History | Academic Requirements and Concentrations | Minor in History | Local History Internships | Courses | Faculty

The History B.A. Program:
Academic Requirements

In addition to meeting general degree requirements, all history majors must take nine history courses plus the 8-credit senior project (39–42 credits total).

1. The broad survey courses at the 2000 level serve as the foundation for more specialized work at the 3000 level.
2. In addition, students concentrating in American history are encouraged to take HIS 1500/Understanding America to satisfy one of the appropriate categories of the general education requirements.
3. Finally, all history majors are required to take the Junior History Seminar in the spring semester of the junior year and the Senior History Colloquium in the fall semester of the senior year. These courses are open exclusively to history majors.

Fields of Concentration

1. History majors normally take five elective courses that are clustered within an area or period of special interest to the student. At least three of these courses must be at the upper (3000–4000) level. The student’s concentration within the major should be developed in consultation with a faculty advisor at the beginning of the junior year, and must be approved by the board of study. Normally, a concentration in a particular period will encompass a variety of geographic and cultural areas (e.g., America, Asia, or Europe), while an area concentration will include coursework in more than one major period (e.g., medieval, early modern, or modern).
    
   
2. History majors must also take at least two elective history courses outside the area or period of concentration. At least one of these must be at the upper (3000–4000) level.
    
   
3. Concentration in Asian Studies: History majors concentrating in Asian studies take at least five courses in Asian studies (history, philosophy, political science, art history, and literature). Three must be in history and at least three must be upper level. Students are also strongly encouraged to take additional courses in Chinese language.
    
   
4. Concentration in Jewish History: This concentration is designed to give history majors an interdisciplinary perspective on Jewish history, society, culture, and related political movements. Students learn about basic Jewish history and gain a more in-depth understanding of a variety of subtopics within Jewish history. The courses explore Jewish civilization through its encounters with the ancient, medieval, and modern worlds. Students are encouraged to take additional courses in Hebrew language, Jewish literature, and philosophy.

Summary of Academic Requirements

1. HIS—/Five history courses in a field of concentration (including three at the 3000–4000 level): 18–20 credits
2. HIS—/Two history courses outside the field of concentration (including one at the 3000–4000 level): 7–8 credits
3. HIS 3880/Junior History Seminar (spring semester, junior year): 4 credits
4. HIS 4020/Senior History Colloquium (fall semester, senior year): 2 credits
5. HIS 4990/Senior Project in History: 8 credits