History
Degrees ..BA, MA, PhD
The undergraduate degree in history emphasizes knowledge and awareness of:
- the main topics in the political, social, cultural, and economic history of the United States, from its origins to the present;
- the main topics in the political, social, cultural, and economic history of western civilization, from its origins in antiquity to the present;
- the main topics in the political, social, cultural, and economic history of one or more geographic areas outside Europe and America; and
- methodology in historical studies.
In addition, students completing the degree in history are expected to acquire the ability and skills to:
- research and conduct an investigation, consulting appropriate works for developing a bibliography;
- distinguish between primary and secondary sources, analyze arguments and interpretations, and recognize interpretative conflicts;
- interpret evidence found in primary sources and develop an historical argument based on and sustained by the evidence available; and
- produce historical essays that are coherent, cogent, and grammatically correct.
Bachelor's Degree Program +
Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the required courses listed below.
(Note: These requirements took effect on June 1, 2003. Students who became history majors prior to that term may fall under previous major requirements and should consult the department's undergraduate advisor to determine which requirements to follow. Students should take no more than 45 hours in history without consulting the advisor to determine applicability toward the BA degree. Students completing an Honors\Thesis may take up to 51 credit hours in history.)
| Total Hours: Students must complete 36 hours in history courses with grades of C- or better. Of those 36 hours, 21 must be at the upper division. | |
| There are two tracks at the upper division in history: one emphasizes comparative history, while the other emphasizes broad coverage of world history. | |
| Geographic Distribution: Complete at least six hours in each of three areas: World Areas History, European History, and United States History. In each area, at least three of those hours must be at the 1000 level, and at least three at the 3000 or 4000 level. Students choosing the non-4020 track (see below) must complete at least 9 hours in each of the three ares; at least 3 hours each at the 1000 level and at least 6 hours each at the 3000 or 4000 level. | |
| Chonological Distribution: Complete at least six hours in courses whose focus falls principally before the year 1800, and at least six hours in courses whose focus falls principally after the year 1800. (The department maintains a list of courses that meet these requirements.) | |
| Either complete HIST 4020 (Capstone: Comparative History) or complete 6 upper-division hours in each of the three geographic areas. | |
| Complete a 3000-level Critical Thinking seminar. | |
| Students may count one 2000-level history course towards the major requirements. This course may not, however, be used to satisfy the geographic distribution requirement. |
Graduating in Four Years +
Students should consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for further information on eligibility for the four-year guarantee. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress in history, students must consult the history advisor each semester, but the following plan provides a rough outline of acceptable progress:
| Declare the major no later than the second semester of the freshman year. | |
| Recommended sequence of courses: | |
| Required Course | Semester Hours |
| Freshman year | |
| Any two of the three required lower-division courses | 6 |
| Sophomore year | total: 6 |
| The remaining required lower-division course | 3 |
| One lower- or upper-division course | 3 |
| (Only one 2000-level course may be applied to the major and it cannot be used for a geographical area) | |
| Junior year | total: 12 |
| Four upper-division, or one lower- and three upper-division courses | 12 |
| Senior year | total: 12 |
| Three upper-division courses, one of which may be HIST 4020 Capstone: Comparative History | 9 |
| One 3000-level seminar | 3 |
| Grand total all terms | 36 |
Note: Under normal circumstances, no more than 45 credit hours in history may be used toward a student's total University of Colorado graduation requirements. Students must have a grade point average of at least 2.00 in the major in order to graduate. Students may receive credit for HIST 1010 and 1020 and/or HIST 1015 and 1025 by obtaining a score of four or better on the high school Advanced Placement history test(s). Some types of International Baccalaureate credit are acceptable; consult the major advisor to determine individual applicability. The CLEP Test is not accepted for credit.
All students majoring in history must complete at least 12 credit hours of upper-division history courses taught by the University of Colorado at Boulder faculty. In addition, 3000-level critical thinking seminars and HIST 4020 must be taken on the CU-Boulder campus.
Minor Program +
A minor is offered in history. Declaration of a minor is open to any student enrolled at CU-Boulder, regardless of college or school. For more information see www.colorado.edu/artssciences/students/undergraduate/academics/minors.html.
Graduate Degree Programs +
Students wishing to pursue graduate work in history leading to candidacy for an advanced degree should read carefully requirements for advanced degrees in the Graduate School section. The following are special departmental requirements. Additional information should be obtained from the Department of History.
Admission Requirements. For purposes of admission to the graduate program, the general Graduate Record Examination is required and a score in the 85th percentile or above on the verbal component is generally expected.
Master's Degree +
Prerequisites. As general preparation for graduate work in history, a broad liberal arts education, as well as a major in history, are desirable, though not specifically required. Candidates for graduate degrees may be required to pursue such fundamental courses in history as the department deems necessary to provide a suitable historical background.
Residence. While it is possible to obtain the MA degree in two full semesters of residence, more time is generally necessary.
Degree Requirements. A total of 24 credit hours of course work plus 6 hours of MA thesis, or 30 credit hours of course work without a thesis, is required for the degree. A comprehensive examination must be passed in the field of study before the degree is granted.
Doctoral Degree +
Prerequisites. Students who wish to work toward the PhD degree in history must indicate knowledge of certain fields of history, acquaintance with the fundamental tools of historical scholarship, and the ability to do original work. The PhD program does not require the completion of a master's degree, but directly admits those qualified applicants who hold an undergraduate history degree or who have completed appropriate undergraduate history preparation and who have been recommended by the graduate admissions committee.
Residence. At least three years of graduate study, two of which must be spent in residence, are required for the PhD degree.
Degree Requirements. A total of 45 postbaccalaureate credit hours, at least 30 of which must be taken at this university, and a dissertation are required for the degree. A minimum of one foreign language is required; however, students must be able to use those languages essential to research and advanced study in their respective fields.
A comprehensive written and oral examination, a dissertation which is an original contribution to knowledge, and an oral examination on the dissertation must be successfully completed.
