History

History BA

Capstone Major

The History major is a designated capstone major. Undergraduate students take a capstone seminar in which they demonstrate mastery of a specialized area of history and a critical understanding of current scholarly concerns, literature, and debate, then design and complete a research project using those primary sources and literature.

The History Department undergraduate program consists of 16 courses in history (six lower-division — the preparation for the major, including the premajor requirements; 10 upper-division — the major). Each course must be taken for a letter grade.

The History major has the following learning outcomes:

• Demonstrated appropriate mastery of a specialized area of history
• Demonstrated critical understanding of current scholarly concerns, literature, and debates
• Identification and analysis of primary sources
• Design and execution of a research project, drawing on primary sources and appropriate scholarly literature
• Demonstrated ability to organize and present a brief oral presentation about research

Required: Two courses from any history survey course: History 1A, 1B, 1C, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, M4, 5, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9A, 9C, 9D, 9E, M10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 12C, 13A, 13B, 13C, 14, 20, 21, or 22; and one course from 96W or 97A through 97O.

After completing the three courses with a minimum grade-point average of 2.0, students should petition to enter the major in one of the undergraduate counseling offices, 6265 or 6290 Bunche Hall.

Required: Three additional lower-division history courses.

Transfer applicants to the History major with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: one semester or two quarters of history of Western civilization or world history, one historical practice course, and three additional lower-division history courses.

Transfer credit for the premajor courses is subject to department approval. Transfer students should consult with the undergraduate counselors before enrolling in any courses for the major.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

Required: At least 10 upper-division history courses, including (1) two courses in U.S. history, (2) two courses in non-Western history from the same area (i.e., Latin America, Asia, Near East, Africa), (3) two courses in European history or in history of science, (4) one course from 187A through C187R, and (5) one capstone seminar from the History 191 series.

The requirements for U.S., non-Western, and European history may be fulfilled with either upper or lower-division courses, but majors are required to take a minimum of 10 upper-division history courses.

One of the 16 courses for the premajor, preparation for the major, and major must predominantly cover history before 1700 CE, selected from History 1A, 1B, 2C, 3A, 8A, 9A, 9C, 9D, M10A, 11A, 11B, 14, 20, 21, 102A, M103A through 105B, M106, 107A, 107B, 108A, 108B, M110A through 111B, 112A through 119D, 121A, 121B, 122A, 122B, 122C, 124A, 125D, M127A, 128A, 128B, 129A, 130, M133A, 135A, 136A, 157A, 157B, 162B, 164B, 166A, 167A, 167B, 168A, 169A, 170A, M170C, 172A, 172B, M173C, 174A, M174D, 176A, 176E, M182A, M182B, M185D, M185F, M185G, M185I, or M186A.

There is no language requirement for the major; however, students wishing to enter the honors program or planning to do graduate work in history are urged to pursue language study early in their undergraduate careers.

Effective fall quarter 2002 for entering freshmen, no course credit is granted for any AP examination.

The honors program is designed for History majors who are interested in completing a year-long research project that culminates in an honors thesis. A 3.5 departmental grade-point average is required for admission. To graduate with departmental honors, students must have a cumulative or overall GPA of at least 3.0 in all University-level coursework and at least a 3.5 GPA in all coursework required for the major.

The honors thesis must be completed in three terms, on the basis of work carried out in History 198A, 198B, and 198C. Students must register their intention to undertake an honors thesis with the undergraduate affairs vice chair no later than spring quarter of their junior year.

When students register for honors, they must provide the undergraduate affairs vice chair with a two-paragraph description of their thesis project, which must be approved in writing by the faculty member who agrees to act as their adviser. The undergraduate affairs vice chair must also approve the proposed project in writing.

The faculty adviser is primarily responsible for guiding the thesis work to its completion and assigns grades for the honors courses after the thesis is complete. The honors thesis should be 40 to 60 pages in length and be based on primary source material. Determination of the level of honors awarded (no honors, honors, or highest honors) is made by the undergraduate affairs vice chair, acting in conjunction with the honors committee, at the end of the term in which the thesis is completed.