This is a core graduate paper that introduces students to some of the key theoretical ideas in the field today. It prepares students for professional historical practice and higher study through an investigation of relevant historiographical theories and methodologies. Historians have long employed various theoretical ideas in their search for knowledge, truth, and retelling the past in present day scholarship. This course engages students with questions that ask: What are some of the predominant theoretical ideas used by historians in the past? How are historians now using theory as an essential component of their work? HISTY516: Historical Theories and Methods seeks to enable students with a well-rounded understanding of theory, and its application to historical research practice. Students will read widely and become familiar with previous and current literature in the field of historical theory and methodology.

There will be four hours of Lectures and discussion per week. You must attend all scheduled sessions and complete the required readings (the required readings will be discussed in class - not all readings in the outline will be required readings, some will be optional). Some sessions will involve student presentations. You must come well-prepared and expect to participate in all sessions.

A fulltime semester paper at honours level is worth 30 points towards the degree and consists of 300 hours of learning, according to the University formula inclusive of classes (Graduate Handbook 2015, p.15).

Scheduled classes take up nearly 50 hours, and therefore you should have available some 250 hours at least outside class time for reading, research, writing, and other activities related to the paper. Research and learning at honours level requires more intensive planning and preparation than undergraduate study. Be careful to commit the appropriate amount of time to your reading, writing, class attendance and research.