BA in History

BA Course Requirements

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.

Completion of the program-specific curriculum:

General requirements for the major

A minimum of 13 History (HIST) courses, some of which may be waived by examination, as follows:

Introductory course requirements

Majors’ Introductory Seminar

One Majors’ Introductory Seminar, selected from the following:

• Majors’ Introductory Seminar
• Majors’ Introductory Seminar: Europe
• Majors’ Introductory Seminar: Europe
• Majors' Introductory Seminar: United States
• Majors' Introductory Seminar: United States
• Majors’ Introductory Seminar: Africa
• Majors' Introductory Seminar: Asia
• Majors' Introductory Seminar: Asia
• Majors' Introductory Seminar: Latin America
• Majors' Introductory Seminar: Latin America
• Majors' Introductory Seminar: Middle East
• Majors' Introductory Seminar: Middle East

Senior or Honors thesis or capstone

Thesis

• Thesis Seminar
• Thesis Seminar
• Senior Honors Thesis Tutorial
• Senior Honors Thesis Tutorial

Students with an overall GPA of 3.3 and a GPA of 3.5 in completed History courses may write a Special Honors Thesis. Students must find a thesis advisor who is a full-time member of the faculty.

Capstone

An equivalent capstone project approved by the thesis instructor may be completed in lieu of the thesis.

Upper-level course requirements

In addition to the Majors’ Introductory Seminar, eight to ten upper-level courses numbered in the 2000s and 3000s, taken as follows:
Topical courses

Of the upper-level courses (including, for this purpose, the Majors’ Introductory Seminar), at least one course must be taken from three of the following groups. At least one of these courses must focus on the period before 1750.

• HIST Group A: Europe (courses numbered in the 2100s or 3100s)
• HIST Group B: North America (courses in the 2300s or 3300s)
• HIST Group C: Africa (courses in the 2500s or 3500s)
• HIST Group D: Asia (courses in the 2600s or 3600s)
• HIST Group E: Latin America (courses in the 2700s or 3700s)
• HIST Group F: Middle East (courses in the 2800s or 3800s)
• HIST Group G: Theory/Methods

Dean’s Seminars and Honors (HONR) courses taught by members of the History Department faculty, Majors’ Introductory Seminars, and HIST 2005 and HIST 3001 may count toward the topical requirement, to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Specialization

With the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies or departmental delegate, a history major may, but is not required to, declare a specialization by having at least six courses contribute to the student’s knowledge of a specific field. An area of specialization might be a geographic region, chronological period, or other topic (such as women’s history, legal history, or military history), or a combination thereof. Up to two courses counting for the specialization may be taken in other departments with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies or departmental delegate.

Foreign language

A foreign language is not required, but majors are strongly encouraged to take at least two semesters of a foreign language, particularly if they plan to pursue a graduate degree in history.