Major Requirements

The following are the requirements that must be fulfilled to earn a Bachelor's degree with a major in History. Beginning in the fall of 2012, the department will implement a new undergraduate curriculum, aimed at deepening student engagement and strengthening crucial skills in research, writing, and critical analysis. As of September 2012, History requirements will therefore differ according to a student’s class. For the graduating class of 2016 forward, students will meet the new curricular requirements. Students in the graduating classes of 2013-15 will have the option of following either the new requirements or the previous ones.

Requirements for the Class of 2016 Forward

Twelve History Courses

1. Two Undergraduate Seminars in History: One 395 and one 393. These can focus on any region or time period, regardless of concentration.
2. Six 200 and 300 level courses in your area of concentration: History of the Americas, English/European history, African/Middle Eastern history, or Asian/Middle Eastern history.
3. Four additional courses at the 200 and 300 level outside your area of concentration.
4. Note: Courses applicable to (2.) and (3.) above comprise all 200-level or 300-level courses, including seminars numbered 392, 393, 394, 395, and 398. Exception: students may apply one History Freshman Seminar (101-6, 102-6, or 103-6) to either (2.) or (3.), above.

Restrictions

1. At least two of the above 200 and 300 level courses must be in either Europe before 1800 OR Africa, Asia, Latin America, or the Middle East (any period).
2. The 393 seminar should be taken as soon as possible after declaration of a history major, and should normally precede the 395 seminar. Students applying to the Senior Thesis Seminar should plan to complete both the 393 and the 395 before beginning their thesis work.
3. WCAS does not permit double-counting between the History major and most other majors. The History major itself has no double-counting provision.

Related Courses

Four related courses at the 200 and 300 level (at least two must be 300 level) which bear some coherent relationship to the student's major program of study, and which are in at least two departments or programs in the humanities and social sciences. Related courses do not have to be in a student's area of concentration. History/combined classes (e.g. History/AfAm 212) which are taken under the "partner" department's designation may not be counted as related courses.

Requirements for the Classes of 2015 and Before

Eleven History Courses

1. Two Undergraduate Seminars: One 395, and the other selected from courses listed under 101-6, 102-6, 103-6, 392, 393 and 394. Only one freshman seminar may be counted toward the major requirements.
2. Five 200 and 300 level courses in your area of concentration: History of the Americas, English/European history, African/Middle Eastern history, or Asian/Middle Eastern history.
3. Four additional courses at the 200 and 300 level outside your area of concentration.
   Note: Courses applicable to (2.) and (3.) above include all 200-level and 300-level classes, including 392, 393, 394, 395, and 398.

Restrictions

1. At least two of the above 200 and 300 level courses must be in either Europe before 1800 OR Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East (any period).
2. You are required to complete a 395 Research Seminar. The Research Seminar does not have to be in your area of concentration.
3. WCAS does not permit double-counting between the History major and most other majors. The History major itself has no double-counting provision.

Related Courses

Five related courses at the 200 and 300 level (at least two must be 300 level) which bear some coherent relationship to the student's major program of study, and which are in at least two departments or programs in the humanities and social sciences. Related courses do not have to be in a student's area of concentration. History/combined classes (e.g. History/AfAm 212) which are taken under the "partner" department's designation may not be counted as related courses.

ADDITIONAL NOTES (for all Class Years)

Up to two of the following courses may be used toward the twelve-course major:

• African American Studies 212-1, 212-2
• Asian American Studies 214, 216
• Classics 211, 212, 321
• Economics 315, 318, 323-1, 323-2, 324
• Gender Studies 324
• Latina/o Studies 218-0

Courses taken abroad may be counted for history credit with approval from a faculty advisor, who will normally ask to see the course syllabus and assignments in order to confirm that the course content was equivalent to that of a History Department course.

Current WCAS policy states that courses offered by other institutional participants in the Semester On-Line Program may count as elective credit toward graduation, but that individual departments or programs determine whether these courses count toward majors or minors. The History Department will not credit these or any other on line courses toward the major or minor, including as related courses.

College Requirements

1. Two Freshman Seminars
2. Two writing proficiency classes
3. Foreign Language: Two years or demonstration of proficiency
4. Natural Sciences: Two classes
5. Formal Studies: Two classes
6. Social and Behavioral Sciences: Two classes
7. Historical Studies: Two classes
8. Values: Two classes
9. Literature and Fine Arts: Two classes