Requirements for the Major in History

A History major requires a total of thirty-six hours of study, with twelve at the lower-division and twenty-four at the upper-division level.  The History Department allows students great latitude in creating a course of study that will reflect their interests and career objectives.  Four lower-division courses and eight upper-division courses are required, but only History101-102 (Western Civilization) and History 491 (Historiography) or 492 (Senior Seminar) must be taken by all students.  The other lower-division courses may be chosen from History 161-162 (United States History), History 251-252 (Eastern Civilization) or History 181-182 (Latin American History).  Students should take the survey courses that will prepare them for upper-division courses they wish to take in the areas of study offered by the Department.  If students wish to follow the traditional history major, they will select seven upper-division courses, two in three different areas of study.  This program gives majors a broad, liberal arts background.  Any student who wishes to design a specialized program of study is welcome to do so after discussing it with the Undergraduate Advisor.  Students may develop an area of concentration or select courses, which will prepare them for graduate or professional school in a particular area.  In both majors, students may undertake independent study (History 496), which gives them the opportunity to investigate a subject of their own choice, reading and holding discussions on an individual basis with a professor.  Excellent students are also encouraged to undertake Departmental Honors, which includes History 492 (Senior Seminar), History 493 (Research) and History 494 (Thesis Preparation) and will have them work individually with a professor preparing a senior thesis.

For further information on the History Major, contact the Undergraduate Advisor, Dr. Kimberly Gauderman .

Distributed Minor for History Majors

A major may offer a distributed minor in American studies, Asian studies, comparative literature, or Russian studies, as well as a minor in a single department. Approval of the Chairperson of the History Department is required for all distributed minors.