Major

Department of History

History is one of the disciplines at the core of the liberal arts tradition. History not only seeks to preserve, extend, and reevaluate our study of the past, but also to connect it with the present. In this way, History is as much about the past as it is the present as it deals with concepts, rather than rote memorization. 

While content knowledge is important to the study of History, the History major also emphasizes a variety of skills that are central and applicable to nearly any career path. These skills include problem-solving and critical thinking, analysis and interpretation through research, cultural literacy, and effective, concise, and clear written and oral communication.

According to conventional thinking, students majoring in HIST are generally directed at one of the following career paths: teaching, law, or government service. However, the range of career paths that HIST major have pursued, and continue to pursue is far more expansive. History majors can be found in fields as varied as media, journalism, politics, business, librarianships, foundation work, technology, literature, entertainment. In other words, the skills and breadth of knowledge at the core has proven to be the ideal preparation for any profession or occupation. The History major prepares its students with the confidence, skills, and knowledge to connect what they’ve learned to their objectives.

Bachelor of Arts in History

Majors must take 45 units of history: 9 lower division and 36 upper-division.

  1. Lower Division – 9 units
    1. 6 units from the following courses: HIST 101, HIST 111, HIST 112, HIST 131, HIST 132, HIST 172, HIST 173 (or their equivalent at community college or another university)
    2. 3 units from ONE of the following courses: AFRS 120, AFRS 121, HIST/AIS 105, HIST/AIS 106, ASAM 120, HIST 140.
  2. Core: 15 units. All majors must take HIST 301 (4 units), 302 (4 units), 499 (4 units), and one history course that fulfils the gender, race, and ethnicity requirement (from a list of approved courses available from an Undergraduate Advisor or the Department). 
    1. HIST 301 must be taken in first semester of upper division course work in the major. 301 is a prerequisite for 302. HIST 302 must be taken immediately after successfully completing HIST 301. Both courses are prerequisites for HIST 499, which must be taken during the final semester in the HIST major.
    2. The Gender, Race, Ethnicity course (please see the list of approved courses on the HIST major worksheet) can double count towards fulfilment of the Gender, Race, Ethnicity requirement and EITHER a field of emphasis requirement OR Breadth requirement (See below). For example, if you take HIST 319 (Women in Medieval Europe) and one of your fields of emphasis is Ancient/Medieval, HIST 319 will satisfy both the Gender, Race, Ethnicity requirement and 6 or 9 units of field of emphasis in Ancient/Medieval history. If, however, Ancient/Medieval is not one of your fields of emphasis and you take HIST 319, it can satisfy one of your Breadth requirements. 
  3. Fields of emphasis: 18 units. All majors have the option of specializing in two or three fields. The fields are: (A) Africa and the Middle East, (B) Ancient and Medieval Europe, (C) Asia, (D) Latin America, (E) Modern Europe (including Britain), (F) United States, and (G) World.
    1. Option one: two fields of nine units in each field.
    2. Option two: three fields of six units in each field.
  4. Breadth: 6 units. Majors must take six units in a field (or fields) of history outside of their fields of emphasis.
  5. All majors must develop a portfolio (beginning with HIST 301) reflecting their work in the History major. The portfolio will be evaluated as one of the requirements in the senior seminar, HIST 499. 
    1. Prerequisites for HIST 499, completion of HIST 301, 302 and 18 units of work in the major.
  6. Please make an appointment with an Undergraduate Advisor when declaring your major.
  7. Please review the HIST major worksheet. 

History majors are strongly encouraged to include the study of foreign language and literature in their programs. Students working for a single-subject credential in secondary education must consult with the College’s secondary education advisor as to the applicable credential major requirements.