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Major

Requirements for History Majors

Major declared 01/02/09 or after

The history major requires 11 classes.  Of these 11 classes, you must take:

  • 2 survey level classes (1xxx-level and selected 3xxx-level classes)
  • 6 upper division classes (3xxx-5xxx-level courses)
  • 3959 How to do History
  • 4961W Major Paper
  • 1 elective course in History at any level

Major declared  01/02/07 to 01/02/09

The history major requires 11 classes. Of these 11 classes, you must take:

  • 3 survey level classes (1xxx level courses and selected 3xxx level courses)
  • 6 upper division classes (3xxx-5xxx level courses)
  • HIST 3959 How To Do History
  • HIST 4961W Major Paper

Major declared prior to 01/02/07

If you declared your major prior to 01/02/07, you are not required to take HIST 3959 How To Do History. You must complete:

  • 3 survey level classes
  • 6 upper division classes
  • HIST 4961W

The following requirements (regardless of when the major was declared) must be fulfilled by either a survey or upper division level course unless otherwise indicated:

  • 2 classes before 1750
  • 2 classes after 1750
  • 2 unique geographic areas (U.S., Europe, Africa, Latin America, Middle East, etc. For students declaring the major after 01/02/09, US and Europe count as a single geographic area)
  • 1 world history course
  • 1 writing intensive survey level course. A second upper division writing intensive course is required for students declaring the major after 01/02/09.
  • 3 courses in an area of concentration: upper division courses linked together geographically, chronologically, or thematically. You are encouraged to write your major paper in your area of concentration.

All history courses fulfill at least 1 of the requirements listed above. A single course may satisfy multiple requirements. You must take all courses on an A-F grading scale and receive a grade of "C-" or higher in order to count that course toward your major.

Information for Transfer Students

History majors transferring from other schools must complete at least 6 upper division (3xxx level or above) history courses at the University of Minnesota to satisfy the requirements for a history major.

For most students, 1 of your 6 courses will be HIST 4961W Major Paper (unless you’re double majoring). If you’re an honors student, 1 of your 6 courses will be 4961V (the honors section of the major paper) or a 5xxx level proseminar in which you write your honors thesis.

In addition to taking at least 6 upper division courses at the University, you must fulfill all other requirements of the history major with regard to course distribution, etc. If you have already completed three survey courses for the history major through transfer credits, you may fulfill the writing intensive requirement either by taking a 3xxx-level writing-intensive survey course or by demonstrating to the director of undergraduate studies via a petition that 1 of your 1xxx-level transfer courses meets the writing-intensive criteria.

Although most history majors fulfill the world history requirement with an introductory-level world history course (HIST 1011W, 1012W, 1015W, 1017, 1018, or 1019), if you have already completed your lower-division history coursework through transfer credits, you may fulfill the world history requirement by taking HIST 3415, 3417, 3418, 3419, 3428, 3778, 3797, or 5501.

Information for Honors Students

We strongly encourage eligible students to participate in the University Honors Program. Admission requirements and information are available on their website.

Requirements for honors students

You must complete all standard requirements for history majors. However, you must take HIST 3959H How to do History in lieu of 3959 and HIST 4961V, the honors section of the major paper or a 5xxx level proseminar in which you will write a substantial research paper.

Please see Information for double majors for honors requirements for double majors.

Other honors history courses

  • HIST 4962H Honors: History Undergraduate Proseminar

Please see your college advisor in your CLA student community for more information on degree requirements for honors students.

Information for double majors

Students pursuing a double major in history and another College of Liberal Arts BA discipline complete only one senior project. If you choose to do your senior project in your other major, the major paper requirement in history is waived but you must register for one additional 3xxx-5xxx level history course.

Honors students who double major

Double major honors students are required to complete the honors track in only one of their majors. If you are double majoring in history and any other CLA BA major and plan to complete the honors requirements in your other major, you do not need to take the honors version of HIST 3959H How to do History (just the regular section of 3959) or write a senior honors thesis in history through a 5xxx level proseminar or 4961V.

Writing a summa cum laude thesis in history

You must present an acceptable summa thesis to earn the distinction summa cum laude. This thesis is often written in HIST 4961V (honors section of the major paper) or the 5xxx level proseminar, but it can also be completed on an independent study basis. You and your history adviser will establish a committee for guiding and reading of the thesis. The committee consists of two professors from the Department of History and one outside of history. The summa thesis should be exceptionally high quality and involve substantial original research. All members of the summa committee must agree that the thesis is of summa quality. Acceptance of summa thesis is not automatic or guaranteed. The committee can choose to hold a final oral defense of the thesis. When the committee approves the summa, you must submit a copy of the thesis to the Undergraduate Studies Office.

If you intend to write a summa thesis, obtain the necessary forms and information your honors program adviser.   Contact University Honors Program (http://www.honors.umn.edu/) if you have other questions about the summa thesis.

Undergraduate Features

Undergraduate Studies
Rich Kott
1135 Heller Hall
271 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Phone: 612-624-5227
Email: histugs@umn.edu

  • Scholarship and Paper Prize Deadlines: February 29, 2012

    All scholarship and paper prize materials are due by February 29, 2012 in the Undergraduate Studies Office, 1135 Heller Hall.

    More information

     February 3rd, 2012