Major & Minor in History
If you're enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, you can take history courses. You can become a History major by going to the departmental office (3650D Wescoe) and filling out a Major Declaration Form. There's no set time for doing this, but you should try to contact the department early for advising, preferably before the end of your sophomore year.
If you're double-majoring, you should plan early and carefully. You should be advised each semester by both of the departments in which you plan to major. Many history students also major in political science, English, a foreign language, biology, philosophy, women's studies, economics, or area studies, such as East Asian studies.
You can get either a B.A. or a B.G.S. in History. The department encourages the B.A. for the foreign language skills you will develop, but the department does not require it.
Requirements for the Major
The history department is organized into 10 fields of study. For the purposes of the undergraduate major, these fields are divided into two categories, reflecting a Western or non-Western orientation.
Category I
-> Ancient
-> History of Science
-> Medieval
-> Modern Western Europe
-> Russia/Eastern Europe
-> United States |
Category II
-> Africa
-> East Asia
-> Latin America
-> Native America
|
The minimum requirement for a major in history consists of 30 credit hours representing both Categories I and II, as follows:
- Five courses (15 hours) in either Category I or Category II
- Three courses (9 hours) from the other Category
- HIST 301 The Historian's Craft
- HIST 696 Seminar
- 24 hours numbered 300-699
(i.e., no more than 2 courses numbered 100-299)
Exceptions to any of the above requirements must be by petition to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
First- and Second-Year Preparation
Prospective majors are invited to contact a history department advisor to discuss the major program as soon as they arrive at KU. Only two courses are required for the major: History 396 (Historical Methods), ideally taken as soon as the student decides to major in history, and History 696 (Senior Research Seminar) normally taken during the senior year. We urge every major to work closely with an advisor to develop a coherent course of study that reflects his or her intellectual interests.
Special Field
You may construct your own special field of concentration outside of the fields listed above in consultation with a major adviser. Such special fields may be topical--for example, in women's history, or military history--or they may be chronological. You should consult with a departmental major adviser to construct an integrated and coherent program of study.
Write it all down on the
Major Advising Sheet now.
How to Minor in History
Minoring in History can add depth and breadth to your undergraduate
major, whatever department you may be in.
Requirements are 18 hours (or 6 courses) in History; at least
12 hours (or 4 courses) must be at the 300 level or above; two courses in category one, two courses in category two, and two electives.
Minor Advising Sheet
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