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The Humanities Research thesis provides students with an opportunity to enhance their critical and analytical skills and conduct independent research. It is indispensable for students planning to proceed to Master or PhD-Programs in the Humanities after graduation, since it indicates scholarly potential.
The general structure of a Research Thesis consists of the following elements:
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Research topic and methodology:
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Research question
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State of the art/Literature review
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Evaluation of sources
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Research method
Main part of the thesis:
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Presentation
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Quality of arguments
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Conclusions
Formats
The Research Thesis can take on different formats:
1. Research Theses involving textual sources (e.g. history, linguistics, literature, philosophy, religion) may extend the analysis of primary sources, by adding a case study, or include a research component involving work in (virtual) archives, or use a comparative or interdisciplinary method to juxtapose different sources and/or integrate insights from different disciplines. Theses with an experimental component could include experimental trials.
Assessment: Topic + methodology, Discourse, Conclusions, Form
2. Research theses in Art History/Museum Studies and Performing Arts may include the combination of an internship, followed by a research paper. Students who do an internship in the Humanities Department can choose to use the material/findings/data of their internship as the preparatory stage for their bachelor’s thesis. Students interested in this option should consult the internship coordinator Dr. Mary Bouquet (m.r.bouquet@uu.nl).
Assessment: Research topic + methodology, Internship report as basis for research thesis, Discourse/ theoretical elaboration , Form
3. Students who are interested in getting hands-on research experience could consider working as a research assistant or participate in on-going research projects at Utrecht University or elsewhere and use their data as the starting point for their research paper.
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