Current history students

UNB History is a vibrant community of engaged students and faculty. We offer dynamic programs and many opportunities for undergraduate students. Join us on Facebook for more on department activities, achievements and events.

Undergraduate students

Advising

Contact the director of majors or the directors of honours, depending on the program you are enrolled in.

You must meet with an academic advisor at least once a year.

We are always available to answer your questions about program requirements, course selection and opportunities after your undergraduate degree.

History majors and honours students must ensure that they also meet general BA requirements. Contact arts advising to ensure that you are on the right track.

You should also request a grad check at the beginning of your final year in the program.

Experiential learning

There are several experiential learning opportunities available to you as a History undergraduate student:

Arts Faculty Travel Study Program

You can earn course credit while traveling and taking courses with UNB Faculty in Paris, London, New York City, Berlin, Rome, Italy and China.

Arts Internship Program

You can earn 3ch or 6ch while gaining valuable work experience in the community.

Student employment in history

You might work as a Research Assistant for a History faculty member, at the Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society, the Atlantic Canada Studies Centre, in the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, or at the UNB Archives and Special Collections.

Careers and post-graduate possibilities

The skills and sensibilities developed through an education in History are useful, most broadly, for life in general.

Critical thinking, careful analysis, reasoned argument and the effective expression of the written and spoken word, moreover, are highly valued in the great majority of occupations.

A History BA provides excellent preparation for graduate studies in many disciplines.

A recent Canadian study provides plenty of evidence that your degree is only the first step of a rewarding career in a wide variety of fields.

History Students Society

Become involved with the History Society and join our student executive which plans and runs several events, such as:

• Ice Cream Social
• Welcome Back BBQ
• Holiday Potluck
• Winter Formal
• Conrad-Campbell Lunch Lecture Series
• Stressbusters
• Professional Development Seminars

The Society is open to all UNB students enrolled in a History course. It welcomes new members each year. To find out more, join us on Facebook.

The History Society also publishes TimePieces, an annual undergraduate journal that showcases student research in our department. You may submit any essay written in a UNB History course. The call for papers is issued each fall, with a deadline in January.

The editors and the editorial board select the best 12 to 15 papers and launch the journal in April.

Graduate students

Important forms

• Annual progress report
• Change of status
• Leave of absence
• Student-supervisor checklist
• Appendix B1 – teaching assistants and Appendix B2 – research assistants

For more information, see the School of Graduate Studies.

History Graduate Students Society

The History Graduate Students Society offers a social and support network for all active history graduate students. It participates in organizing the UNB-UMaine Graduate Conference and supports other graduate student activities.

History essay prizes and awards

James K. Chapman Prize in History: A prize of $100 to be awarded annually on the recommendation of the Department of History for the outstanding presentation of a historical topic in such alternative forms as voice recordings, video tapes, games analyses, or computer projects. The prize has been established by Professor James K. Chapman to promote forms of expression in historical study other than written essays.

Graham Prize in Military History: A $200 prize to be awarded annually on the recommendation of the Department of History, for the best essay by a student on the Fredericton campus in an undergraduate seminar in war history. The prize has been endowed by friends, colleagues, and students of Dr. D.S. Graham in recognition of his contribution to scholarship.

J. Carlisle Hanson Prize in Rights, Freedoms, and the Media: An $800 prize awarded annually, on the recommendation of the Arts Council Committee on Prizes, to a Fredericton campus student enrolled in an undergraduate Arts program who writes an outstanding essay on a subject related to the intersection of media and law (e.g. freedom of speech, particularly freedom of the press; regulatory policy; media and international human rights; copyright or intellectual property rights in the information age; information technology and privacy). Preference will be given to a paper written by a student in the Law in Society Program. This prize is funded by James Carlisle Hanson, Q.C. (BA ’46, BCL '51) of Ottawa, to commemorate his dedication to the protection of free speech.

Dr. Cecil Charles Jones New Brunswick History Prize: A prize of $500 to be awarded annually to an undergraduate Fredericton campus student, on the recommendation of the Department of History, for an outstanding essay or report focusing on the founders of a New Brunswick community. This project would be completed as part of a History course requirement. Preference will be given to studies on the founders of Monckton township. This prize is funded by Les Bowser, in honour of Dr. Cecil Charles Jones. A former UNB President, Dr. Jones was a descendant of five of the Pennsylvania- German families who founded Monckton township in 1766.

Malleson Prize in Imperial & Commonwealth Military History: A $250 prize will be awarded annually on the recommendation of the History department to an honours or majors student in History on the Fredericton campus for the best essay in military history with particular emphasis on the role of imperial and/or Commonwealth military forces for the period commencing with the 20th century. This will encompass the Boer War, the World Wars, the Korean War, peacekeeping missions, and post-Cold War conflicts and operations.

Miramichi Historians' Prize in New Brunswick History: A $1,500 prize awarded annually on the recommendation of the Department of History to a Fredericton campus undergraduate student who submitted an outstanding essay or report on New Brunswick history or biography to satisfy a regular course requirement. Preference will be given to studies done on Miramichi or Northumberland County topics. In the event that no qualifying essay or report on such topics is submitted in a given year, the award will be granted for superior achievement in similar work for a course on New Brunswick, Atlantic, or Canadian history. This prize is funded by Professor Emeritus Willis D. Hamilton, author of the Dictionary of Miramichi Biography and other works, in honour of Robert Cooney, Louise Manny, W. Harold Davidson, James A. Fraser and others whose writings have helped preserve Miramichi and provincial history.

Senator Muriel McQueen Fergusson Memorial Prize in History: A prize of $350 to be awarded annually to an undergraduate Fredericton campus student, on the recommendation of the Department of History, for an outstanding essay in Women's History. This essay would be part of a History course requirement. Candidates may be enrolled in any undergraduate degree program. The prize is named in honour of the first woman Speaker of the Senate. The prize has been funded by Dr. Gillian Thompson.

Picaroons Essay Prize in History: A prize of $1000 will be awarded annually on the recommendation of the Department of History to a student on the Fredericton campus for the best essay in a History course dealing with any aspect of the history of beer or brewing in New Brunswick. If no essay is selected on that subject, a $500 prize will be awarded for an essay dealing with any aspect of the history of brewing – industry, consumption, leisure, culture, or regulation – in any field of history. This prize is funded by Picaroons Traditional Ales.

Jamie Reid Prize for History of the Military in New Brunswick: A $300 prize to be awarded annually, on the recommendation of the Department of History, to an undergraduate or graduate student for the best essay on the history of the military in New Brunswick written by a student on the Fredericton campus. The prize has been established by Major Jamie Reid of the Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry.

Eunice White Robertson Memorial Prize: A $1000 prize awarded annually to a female student who has made a careful investigation of some subject of local history of the Province of New Brunswick selected by the Department of History of the University, and has submitted a competent essay thereon, and has obtained a high standing in the History courses of the Junior level (61-90 ch) at the University. The essay is to be the principal criterion of the award, although the student's class standing will also be considered. In the event that there are two qualified candidates, the prize may be divided equally between them. This prize is funded by Mrs. Phoebe W. R. Keiffer.

James Simonds Prize in History: Sir Charters J. Simonds of London, England, has given to the University an amount to yield an annual income of $575, to establish "The James Simonds Prize in History", in honour of James Simonds, one of the original English settlers at the mouth of the Saint John River. The prize is awarded for the outstanding essay on any historical subject.

Rabbi David Spiro Essay Prize: A prize of $500 to be awarded annually, on the recommendation of the Arts Council Committee on Honours and Prizes, to a student enrolled in an undergraduate degree program on the Fredericton campus who writes a deserving essay relating to Jewish history, literature or contemporary affairs. The prize is provided by the congregation of the Sgoolai Israel Synagogue.

Harry Velensky Prize: A prize valued at approximately $400 has been made available to the University through the generosity of Mr. Harry Velensky, and is to be awarded annually to an undergraduate for the best essay, other than an Honours Thesis, on the subject of human relations, with a view to the promotion of a better understanding between all peoples at all levels of society.

English and History prizes

Cyrus and Anne Eaton Prize in American Studies: A $500 Prize in American History and American Literature, awarded annually to the student or students in the graduating class judged to have done the most distinguished work in American studies. The awards will be determined by a committee of professors from the different Departments offering courses in American Studies.

Richard Burpee Hanson Prize: A $450 prize to be awarded annually to a male student, other than a Beaverbrook Scholar, who has registered for the full Junior level (61-90 ch) in the Faculty of Arts, having completed the Freshman (1-30 ch) and Sophomore level (31-60 ch) in Arts at the University of New Brunswick or the sophomore level (31-60 ch) in Arts at such University and who has made the highest grades in English and History in the Sophomore level (31-60 ch) in Arts. The prize is funded by Mrs. R.B. Hanson.