History Major
Students elect to major in one of the following concentrations: Global History, Regional History, or Thematic History. The rationale and requirements of the three concentrations are described below.
The Global History Concentration is an innovative method of doing history which explores the past by moving beyond the nation-state or a particular region of the world. It uses methodologies of comparison and connection across regions, coupled with deep regional expertise to analyze processes, flows, networks, and migrations across regions that transcend conventional spatially bounded entities such as nations or empires and across temporally limited frames such as pre-modern or modern.
The Regional History Concentration denotes a deep historical exploration of the peoples and cultures of a particular region of the world. Students may choose to explore one of the following five regions of study: United States, Europe, Latin America & Caribbean, Africa, or Asia (East Asia and South Asia).
The Thematic History Concentration affords students the opportunity to self-design a course of study around a particular theme across different regions and periods. Students design their theme in close consultation with their advisor. Suggested themes include Empires and Imperialism; Nations and Nationalism; Race, Class and Gender; and Reforms, Reformations, and Revolutions
Requirements
The major consists of ten or more history courses. At least seven of these courses must be above the introductory level, including a minimum of two 400-level courses and a minimum of one upper-level course outside the area of concentration. (Regional and thematic concentrators must choose an upper level global history course. Global History concentrators must choose an upper level regional history course.)
To acquire regional breadth, students take a course each in four of the six regional areas of United States, Europe, Latin America & Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, Asia (East Asia and South Asia).
The concentration, whether Global, Regional, or Thematic, consists of at least five courses above the introductory level selected in consultation with a departmental adviser. Introductory courses should be completed as early as possible and not later than the end of the junior year.
Interdisciplinary work and languages: The History Department encourages foreign language competency and interdisciplinary work. Students may count one upper-level language course, chosen in consultation with their adviser, among the three required 300- and 400-level courses in the History major (although a language course may not substitute for the one required 400-level course). Students may also include one additional course in another discipline, chosen in consultation with their adviser, which enhances their concentration in History.
Study Away Courses: Majors are allowed to count two history courses taken during study away towards the major if approved by the major adviser.
Honors and Individual Study: Majors are strongly encouraged to undertake independent work in Individual Study courses and especially Honors Study. No student may receive credit for more than sixteen history courses.
HISTORY COURSES
Regional history courses - Africa
Regional history courses - Asia
Regional history courses - Europe
Regional history courses - Middle East
Regional history courses - Latin America & Caribbean
Regional history courses - United States
Global history courses
Advisers: D. Canton, S. Chhabria, J. Downs, M. Forster, L. Garofalo, E. Kane, F. Paxton, S. Queen, C. Stock, L. Wilson