Department of History

Alone among the disciplines, history embraces the sum of the human experience—politics, economy, religion, art, ideas, culture, social structures, and science. It is the goal of the Department of History to facilitate imaginative encounters with the past, which are essential to interpreting who we are and how we came to be where we are. All majors have an advisor in the department with whom they should consult regularly in planning their programs of study. The total number of courses required for fulfillment of the major is 12. Students must complete a core methodology course, at least two seminars, and nine additional courses, of which four must meet distributional requirements. Majors have the choice of designing their own path toward the major or creating a more specialized approach with the guidance of Department of History faculty based on geographic or thematic interests, including European, American, and world history, as well as cultural and intellectual history.

Organizations

Phi Alpha Theta

See Honor Societies.

Undergraduate History Association

For students interested in the study of history; activities include discussions, lectures, and museum trips.

Honors in the Major

Work for graduation with honors in the major presupposes attainment of a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all courses and 3.5 in all principal courses. In the senior year, the student must prepare an honors thesis, which will be credited as one course each semester, and defend it in an oral examination toward the end of that year. Interested students should consult the director of undergraduate studies and apply to the Independent Study Committee in their junior year. The honors thesis does not fulfill the departmental colloquium requirement.

Independent Work for Distinction

Work for graduation with distinction presupposes attainment of the requisite College of Arts & Sciences grade point level (a minimum of 3.0 in all courses, 3.5 in all principal courses). In the senior year, the student must prepare an honors thesis, which will be credited as one course each semester, and defend it in an oral examination toward the end of that year. Students interested in work for distinction should apply to the Independent Study Committee in their junior year. Work for distinction does not fulfill the departmental colloquium requirement.

Warren O. Ault Prize

Named for a former chair of the department, this prize is awarded annually to a senior for outstanding academic achievement in history.