COURSE CURRICULUM

The History major curriculum provides students with a thorough grounding in historical analysis, research, and writing, structured across four academic years. In the first year, students are introduced to the discipline through foundational history courses such as Writing History, which builds academic research and writing skills, and thematic courses like Gods, Empires, Crusades & Plague and the Emergence of European Civilization. Students also explore early American history in courses like Foundations of America or Emergence of the Modern United States. These are complemented by general education requirements in writing, communication, literature, fine arts, philosophy, global and social science perspectives. In the second year, students continue their general education with courses in interdisciplinary studies, natural sciences, and world languages while beginning focused historical studies, including non-Western history electives and upper-level major electives. The curriculum encourages global awareness and cultural understanding. During the third year, students fulfill mathematics and computer science requirements while diving deeper into historical specialization through 300-level electives and beginning their research sequence. Free electives or minor courses offer additional academic flexibility. The final year centers on advanced scholarship, with students completing a capstone course requiring a major research paper that synthesizes skills developed throughout the program. This is supported by two 400-level research sequence electives and multiple free electives or minor courses to tailor their educational experience. Overall, the program emphasizes critical thinking, historical literacy, and scholarly communication, preparing students for a range of professional pathways or graduate study.