The study of history aims at the understanding and disciplined reconstruction of past human activities, institutions, ideas, and aspirations in the light of present knowledge and in the hope of usefulness for the future. History belongs both to the humanities and to the social sciences. It is studied both for its own sake and for the light it throws on the present problems and future prospects of particular societies and of humankind in general.
A major in history in combination with work in foreign languages, philosophy, literature, and the social sciences provides a broad foundation for informed citizenship. History majors find employment in many fields of human endeavor from arts and business to public service and education. Specialization in history is especially valuable as pre-professional training for law, government, diplomacy, and journalism and for library, archival, and museum administration.
Requirements for the Major in History
Undergraduate majors are required to take at least 27 credits at the 2000-level or above, which must include one three-credit course from each of Groups A, B, and C, and two three-credit courses from Group D. All majors should enroll in HIST 2100 as early as possible, and all majors except Honors students must take HIST 4994W in their senior year. Honors students should take in sequence 4996 and 4997W. Under certain circumstances and with advisor approval, honors majors may substitute 4994W for 4996. With the consent of the undergraduate major’s advisor, graduate level courses may be used to fulfill the distribution requirement. HIST 2100 and 4994W satisfy the information literacy competency. HIST 4994W or 4997W satisfy the writing in the major requirements.
Group A: Ancient, Medieval, and Early Modern
HIST 2020, 2350, 2470 3300, (ANTH 3513), 3301 (CAMS 3301), 3320 (CAMS 3320), 3321 (CAMS 3321), 3325 (CAMS 3325), 3326 (CAMS 3326), 3330 (CAMS 3330, HEJS 3330), 3335 (CAMS 3335), 3340 (CAMS 3340), 3360, 3361, 3362 (HEJS 3362), 3370, 3371, 3400, 3420, 3460, 3704
Group B: Modern Europe
HIST 2206 (SCI 2206), 2222E, 2240, 2401, 2402, 2412, 2413, 2421, 2451, 2471, 3201 (HRTS 3201), 3203 (HDFS 3423), 3204W, 3205, 3207 (HRTS 3207), 3208 (AFRA 3208, LLAS 3208), 3232 (HRTS 3232), 3416 (WGSS 3416), 3418 (HEJS 3203), 3419 (HEJS 3204), 3426, 3430, 3440, 3456, 3463.
Group C: United States
HIST 2206 (SCI 2206), 2207 (AMST 2207, ENGL 2207), 2222E, 2530 (AAAS 2530), 2810, 3201 (HRTS 3201), 3204W, 3206, 3208 (AFRA 3208, LLAS 3208), 3209 (ANTH 3531, MAST 3531), 3232 (HRTS 3232), 3502, 3504, 3510, 3516, 3519, 3520, 3522, 3530 (AAAS 3578), 3531 (AAAS 3531), 3540E, 3541 (URBN 3541), 3542, 3544 (MAST 3544), 3550, 3551, 3554, 3555, 3556W, 3559, 3560 (WGSS 3560), 3561 (WGSS 3561), 3562 (WGSS 3562), 3563 (AFRA 3563, HRTS 3563), 3564 (AFRA 3564), 3568 (AFRA 3568), 3569 (AFRA 3569), 3570, 3575 (LLAS 3221, HRTS 3221), 3618 (AFRA 3618, LLAS 3618), 3660W (LLAS 3660W), 3674 (LLAS 3220).
Either HIST 3520 or 3522, but not both, may be counted for credit toward the major.
Group D: Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Middle East
HIST 2101 (AAAS 2101), 2210E (MAST 2210E), 2222E, 2621, 2622 (AFRA 2622, LLAS 2622, WGSS 2622), 2752 (AFRA 2752), 2841 (AAAS 2841), 2841 (AAAS 2841), 2842 (AAAS 2842), 3201 (HRTS 3201), 3202 (HRTS 3202), 3206 (AFRA 3206), 3208 (AFRA 3208, LLAS 3208), 3210 (MAST 3532), 3232 (HRTS 3232), 3569 (AFRA 3569), 3575 (LLAS 3221, HRTS 3221), 3607, 3608W, 3609, 3610, 3618 (AFRA 3618, LLAS 3618), 3619 (AFRA 3619, LLAS 3619), 3620 (AFRA 3620), 3635, 3640, 3643, 3650 (URBN 3650), 3660W (LLAS 3660W), 3674 (LLAS 3220), 3704, 3705, 3712, 3753 (AFRA 3753), 3760, 3770, 3808 (AAAS 3808), 3809 (AAAS 3809), 3810, 3812 (AAAS 3812), 3820, 3822, 3832, 3845, 3863, 3875 (AAAS 3875, LLAS 3875).
Courses with Variable Content
Variable topics courses (HIST 2993, 3095, 3098, 3100W, 3101W, 3102, 3991, 3993, 4989, 4994W, 4996, 4997W, 4999, or a graduate level History course) may be applied to any of the four distribution groups as determined by course content and with Advisor consent.
No more than six credits of HIST 3991 will count toward the major requirements.
A minor in History is described in the Minors section.