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.
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
Required Course | ||
HIST 300 | INTRODUCTION TO HISTORICAL STUDY 1,2 | 3 |
History Electives - Lower-Level Survey Courses | 15 | |
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: | ||
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE CIVIL WAR | ||
or HIST 147 | HONORS HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE CIVIL WAR | |
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: | ||
INTRODUCTION TO ANCIENT CIVILIZATION | ||
EUROPE: FROM THE AGE OF CAESAR TO THE AGE OF CALVIN, FIRST TO SEVENTEENTH CENTURY | ||
HISTORY OF EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION FROM THE 17TH CENTURY | ||
Select a minimum of two courses in global surveys which must be non-U.S. AND non-European history, for example: 3 | ||
EAST ASIAN CIVILIZATION TO THE 19TH CENTURY | ||
MODERN EAST ASIA SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY | ||
ISLAMIC HISTORY: FROM THE RISE OF ISLAM TO THE RISE OF THE OTTOMANS | ||
MODERN MIDDLE EAST HISTORY | ||
LATIN AMERICA: COLONIAL PERIOD | ||
LATIN AMERICA: NATIONAL PERIOD | ||
HISTORY OF AFRICA TO 1900 | ||
AFRICA SINCE 1900 | ||
WORLD HISTORY BEFORE 1300 | ||
WORLD HISTORY SINCE 1300 | ||
CITIES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD | ||
SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD | ||
HISTORY OF ANCIENT ISRAEL | ||
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 486 | SENIOR HISTORY SEMINAR 2,5,6 | 3 |
Total Units | 42 |
- 1
HIST 300 must be taken during the junior year or equivalent.
- 2
- 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.
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
Required Coursework for Departmental Honors in History | ||
HIST 498 | HONORS DIRECTED READINGS | 3-4 |
HIST 499 | HONORS THESIS IN HISTORY | 4 |
Total Units | 7-8 |
Suggested Four-Year Plan
Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.
Freshman | |||
---|---|---|---|
Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
Select one of the following: (Core 5) | 3 | HIST Global Survey Course (Core 12)1 | 3 |
Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 | ||
Core 4 | 3 | ||
Core 7 | 4 | ||
HIST 145 or 146 (Core 11) | 3 | Elective | 3 |
Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | ||
Core 3 | 3 | ||
Elective | 3 | ||
15 | 16 | ||
Sophomore | |||
Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
HIST Global Survey Course1 | 3 | HIST Pre-Modern Survey Course2 | 3 |
Core 6 | 3 | Core 10 | 3 |
Core 8 | 3 | Core 13 | 3 |
Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Junior | |||
Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
HIST 300 (Core 9) | 3 | HIST Upper-Level, European | 3 |
HIST Upper-Level, Pre-Modern | 3 | HIST Upper-Level, Global | 3 |
HIST Upper-Level, U.S. | 3 | Upper-Level Elective | 3 |
Core 12 (if not taken above) or Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
Core 14 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Senior | |||
Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
HIST 486 | 3 | HIST Upper-Level | 3 |
HIST Upper-Level, Global | 3 | HIST Upper-Level, Pre-Modern | 3 |
Upper-Level Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 | Elective | 2 |
15 | 14 | ||
Total Units 120 |
- Marshal and arrange appropriate historical evidence from primary and secondary sources to support historical arguments.
- Demonstrate command of a body of historical knowledge related to major political, economic, social, and cultural events and issues in Western culture.
- Demonstrate command of a body of historical knowledge related to major political, economic, social, and cultural events and issues in non-Western cultures.
- Demonstrate information literacy, which includes technological competency.