The Western Oregon University History Department initiated the Senior Seminar in 1997 as a requirement for all history majors. The university provost had requested that each academic department develop a means to ascertain whether its majors had achieved the goals of its program. The history faculty quickly recognized that the research, interpretation, and writing were the goals and competencies we wished that our majors achieve. To this end, the faculty created the Senior Seminar. In this course students undertook research projects of their choice, worked closely with professors in developing the project, and then wrote journal-length articles.To help students develop their research, interpretive, and writing skills, the faculty also created a junior-level course titled, “History Research and Writing.” Furthermore, in all upper division courses faculty emphasize the above-mentioned competencies.

John L. Rector
Professor of History

Senior Capstone Papers:

Seminar papers since 2012 are posted online through the Digital Commons at Hamersly Library: digitalcommons.wou.edu/his/