Major in History

In addition to the Core Curriculum requirements, History majors are required to complete 42 units. The Bachelor of Arts degree may be earned by adding a foreign language to the major course requirements. The language requirement can be met by completing the intermediate courses (or their equivalent) of a modern foreign language. All History majors may transfer up to 18 units toward the major. 

Required Course
HIST 300INTRODUCTION TO HISTORICAL STUDY 1,23
History Electives - Lower-Level Survey Courses15
Select a minimum of one course in pre-modern history (history prior to 1500)
Select a minimum of one course in U.S. survey from the following:
HIST 145
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE CIVIL WAR
or HIST 147
 HONORS HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE CIVIL WAR
HIST 146
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE CIVIL WAR
or HIST 148
 HONORS HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE CIVIL WAR
Select a minimum of one course in European survey, for example:
HIST 101
INTRODUCTION TO ANCIENT CIVILIZATION
HIST 102
EUROPE: FROM THE AGE OF CAESAR TO THE AGE OF CALVIN, FIRST TO SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
HIST 103
HISTORY OF EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION FROM THE 17TH CENTURY
Select a minimum of two courses in thematic and/or global surveys (global surveys must be non-U.S. AND non-European history), for example: 3
HIST 110
EAST ASIAN CIVILIZATION TO THE 19TH CENTURY
HIST 111
MODERN EAST ASIA SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY
HIST 117
ISLAMIC HISTORY: FROM THE RISE OF ISLAM TO THE RISE OF THE OTTOMANS
HIST 118
MODERN MIDDLE EAST HISTORY
HIST 121
LATIN AMERICA: COLONIAL PERIOD
HIST 122
LATIN AMERICA: NATIONAL PERIOD
HIST 135
HISTORY OF AFRICA TO 1900
HIST 136
AFRICA SINCE 1900
HIST 160
WORLD HISTORY BEFORE 1300
HIST 161
WORLD HISTORY SINCE 1300
HIST 200
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS
HIST 202
CITIES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
HIST 203
SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
HIST 205
ETHICAL PERSPECTIVES IN HISTORY
HIST 206
INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL HISTORY
HIST 210
URBAN ASIA: PAST AND PRESENT
HIST 275
HISTORY OF ANCIENT ISRAEL
HIST 277
A SURVEY OF JEWISH HISTORY
History Electives - Upper-Level Courses 4
Select seven upper-level courses (300- or 400-level courses) including the following:21
A minimum of two courses in pre-modern history (history prior to 1500)
A minimum of one course in U.S. history
A minimum of one course in European history
A minimum of two courses in global history 3
HIST 486SENIOR HISTORY SEMINAR 2,5,63
Total Units42
1

HIST 300 must be taken during the junior year or equivalent.

2

HIST 300 and HIST 486 may not be taken in the same term.

3

Of the four required global history courses (two lower-level and two upper-level), students must take at least one course from two of the five sub-regions (Africa, Middle East, Asia, Latin America, World History).

4

Transferred lower-level History (HIST) courses do not fulfill upper-level electives. 

5

HIST 486 must be taken during the senior year.

6

Students completing the departmental honors program may fulfill the requirement of HIST 486 with HIST 499

Departmental Honors Program

The Department of History honors program allows undergraduates to develop their critical thinking and historical skills in a rigorous and collaborative environment that guarantees personal attention. The program is a two-semester sequence of independent study, the culmination of which is the writing of a senior thesis—a significant scholarly research paper prepared under the close supervision of a faculty member.

History majors with qualifying GPAs (a minimum 3.70 GPA in history and a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA) can complete an honors thesis under the direction of an Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in the Department. Students who are interested in pursuing departmental honors should consult the Department Chair or the Honors Thesis Coordinator during their junior year. 

Students apply to the program upon reaching 75 units, or three semesters before expected graduation. Once accepted, students register for HIST 498 under the supervision of their thesis adviser in one semester and then HIST 499 in the next semester. Students must receive a grade of A or A- in HIST 498 to register for HIST 499. HIST 499 fulfills the major capstone requirement, taking the place of the capstone seminar (HIST 486). 

Departmental Honors are designated on a graduate's transcript when a student successfully completes HIST 498 and HIST 499. Students pursuing departmental honors are not required to be members of the Honors College. Departmental honors are distinct from Latin honors (cum laude, etc.) and from enrollment in the Honors College. 

Required Coursework for Departmental Honors in History
HIST 498HONORS DIRECTED READINGS3-4
HIST 499HONORS THESIS IN HISTORY4
Total Units7-8

Sample Four-Year Plan

The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
Select one of the following: (Core 5)3HIST Global Survey Course (Core 12)13
Core 2 (or Core 1)3
Core 43
Core 74
HIST 145 or 146 (Core 11)3Elective3
Core 1 (or Core 2)3 
Core 33 
Elective3 
 15 16
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
HIST Global Survey Course13HIST Pre-Modern Survey Course23
Core 63Core 103
Core 83Core 133
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
HIST 300 (Core 9)3HIST Upper-Level, European3
HIST Upper-Level, Pre-Modern3HIST Upper-Level, Global3
HIST Upper-Level, U.S.3Upper-Level Elective3
Core 12 (if not taken above) or Elective3Elective 3
Core 143Elective3
 15 15
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
HIST 4863HIST Upper-Level3
HIST Upper-Level, Global3HIST Upper-Level, Pre-Modern3
Upper-Level Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective2
 15 14
Total Units 120
1

Global Survey Courses: HIST 110, HIST 111, HIST 117, HIST 118, HIST 121, HIST 122, HIST 135, HIST 136,  HIST 160, HIST 161, HIST 202, HIST 203, HIST 275 or HIST 277       

2

Pre-Modern Survey Courses: HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 110, HIST 117, HIST 121, HIST 135, HIST 160, HIST 275, or HIST 202

  1. Marshal and arrange appropriate historical evidence from primary and secondary sources to support historical arguments.
  2. Demonstrate command of a body of historical knowledge related to major political, economic, social, and cultural events and issues in Western culture.
  3. Demonstrate command of a body of historical knowledge related to major political, economic, social, and cultural events and issues in non-Western cultures.
  4. Demonstrate information literacy, which includes technological competency.