The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
History Clusters
History Minor
Plus One Programs
All History Majors learn advanced research methods, internet and traditional based research, and gain experience in the interpretation and use of archival evidence, and in the construction of written arguments. By their middler year, History majors are prepared to do advanced historical research and writing, where research faculty engage students in their primary research fields.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) is the broadly based liberal arts degree in History. Students who pursue the B.A. degree must satisfy general requirements and take courses from across the Social Sciences and Humanities Core Curriculum, in addition to required and elective History courses. These requirements help students develop their historical knowledge and skills within the contexts of the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences that together comprise the disciplinary sources of historical knowledge. They enable historical understanding to be culturally and linguistically sensitive to the subjects of historical inquiry.
For more information about requirements and course offerings for a B.A. in History, please click here.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree emphasizes greater specialization in History, either in Public History or in a minor field outside of history, and a course in statistics. These programs are designed for students interested in either Public History or in quantitative analysis and the mastery of social science models and methods. Students who plan to go to graduate school in History should consider the possibility of taking language courses as electives, since most graduate programs continue to require foreign language competence. Many History majors are double majors. Most work in adjacent fields and programs including Education, International Affairs, Sociology, Political Science, Journalism, Art, and Architecture. The B.S. also has an optional concentration in Public History.
For more information about requirements and course offerings for a B.S. in History, please click here.
History Clusters
In conjunction with their History Advisor, History majors must define a History cluster, which includes courses in various periods or fields in American, European, Asian, African, or African-American History, Contemporary History, or World History. Students may also work with their History Advisor to develop his or her own History cluster from the Department’s courses according to a thematic, methodological, or other suitable principle (e.g., a cluster in cultural history, history of violence, contemporary history, women’s history, history of war, etc.).
For more information about History Clusters, please click here.
History Minor
For more information about requirements and course offerings for a History Minor, please click here
Plus One Programs
Why might this be right for you?
There are three main reasons why this option might be right for you. First, professionals who enter the workforce with graduate level experience are often more competitive.
Second, the combined degree might make financial sense. Up to 16 graduate credits will count toward the completion of your undergraduate degree and your graduate degree at no additional cost. This can equal up to half the required credits for your graduate degree.
Finally, the combined degree program can accelerate your receipt of a graduate degree. In most cases a combined degree student can obtain both their undergraduate and graduate diplomas with only one additional year of study.
Are you eligible to apply?
You are eligible to apply if you are a History major, a first semester junior (minimum of 64 semester hours) with a QPA in History of 3.50 or higher and an overall QPA of at least 3.33. You must have completed HIST 1201/1200 and HIST 2301/2302.
When do I apply?
You should apply in your junior year (minimum 64 semester hours), as this will maximize the number of graduate credits you can earn.
How do I apply?
Your first step should be to make an appointment with your academic advisor or the department’s Coordinator of Graduate Programs to make sure the program is right for you. Once you complete this meeting, you will need to submit a Plus One application found on-line along with a personal statement to the Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities Admissions Office, 128 Meserve Hall. Click here for the PlusOne admissions application.
Which graduate courses can I take?
Because History Department graduate courses are each worth 4 credits, you can complete up to 4 courses while completing your undergraduate degree requirements, for a total of 16 credits. You will be required to enroll in Methodology (HIST 5101) in the first semester of the Plus One program and you can enroll in up to 2 graduate level courses per semester. Once you become a graduate student, you will enroll in graduate courses only.
Who do I contact for more information?
You can either speak with your undergraduate academic advisor or the Coordinator of Graduate Programs who will be able to go over the admissions process and provide you with a curriculum plan to determine if this program is right for you.