History Major

Bachelor of Arts Degree in History

The major requires a minimum of 32 credit hours. No more than 8 credits may be at the  100 level. One must be at the 300 level, and students must take HIST 401 Methods and Practice in History and HIST 402 History Capstone. The remainder of the courses may be at the 200 or 300 level. An Historical Perspectives course taught by the Department of History faculty counts toward the major requirements. Students may choose an area of historical specialization but must take at least one course in each of the following three geographical areas: United States, Europe and non-Western (e.g., Asia, Africa or Latin America). In addition, they must take one course focusing on history before 1800 and one course focusing on history after 1800, in order to ensure a breadth of chronological knowledge.

The capstone sequence for the major is HIST 401 and HIST 402, recommended to be taken in the junior year, particularly for students planning to complete a two-semester thesis. Both courses are required of all students majoring in history. Methods and Practice is generally taught in the fall semester. The Capstone is generally taught in the spring semester. Enrollment in Methods and Practice is limited to junior or senior history majors or minors who have taken a Historical Perspectives course. Students must successfully complete HIST 401, and at least two courses at or above the 200 level prior to taking the Capstone. It is strongly advised to take a history course at the 300 level prior to taking the Capstone course. To develop their understanding of how historical knowledge relates to other academic disciplines, students may take one course taught by a faculty member outside the Department of History, provided that the course has been approved for the major  by the department in advance.

Required Courses 

8 Credits Total
HIST 401Methods and Practice in History4
HIST 402History Capstone4

No more than 8 credits from the following 100-level History courses (score of 4 or 5 on an AP History exam will count as one 100-level course)

HIST 101Medieval Lives in Love and War4
HIST 102The Web of Europe since 14004
HIST 103U.S. Origins: From Pre-Colonial Times to 18774
HIST 104Modern Times: The U.S. from 1877 to the Present4
HIST 164Asia Pacific in Modern Times4
HIST 188History of East Asia to 18004
HIST 150Special Topics1-4

One History Course Before 1800

Select one of the following (4 Credits Total):4
HIST 101Medieval Lives in Love and War4
HIST 188History of East Asia to 18004
HIST 233Medieval Civilization: Crusades and Chivalry4
HIST 235The Renaissance in Florence (ART 235)4
HIST 236Reformation: Luther to Fox (REL 236)4
HIST 241Africa Before 18004
HIST 271Colonial Latin America4
HIST 283Silk, Silver and Empire: Imperial China4
HIST 285Samurai in Word and Image4
HIST 310Advanced Seminar in Global History1-4
HIST 335Ancient Greece from Homer to Socrates (IDS 452)4
HIST 336The Elizabethan Age (ENGL 336)4
HIST 250Special Topics1-4
HIST 350Special Topics1-4
IDS 452Homer to Socrates: Cultures of Classical Greece (HIST 335)4

One U.S. History Course 

Select one of the following (4 Credits Total)4
HIST 103U.S. Origins: From Pre-Colonial Times to 18774
HIST 104Modern Times: The U.S. from 1877 to the Present4
HIST 205American Imperialism, American Progressive4
HIST 212American Frontiers4
HIST 215The Civil Rights Movement4
HIST 218Legacies of History: The Case of California Indians4
HIST 221North Carolina History4
HIST 223Gender and Power in U. S. History4
HIST 225African American History (AFAM 225)4
HIST 227Urban Environmental History4
HIST 276Civil War and Reconstruction4
HIST 308The Underground Railroad4
HIST 310Advanced Seminar in Global History1-4
HIST 311The U.S. since 19454
HIST 312Indians in American History since 18004
HIST 324American Rivers4
HIST 250Special Topics1-4
HIST 350Special Topics1-4

One Europe Course 

Select one of the following (4 Credits Total):4
HIST 101Medieval Lives in Love and War4
HIST 102The Web of Europe since 14004
HIST 219The Age of Dictators: Europe, 1920s-30s4
HIST 233Medieval Civilization: Crusades and Chivalry4
HIST 235The Renaissance in Florence (ART 235)4
HIST 236Reformation: Luther to Fox (REL 236)4
HIST 237Europe in Revolution, 1789-19144
HIST 238War and Peace: 20th-Century Europe, 1914-19994
HIST 245Europe since World War II4
HIST 255The Second World War4
HIST 289The French Revolution and Napoleon4
HIST 310Advanced Seminar in Global History1-4
HIST 335Ancient Greece from Homer to Socrates (IDS 452)4
HIST 336The Elizabethan Age (ENGL 336)4
IDS 452Homer to Socrates: Cultures of Classical Greece (HIST 335)4
HIST 250Special Topics1-4
HIST 350Special Topics1-4

One Non-Western History Course

Select one of the following (4 Credits Total):
HIST 164Asia Pacific in Modern Times4
HIST 188History of East Asia to 18004
HIST 241Africa Before 18004
HIST 242Africa Since 18004
HIST 266Modern China in Film4
HIST 268Gender and Sexuality in Chinese History4
HIST 271Colonial Latin America4
HIST 272Modern Latin America4
HIST 283Silk, Silver and Empire: Imperial China4
HIST 284China in Revolution4
HIST 285Samurai in Word and Image4
HIST 286Japan: Road to War4
HIST 310Advanced Seminar in Global History1-4
HIST 250Special Topics1-4
HIST 350Special Topics1-4

Total credits required for A.B. degree in history is 32 credits