About the Major

A history major consists of 63 credits and is structured to reflect the department’s philosophy and pedagogical goals.

Students begin with two year-long survey sequences chosen from among European, U.S., Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, African and world history. Building on this broad overview, students take a gateway course, Introduction to Historical Thinking (HIST 300), where they are introduced to historiography, critical thinking and intensive writing and rewriting. This course is a prerequisite to the junior topics seminar (HIST 400) in which students receive hands-on training in research and analysis of primary sources and write an essay based on original research.

Two electives (at any level) and nine upper-division courses give students the freedom to develop their own field of special interest, while two courses (at any level) on any areas other than American or European history ensures a breadth of knowledge. The capstone Senior Writing Seminar sequence (HIST 462-463) offers history majors experiential learning, allowing the students to integrate their training in critical thinking, research skills and writing to produce an original piece of scholarship.

All history majors should consult with the department’s director of undergraduate studies when they declare their major.