Department of History
 

Major | Minor | Honors

The Major in History

The B.A. curriculum in history emphasizes breadth and flexibility. The requirements for the Major are summarized on this page; the complete, official requirements for the Major are listed in the Undergraduate Program Guide. History majors should keep in mind that they must also satisfy the University's General Education requirements and the College of Humanities and Fine Arts requirements.

History majors must complete 12 courses totalling at least 36 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0, distributed as follows:

A. Two to five 100-level courses

Required, one pair: Western Thought 100 & 101, World Civilization 110 or 112 & 111, or European sequence 140 & 141. Optional: Up to three other 100-level courses if one is a non-western course.

B. Six to nine courses 200-499 Students should keep in mind the pre-1500 and non-western requirements when choosing these courses.
C. One course numbered 591-595 Junior Writing Seminar, normally completed in the junior year and no later than the first semester of the senior year. If appropriate, this course may count as a pre-1500 course and one of the two required non-western courses (see below).
D. One course on history before 1500 A list of courses that meet this requirement is included in the department's course descriptions, updated each semester. If appropriate, the Writing Seminar may satisfy this requirement.
E. At least two non-western courses These may be 100-level or upper-level; a fifth 100-level course may be taken to fulfill this requirement. Non-western courses focus on the following areas: Africa, East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. If appropriate, the Writing Seminar may satisfy one course for this requirement.

Restrictions

  1. No upper-level history course may be taken elsewhere without prior approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Majors, including transfer students, must take a minimum of four upper-level courses in the department.
  2. History courses taken Pass/Fail will not be counted toward requirements for a major.
  3. No history course in which a grade of D+ or lower has been earned will satisfy requirements for the major.
  4. Majors may count no more than 20 history courses toward the B.A. degree (a total of no more than 60 credits, in lower- and upper-level work).

Handout >> Declaring your Major in History

The Minor in History

The requirements for the Minor are summarized on this page; the complete, official requirements for the Minor are listed in the Undergraduate Program Guide.

An undergraduate minor in History consists of a minimum of 6 courses totaling not less than 18 credits and distributed among lower and upper-level courses in the following manner:

  1. No more than two introductory courses (100 level)
  2. At least four upper-level courses (200 and above)

Restrictions

  1. Transfer credit toward the minor will be granted for introductory courses only.
  2. The four upper-level courses must be taken through the University of Massachusetts Amherst History Department or from a history department at one of the Four Colleges: Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke, or Smith. Exception: One such course may be taken during a Study Abroad semester.
  3. No History course taken on a pass/fail basis or in which a grade of D+ or lower has been earned may count toward the minor.
  4. "History" courses taken outside the History Department [e.g., Econ. 306, 361, 362; Journalism 320; Phil. 320, 321; Sport Mgt. 202] do not count under Rule 2 above.

Handout >> Declaring your Minor in History
Handout >> Declaration of an Academic Minor - Registrar's Office

Departmental Honors in History

A Commonwealth College student majoring in History can take 8 or 9 honors courses as follows:

  1. ENGLWP 112H or approved substitute with grade of B or better (or exemption)
  2. GenEd honors couse with grade of B or better*
  3. GenEd "I" honors course with grade of B or better
  4. Dean's Book Series with grades of B or better (three 1-credit courses)
  5. History honors course, any level*
  6. History honors course, any level*
  7. History honors course, 300 or above*
  8. History 499Y, Honors Research
  9. History 499T, Honors Thesis, or 499P, Honors Paper

*One of the three History honors courses may also satisfy the GenEd honors course requirement if it has a General Education designation.

For advice on your program, contact Charles Rearick, the Departmental Honors Coordinator. The Commonwealth College website also has useful information. Please see the Fall 2008 course guide for descriptions. If you would like to arrange an Honors Colloquium or Honors Independent Study in conjunction with another course, speak with the professor who is teaching that course.
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