Students with specialized research interests may petition the Department to complete an independent senior thesis in lieu of HIST 493 . In the first semester (HIST 491 ) of this two-semester project the student will engage in intensive background readings under the direction of a faculty member. In the second semester (HIST 494) the student will work with the same supervising professor in the writing of a substantial research paper. Students interested in pursuing HIST 494 must submit their research proposals to the Department no later than week twelve of the spring semester of the junior year and have the endorsement of the full-time member of the Department of History who will supervise the independent project. Prerequisite: HIST 250 and departmental approval.