The history major consists of 40 semester hours (10 courses) of history coursework. It integrates study in a range of periods, geographical areas, and cultural contexts, to develop breadth as well as depth of historical knowledge, as well as sophisticated skills in research and inquiry.
Programs Requirements:
Category I: Introductory level
Any three courses chosen from the following:
| HIST 100 | World History I | 4 |
| HIST 101 | World History II | 4 |
HIST 118
| Latin American History | 4 |
| HIST 128 | Modern European History 1789-1989 | 4 |
HIST 130
| | |
| HIST 140 | Early American History | 4 |
| HIST 141 | Modern American History | 4 |
Students considering a major in history should complete Category I by the end of their sophomore year. History majors may substitute other history electives for survey courses if they have received a grade of four or five on an advanced placement exam in history, or a score of 5, 6, or 7 on an international baccalaureate exam in history.
Category II: Specialization
Three courses with a specific focus defined by the student. This focus may be geographical (such as Asia, Europe, or the U.S.), thematic (such as race, gender, or revolution) or temporal (such as modern). One course in Category I may count in Category II. A specialization in public history requires four of the following, with HIST 253 ideally as the first course:
Category III: Breadth
Three courses covering required topics:
one course with a focus on race and ethnicity history
HIST 118
| Latin American History | 4 |
| AST 240 | Black Intellectuals and Entrepreneurs | 4 |
| HIST 210 | African American Experience | 4 |
| HIST 217 | Caribbean History | 4 |
| HIST 231 | Understanding Islam & Historical Perspectives | 4 |
| HIST 237 | Holocaust | 4 |
| HIST 240 | The Atlantic World 1500-1800 | 4 |
one course in early or pre-modern history
one course in historical gender studies
| HIST 204 | Japanese Culture: Gender, Family and Society | 4 |
| HIST 207 | Family, Gender, and Sexuality in Chinese History | 4 |
| HIST 215/WGST 215 | Women and Gender in US History Before 1890 | 4 |
| HIST 216 | Women and Gender in U.S. History Since 1890 | 4 |
| HIST 230 | Women and Gender in Europe | 4 |
| HIST 360 | Seminar in the History of Women and Gender 1790-1920 | 4 |
| WGST 204 | Roots of Feminism | 4 |
Category IV: Methods
All majors must take HIST 260: Interpreting the Past, in the sophomore or junior year. By petition, students in the accelerated BA/MA History program may count HIST 397 to fulfill the Methods requirement for the undergraduate major.
Category V: Capstone
At least one history course at or above the 350 level: this requirement may be fulfilled with a seminar, an internship, a thesis, or an independent study. Majors must declare how they plan to fulfill the independent learning requirement before the end of their junior year.