History Major

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The History Major gives students the best of both scholarly worlds: exciting course work and sustained independent study-all while exposing students to different geographical areas and time periods. In classes students engage in lively discussion, guided by faculty who help develop critical reading of sources, cogent argument about those works, and elegant, effective writing. As a capstone for the courses, in their senior year History Majors undertake a year-long thesis. This unique experience-independent but closely mentored-shows students how to “think big,” to tackle a long-term, challenging project, and see it through to a polished and satisfying conclusion.

Requirements for Concentration:

11 units, to include the following distribution courses above the introductory (100) level:

1 unit in European history
1 unit in United States history
1 unit of either Asian, African, Latin American, or Middle Eastern history
1 unit of pre-1800 history (choose from the following courses: HIST 215 , HIST 225 , HIST 226 , HIST 230 , HIST 259 , HIST 262 , HIST 271 , HIST 274 , HIST 315 , HIST 316 , HIST 326 , HIST 332 , HIST 366 , HIST 381 , HIST 382 )
1 additional unit of either pre-1800 history or Asian, African, Latin American, or Middle Eastern history
Three, 300-level courses, one of which must be HIST 300 - Thesis Preparation: Sources, Methods, and Interpretations , to be taken in the fall of senior year.
Senior Thesis. A year-long project that begins with HIST 300 and continues with HIST 301 . The end result is a written work of approximately 10,000 words. HIST 300 , taken in the fall semester, is a methods seminar which brings support, structure, and collegiality to the thesis experience; while taking this seminar, students will also meet regularly with their designated thesis advisers and begin work on their projects. Students complete the writing of the thesis in the spring with HIST 301 . All History Theses are housed in Special Collections in the College Library.

No cross-listed courses originating in another department may be used for distribution requirements. No more than two cross-listed courses originating in another department can count toward the history minimum requirement of 11 units.

No single course can meet two different departmental requirements, except the 300-level course, which can double to fulfill the 300-level course requirement and a distribution requirement.

Senior-Year Requirements:

HIST 300 - Thesis Preparation: Sources, Methods, and Interpretations and HIST 301 - Senior Thesis . It is also required that majors take at least one other 300-level History class during their senior year.

Recommendations:

Reading knowledge of at least one foreign language. Students planning to go on to graduate school should find out which language examinations are required for advanced degrees.