For a Major in History

Requres 29 points, of which 13 or more must be in the area of specialization. At least one course in each of the three groups outside the area of specialization. Two seminars, at least one of which must be in the area of specialization. The requirements of the undergraduate program encourage students to do two things:

1) Develop a deeper knowledge of the history of a particular time and/or place. Thus, students are required to complete a specialization by taking a number of courses in a single field of history of their own choosing. The field may be defined, in consultation with a member of UNDED, according to geographical, chronological, and/or thematic criteria, and may be quite narrow or very broad. A student might choose to specialize, for example, in twentieth-century U.S. history, European diplomatic history, Roman history, or Korean and Japanese history. A specialization does not appear on the student’s transcript but provides an organizing principle for the program the student assembles in consultation with UNDED.

2) Take a broad range of courses to gain a sense for the full scope of history as a discipline. Students must therefore fulfill a breadth requirement by taking courses outside of their own specialization. Courses usually fall under one of the four following groups:

1. Group A—Premodern (before 1750)
2. Group B—Modern Europe (including Russia)
3. Group C—Africa, Asia, Middle East
4. Group D—The Americas

Majors must take at least one course in each of the three groups that do not include their specialization; concentrators must take at least one course in two of those three groups. For example a student specializing in twentieth-century U.S. history (Group D: Americas) must take at least one course from each of the following groups: A, B, and C. A student specializing in ancient history (Group A: premodern) must take at least one course from groups B, C, and D.

Certain courses carry more than one group designation. Such courses are counted as inside a student’s specialization if they fall within in it. They do not fulfill the breadth requirement. Thus for a student specializing in U.S. history (Group D), a course on World War II (Groups B and D) will count as a Group D course, not as a Group B course.

Courses on historical theory and method, such as Historian’s craft, and the two-term Senior thesis seminar carry the group designation ABCD. They count as inside the specialization.

UNDED may approve a specialization that transcends the boundaries of the four groups; distributional requirements will be adjusted accordingly. Students are encouraged to work with UNDED to define specializations that meet their intellectual interests.

For the most up-to-date information on history course distribution group designations, please refer to the courses section of the department Web site.

Seminars

Seminars are the key to the undergraduate major in history. In these courses students can develop research and writing skills under the close supervision of a faculty member. To maintain the small size of the courses (they are normally limited to 15 students), admission to seminars is by advance application. The History Department, in conjunction with the Barnard History Department and other departments in the University (particularly East Asian Languages and Cultures), offers over thirty seminars each semester that majors may use to meet their seminar requirements. There are more than enough slots available in these seminars to meet the needs of our major seeking to fulfill the two-seminar requirement, but students may not always be able to get into a particular seminar. Students should discuss with UNDED their various options for completing the seminar requirement.

The History Department has developed an on-line application system for seminars. The department regularly provides declared majors and concentrators information on upcoming application periods.

Students majoring in other fields, or students who have not yet declared a major, must inform themselves of application procedures and deadlines by checking the undergraduate seminar page of the department Web site.

For a Concentration in History

Concentrators must take at least 21 points in history, distributed among four groups: (A) premodern history; (B) modern Europe; (C) Africa, Asia, or the Middle East; (D) the Americas. Students must take at least 9 points in one group and at least one course in two of the three remaining groups.

Additional Information

For more extensive information about the history major or concentration, please refer to the Department's Undergraduate Handbook, available on-line.