麻豆原创

On April 29, the undergraduate students enrolled in HIST 4491: Senior Thesis held a public online symposium to present their original research. During the spring semester, they had spent months intensively studying nineteenth-century American utopias under the guidance of Dr. Erik J. Freeman, assistant professor of History. During the symposium, students had the chance to share their hard work with other classmates, friends, family, and faculty.

"I deeply enjoyed Dr. Freeman's senior thesis class," one student in the course said. "I wasn't completely sure what to expect from it in terms of content as I'd never thought of the many utopian societies that sprung up in America during the nineteenth century in a collective context."

"Learning about the nuances of anarchy and socialism broadened my understanding of both topics, and finding the niche ways they connected in the late nineteenth century was both fascinating and rewarding," said another student. "It was a pleasure getting to work with Dr. Freeman, who helped narrow and refine my thesis and research direction."

History majors are required to take HIST 4491: Senior Thesis, the capstone course for the major. In the class, they spend several months intensively writing a lengthy research paper that makes an original argument based on historical evidence.

"This class can be extremely stressful," said another student. "Luckily, I had Dr. Freeman and life was very manageable! He broke down the process into manageable and actionable portions, which not only made the project easier but allowed me to expand my critical thinking skills and writing ability."

Each semester, HIST 4491 revolves around a different topic based on the instructor's area of expertise. In previous semesters, students have had the opportunity to intensively study the history of the Irish Revolution, the Norman Conquest of 1066, and the 1519 Spanish invasion of Mexico.

SPRING 2026 SENIOR THESIS RESEARCH PROJECTS IN HISTORY
Vic Thomas, "Forgotten Among Giants: The Kaweah Colony, the Sequoia Trees, and the Story of Environmentalism"
Kennon Holston, "Celibacy and Survival: Recruitment, Conversion, and Longevity in the Shaker Community"
Hannah Nielsen, "Fruitlands: How Transcendentalism Shaped a Utopian Experiment"
Josh Gibson, "From Hearth to Inferno: The Evolution from Utopian Socialism to Radical Anarchism"
Julia Graham, "Dualism, Spirituality, and Egalitarianism: Shaker and Ann Lee"
Abby Cardenas, "Roots, Remedies, and Economies: Shaker Medicine"
William Clark, "From California to New Mexico, Socialism, Expansion, and Limits of Utopian Survival"
Kevin Lovell, "The Children Of Oneida from Community to Corporation"
Andrew Wilsey, "Timbuctoo: Gerrit Smith and the Dream of an Abolitionist Utopia"