciplinary programs.

Admissions to the Humanities Honors Program

To be qualified for the Humanities Honors Program, a student must have a "B+" average (GPA: 3.3) in humanities coursework at Stanford. Eligible students may join by completing the registration form available in the Program office in building 240, room 108.

Requirements for the Humanities Honors Program

• Completion of Humanities 100, Core Colloquium (3 units), preferably in the sophomore year.
• Two seminars from the 190 -198 series (10 units), sophomore or junior year.
• At least one survey course in intellectual or cultural history in a field germane to the anticipated topic of the senior essay, choosing among departmental offerings in history, philosophy, literature, and the arts.
• Unless students have strong intellectual reaons for doing otherwise, they must fulfill their World Cultures (GER Area 4a) and American Cultures (GER Area 4b) requirements from courses in disciplines of their interest.
• In order to develop the requisite knowledge and methodological background to write a Humanities honors essay, students must take, during their sophomore and junior years, the required Humanities honors courses and additional humanities courses in disciplines of their interest.
• Enrollment in 200A, one unit each, Winter and Spring quarters of the junior year.
• An honors essay on a topic approved by the Steering Committee (usually 5 units Autumn Quarter and 5 units Winter Quarter, senior year).
• A minimum GPA of 3.3 (B+) in all courses taken for the Honors Program, as well as an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 (B) in all course work in order to remain in the program.

Courses 2007-2008

Stanford Honors Essays in the Humanities

Each year the Program chooses one essay to be published in the series Stanford Honors Essays in Humanities. Copies of the published essays are available for sale at the Stanford Bookstore, or may be borrowed from the Program Office.