History Requirements

Required for the Major in History: Each major must take 11 history courses before graduation, including: (1) at least one but no more than three courses numbered 0100 to 0199; (2) at least one course in European history (which may include Russia/Soviet Union); (3) at least one course in United States history (not including HIST 0203 or HIST 0204); (4) and at least one course in the history of Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, or Russia/Soviet Union, all to be taken at the 0200-level or higher. (A course in Russia/Soviet Union may not be used for more than one geographical area); (5) a reading seminar; (6) HIST 0600; (7) a two-term senior thesis, which counts as two of the required 11 courses.
Two of the courses required for the major must deal primarily with the period before 1800. Courses which qualify for the pre-1800 requirement are identified in the course descriptions (see below) and a list is available from the department. In addition to winter term senior thesis study, one other winter term history course may be counted toward the eleven courses necessary for a major in history. With permission of the department, up to two cognate courses in historical aspects of other disciplines may be counted toward a major in history.

Students planning to spend all or part of the junior year abroad should consult with the department before the second semester of the sophomore year.

Advanced Placement: An advanced placement (AP) grade of 4 or 5 in a history subject supplies one college credit and counts for one course towards the history major requirement of 11 history courses. However, an AP grade of 4 or 5 cannot replace any other specific requirement for the major (see “Required for the Major in History,” above). In addition, a student wishing to apply an AP grade of 4 or 5 in European history toward the major cannot also count HIST 0103 or HIST 0104 toward the major. Such a student must take a different 100-level course, and at least one course in European history at the 0200-level or higher. Furthermore, a student wishing to apply an AP grade of 4 or 5 in United States history toward the major cannot also count HIST 0203 or HIST 0204 and must take a different course in United States history to complete the major.

Joint Major: A student who is a joint major in history and another department must take a total of at least eight courses in history, chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Cognates are not allowed. A student must take at least one course in two of three sub-fields: Europe, North America, and AAL (Asia, Africa, Latin America, Middle East, Russia/Soviet Union), and one course in the period before 1800. The choice of courses should depend upon the need to achieve an intellectual coherence and integrity in the student's program. Joint majors must take a reading seminar and HIST 0600 and must write a two-term thesis combining the skills of both major disciplines.

International Studies Majors with Disciplinary Focus in History: Students must complete a 0100-level course and five other courses, including a 0400-level reading seminar normally taken in the senior year. The reading seminar and at least two other courses should be within the regional focus, and at least one course should be outside the regional focus. With the permission of the History Department Chair, up to two of these courses can be taken abroad.

Minors in History: Cognate courses from other disciplines may not be used to replace the history courses listed below. AP credit in history (a score of 4 or better), and approved transfer credits in history, however, may used. (Beginning with the Class of 2015, AP and IB credit cannot be counted towards a minor in history).
I. European history (five courses): (1) HIST 0103, HIST 0104, or HIST 0105; (2) three of the following: HIST 0241, HIST 0242, HIST 0243, HIST 0244, HIST 0245, HIST 0246, HIST 0247, HIST 0248, HIST 0249, HIST 0250, HIST 0251, HIST 0253, HIST 0254, HIST 0256, HIST 0257, HIST 0319, HIST 0347 or HIST 0348; and (3) one reading seminar in European history: from HIST 0400 to HIST 0410.
II. American history (five courses): (1) HIST 0203; (2) three of the following: HIST 0204, HIST 0206, HIST 0210, HIST 0212, HIST 0213, HIST 0214, HIST 0215, HIST 0216, HIST 0217, HIST 0218, HIST 0220, HIST 0222, HIST 0225, HIST 0226, HIST 0228, HIST 0229, HIST 0377, HIST 0391, HIST 0393, HIST 0397 and (3) one reading seminar in American history: listed from HIST 0411 to 0420.
III. Latin American history (four courses): (1) HIST 0106 and HIST 0107; (2) one of the following: HIST 0105, HIST 0243, HIST 0244, HIST 0245, HIST 0287 or HIST 0288; and (3) one reading seminar in Latin American history: HIST 0310, HIST 0426, or HIST 0427.
IV. Asian history (five courses): (1) HIST 0111 or HIST 0112; (2) three of the following, including one course each on China and Japan; at least one of the three must focus on the pre-1800 era: HIST 0231, HIST 0232, HIST 0235, HIST 0236, HIST 0237, HIST 0238, HIST 0239, or HIST 0305; and (3) one reading seminar in Asian history: listed between HIST 0429 and HIST 0437.
V. African history (four courses): (1) HIST 0113 and HIST 0114; (2) HIST 0105 or HIST 0375; and (3) one reading seminar in African history: listed between HIST 0440 and HIST 0444.
VI. Middle Eastern history (four courses): (1) HIST 0108 or HIST 0109; (2) two of the following: HIST 0262, HIST 0263, HIST 0266 or HIST 0268; and (3) one reading seminar in Middle Eastern history: HIST 0438 or HIST 0439.

Honors: To earn departmental honors, a student must have at least a 3.3 average or above in history department courses other than the senior thesis, have an oral examination on the senior thesis, and receive a grade of at least B+ on the thesis (HIST 0700).  Beginning with the Class of 2013: To earn departmental honors, high honors*, or highest honors** a student must have at least a 3.4, 3.5*, or 3.67** average or above in history department courses other than the senior thesis, have an oral examination on the senior thesis, and receive a grade of at least B+, A-*, or A** on the thesis (HIST 0700).

HIST 0100-LEVEL COURSES
The 0100-level courses (0100-0199) deal with events and processes that affect human societies over long periods of time and across broad geographical areas not confined to national boundaries. These courses include components that act as introductions to the field of history.

HIST 0200-LEVEL COURSES
These are lecture courses that deal with a single cultural or national entity, or a clearly related group of such entities, over a substantial period of time (usually a century or more).

HIST 0300-LEVEL COURSES
These courses, for the most part, are topically focused courses. Most of them are also lecture courses which meet for two 50-minute lectures and a 50-minute discussion section (12-18 students) each week, or for two 75-minute sessions per week in a format that combines lecture and discussion.  The HIST 0390 courses are taught in a seminar format. These are not, however, seminars that fulfill the reading seminar requirement .

HIST 0400-0450 READING SEMINARS
Unlike the courses below the 0400 level, which are primarily lecture courses, these courses are reading seminars on particular periods or topics. They are open to all students, although in cases of overcrowding, history majors will be given priority. First-year students are admitted only by waiver.

HIST 0600 RESEARCH SEMINAR
All history majors who have not taken a writing and research seminar, (HIST 0450-0460) are required to take HIST 0600 their junior fall or, if abroad at that time, their senior fall semester. In this course students will conceive, research, and write a work of history based on primary source material. After reading and discussion on historical methods and research strategies, students will pursue a paper topic as approved by the course professors.

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES SEMINARS
These seminars are "capstone" courses required for the International Studies major. They are thematic, interdisciplinary, cross-regional, and team-taught. Students who are not International Studies majors may take these courses for departmental credit, but they will not normally fulfill the History Department major requirement of a 0400-level reading seminar or writing/research seminar.

HIST 0700 SENIOR INDEPENDENT STUDY
All senior history majors will write a two-term thesis under an advisor in the area of their choosing. The department encourages students to do their theses during the fall and winter terms. Fall/spring theses are also acceptable and, with permission of the chair, winter/spring. On rare occasions, with departmental approval given for compelling reasons, a thesis may be initiated in the spring of an academic year and finished in the fall of the following year. All students beginning their thesis in a given academic year must attend the Thesis Writers' Workshops held in the fall and winter of that year. Further information about the thesis is available from the department.