Since the present was forged in the past, the study of history is uniquely suited to enable us to comprehend and deal with the modern world. A major in History promotes critical thinking, data analysis, and communication skills. It also provides excellent preparation for careers in professional fields such as business, law, journalism, government, and education. In addition to a wide range of courses and the opportunity to undertake directed studies, the Department of History offers both a major and a minor. Students participate in broadly-based and globally-oriented study through either a regional concentration (American, European, Asian, or Latin American/Caribbean) or a thematic concentration (for example, economic or military history).
For further information about degree requirement policies and guidelines, see the Degree Requirements page.
Major Requirements
Students must receive approval from the History Department Chair for a regional concentration or thematic area within history. Examples might include American, European, Asian, or Latin American/Caribbean, or thematic concentrations in economic history, social history, or war and society. Students are encouraged to speak to the department chair as early in their career as possible to seek approval for their concentration courses.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Four courses in a field of regional concentration or in a thematic area in history approved by the Department Chair | 12 | |
| One course in non-Western history: | 3 | |
| Latin America (1800-present) | ||
| History of China: Before Confucius, After Mao | ||
| History of Japan: Samurai and Salarymen | ||
| Middle East: Islamic and Contemporary | ||
| Modern South Asia | ||
| The Caribbean: Past, Present, Future | ||
| Contemporary Japan | ||
| Fashion Film and Food in South Asia | ||
| Women and Gender in South Asia | ||
| South Asian Religions | ||
| History and Culture of North Korea | ||
| Selected Topics in Asian History | ||
| Selected Topics in Latin American/Caribbean History | ||
| Two unrestricted history electives (any HI course not otherwise required) | 6 | |
| HI 402 | Seminar in History | 3 |
| Total Credits: | 24 | |
Approved History Themes
Concentrations/themes within history must be approved by the History Chair. Possible options include, but are not limited to:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History of the Americas | ||
| Latin America (1800-present) | ||
| The Caribbean: Past, Present, Future | ||
| Colonial America (1400-1750) | ||
| The Revolutionary Generation in the United States (1750-1815) | ||
| Modern United States History (1920-present) | ||
| Constitutional History of the United States | ||
| Economic History of the United States | ||
| Work and the American Worker | ||
| History of American Technology | ||
| Serfs, Slaves and Sojourners: The Minority Experience in the United States | ||
| The American Religious Experience | ||
| History of Capitalism in Modern America | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
| The United States: From Nation to Empire (1865-1920) | ||
| America and Its Arts | ||
| U.S. Women's History | ||
| Immigration in U.S. History | ||
| History of American Sports | ||
| Baseball as American History | ||
| History of Boston | ||
| The Civil War | ||
| European History | ||
| History of Ireland: From St. Patrick to "The Troubles" | ||
| Arts and Society | ||
| The Medieval West | ||
| The Romantic Age | ||
| Modern British History | ||
| The Soviet Union and After | ||
| World War I | ||
| World War II | ||
| Europe Reborn: From Cold War to the War in Ukraine | ||
| War and Society | ||
| Genocide in Modern History | ||
| Historic Approach to Modern Terrorism | ||
| Revolutions and the Modern World | ||
| The Revolutionary Generation in the United States (1750-1815) | ||
| The Civil War | ||
| World War I | ||
| World War II | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
| Economic History | ||
| History of the World Economy | ||
| Economic History of the United States | ||
| Work and the American Worker | ||
| History of Capitalism in Modern America | ||
| Asian History | ||
| History of China: Before Confucius, After Mao | ||
| History of Japan: Samurai and Salarymen | ||
| Middle East: Islamic and Contemporary | ||
| Modern South Asia | ||
| Fashion Film and Food in South Asia | ||
| Women and Gender in South Asia | ||
| South Asian Religions | ||
Additional thematic areas are available upon approval. Examples include: “The Formation of the Atlantic World,” “Early Civilizations,” and “The Medieval and Early Modern World.”
General Degree Requirements
Foundations for Success (15 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FDS 100 | Falcon Discovery Seminar | 3 |
| Communications and Writing | ||
| Select one from: | ||
| EMS 101 | Critical Reading and Writing | 3 |
| or EMS 101L | Critical Reading and Writing with Lab | |
| or EMS 102 | Critical Reading and Writing for ESOL | |
| or EMS 102L | Critical Reading and Writing for ESOL with Lab | |
| And one from: | ||
| EMS 104 | Multimodal Communication | 3 |
| or EMS 105 | Multimodal Communication for ESOL | |
| Information Technology | ||
| CS 100 | Solving Business Problems with Information Technology | 3 |
| Mathematical Sciences | ||
| Select one from: | ||
| MA 105 | Mathematical Foundations for Business | 3 |
| or MA 105L | Mathematical Foundations for Business with Lab | |
| or MA 107 | Applied Calculus for Business | |
| or MA 107L | Applied Calculus for Business with Lab | |
| or MA 131 | Calculus I | |
| or MA 131L | Calculus I with Lab | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Context and Perspectives (18 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take six courses, one in each category of Context and Perspectives: | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Business Dynamics/Business Administration Minor (18 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| All courses are required: | ||
| AC 115 | Introduction to Financial Reporting and Analysis | 3 |
| EC 111 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| FI 118 | Introduction to Finance | 3 |
| LA 100 | Business Law | 3 |
| MG 116 | Human Dynamics in Organizations | 3 |
| ST 113 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Communication Intensive
All students are required to take a three-credit course designated as a Communication Intensive. This requirement can be met within a variety of course subjects in both Arts & Sciences and Business. Communication Intensive courses are designated with a "CI" in the course schedule. Transfer students with a minimum of 30 credits will be waived from the Communication Intensive requirement.
Please note that certain majors have an additional three-credit Communication Intensive built into their major requirements, separate from the general CI requirement.
Additional Requirements
Modern Language Requirement (6 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Two Modern Language courses (must be two semesters of the same language, regardless of proficiency level) | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Unrestricted Electives (39 Credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 13 elective courses | 39 | |
| Total Credits | 39 | |