Planning Your Major and Minor
Although students' experiences vary, the History curriculum is designed to challenge students with increasingly complex historical content, concepts, and methodology.
First Year:First-year seminars, 1000-level introductory courses, and 2000-level lecture courses are all open to first years. A first-year seminar and Hist 1101 are especially encouraged. Some students, especially those who took history courses in the fall semester, take a 2500-level seminar in the spring of their first year.
Sophomore Year:Sophomore year is an excellent time to start working on major/minor requirements. During the spring semester, students will declare their majors and minors. They should contact their history advisors early in the semester to discuss their plans. Students planning to study abroad should approach potential advisors even earlier and meet in the late fall or early spring to ensure that they will be able to complete the major. Those planning to be away for their entire junior year should take at least one intermediate seminar.
Junior Year:
Students should have made progress on their major requirements, especially seminars and non-Euro/US courses. Junior year is an ideal time to take a 3000-level advanced seminar, especially if a student plans to pursue an honors project or if it fits their interests well. Students intending to do an honors project should begin to speak with their advisor or professors in their proposed area of study as early as possible in junior year to discuss the process, begin to find a topic, and lay out a plan for summer research.
Senior Year:
In addition to completing the range of courses necessary to fulfill the requirements for the major, senior students are strongly encouraged to pursue their own research projects through seminars or an honors project. As mentioned above, students should plan independent work with their advisors or with another member of the department well in advance of the start of senior year.