Current History Major Requirements
New Requirements Effective June 1, 2003
NOTE: Students who declared their major prior to June 1, 2003 have different requirements. Copies of older requirements are available on the Old Major Requirements page, or from the History Department Office on request. Students who became a History major prior to June 1, 2003 should consult the department's Undergraduate Advisor to determine which requirements to follow.
If you are not a History Major and would like to become one, please make an appointment to see the Undergraduate Advisor.
Requirements for the Major in History
Credit Hours:
Students must complete 36 hours in history courses with grades of C- or better. Of those 36 hours, 9-15 hours may be at the lower division; 21-27 may be at the upper division. (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.)
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 one of the three geographic areas listed below. 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 areas; at least 3 hours each at the 1000 level and at least 6 hours each at the 3000 or 4000 level.
1. World Areas History
2. European History
3. United States History
Historical Period:
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.
Complete either HIST 4020 (Capstone: Comparative History) or 6 upper-division hours in each of the three geographic areas.
Complete a 3000-level Senior Seminar (also fulfills Critical Thinking CORE requirement.) Note: To register for a 3000-level seminar you must get the registration code from your History major advisor. Students planning to take a 3000-level course should contact their History major advisor about course availability as soon as the schedule of courses is released.)
History Majors may count only one 2000-level history course toward the major requirements. This course may not, however, be used to satisfy the geographic distribution requirement. Additional 2000-level courses taken will not be counted toward the major, but will be counted toward the total number of History hours when assessing overall degree requirements.
NOTE: Some requirements may overlap, i.e., if you take HIST 1010 it can be used to satisfy both the 1000-level Europe "Geographical Distribution" and three of the required six credits in the "Pre-1800 Historical Period."
History Major Completion Worksheet
List of Geographic Areas and Historical Periods fulfilled by specific History courses
Other Information of Interest to History Majors
Completing Arts and Sciences Core Requirements
Any course that fulfills a History major requirement as well as an A&S Core requirement may be used to fulfill both requirements. All 1000- and 2000-level History courses fill requirements within the Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum (check the Core Curriculum list for the specific requirements they fulfill). Most 3000-level seminars (intended primarily for History majors) also complete the A&S Core Critical Thinking requirement. 4000-level History courses do not normally fill any Core requirements. A few 4000-level courses do not conform to these rules.
Advanced Placement
Students may receive up to 12 hours of credit for HIST 1010 & 1020 (European History), and HIST 1015 &1025 (US History) by obtaining a score of 4 or better on the appropriate high school A.P.Test. Consult your academic advisor to determine what course equivalencies may exist and how the credit may be used. (College-Level Examination Program (C.L.E.P.) test scores are not accepted for credit.)
International Baccalaureate
Credit will be awarded with a score of 4 or higher on the higher level IB exams. Credit will be awarded as follows: Standard levels in Americas or Europe: No credit. History Europe: Higher level, score of 4 or higher: 6 credits-- equivalent to HIST 1010 and 1020 (meets the Historical Context core requirement). History, Americas: Higher level, score of 4 or higher: 6 credits equivalent to HIST 1025 & HIST 1038-- (meets the Historical Context and United States Context core requirements.) Any other I.B. History with an appropriate score will receive elective credit only. Consult your academic advisor to determine how the credit may be used toward Core or Major.
Transfer/Study Abroad Students
Transfer students majoring in history must complete at least 12 hours of upper-division history courses at the University of Colorado at Boulder. This requirement also applies to students who study abroad while undergraduates. If you have questions about how a course you took at another school will apply to your History program, consult the History Advisor and/or the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Independent Study
Independent study in history (working individually with an instructor) of between 1 and 3 credit hours may be applied toward the upper-division requirements only. More than 3 hours of Independent Study may only be taken with permission from the Independent Study Coordinator. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, and be of Junior or Senior standing. Consult the History Department Office for complete details.
Internship Opportunities
The History Department sponsors an internship program which allows students to earn from one to three credits in a special course, History 4930, while working outside the University in jobs related to historical study. (These jobs are typically unpaid.) Students interested in internships should see the Department's Undergraduate Director who will help them plan their programs, explain the mechanics of making contact with potential employers, and assign them to an individual faculty sponsor who will monitor their activities.
Because the work done will vary according to the design of the specific internships, credits earned in History 4930 may or may not be counted toward the major. Students who plan to do an internship must consult the Department's Director of Undergraduate Studies prior to commencing the internship. The Director will determine whether or not the course will count for major or elective credit. No formal determination of credit awarded can be made, however, until after the internship has been completed.
Advising
Every history major is assigned an advisor who will assist you with understanding both your History major requirements and your Core Curriculum requirements. If you are not yet a major but are interested in becoming one, you will need to schedule an advising appointment with the departmental advisor to go over the requirements and to officially sign up for the major.
We recommend that each student consult with their advisor at least once each semester. Advisors can be of great assistance in helping you define your program, find the best courses for your interests, and (perhaps most importantly) avoid problems with meeting the graduation requirements of the department and the college. It's helpful to print out a copy of the History Major Worksheet and fill it out prior to meeting with your advisor. Just follow the link to obtain the document. (NOTE: This document is not interactive, it must be printed out)
Graduation in Four Years
The History Department, like all academic units in the College of Arts and Sciences, is committed to honoring the College's Four-Year Guarantee Program. Students who wish to avail themselves of the program must carefully adhere to the requirements set out in the document entitled "A Guarantee for Graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences in Four Years," which can be found in the University Catalogue or obtained at the Dean's office, Old Main 1B-25. To be sure of fulfilling these requirements, a History major must, at a minimum, take the following steps.
1. Declare yourself a History major no later than the start of the second semester of your freshman year. At this point you will be assigned a faculty advisor and be given a form for recording your advising sessions (the "History Advising Record"), as well as a "Statement of Adequate Progress."
2. Before the end of the semester in which you declare your major, you must meet with your advisor to review the major requirements, list the applicable History courses you have already taken, and plan a tentative schedule of History courses on the Advising Record form. At the end of the session, take your completed Advising Record to the History department office, where it will be kept until your next advising session. You should also make a copy for your own records.
3. Thereafter, you should meet with your advisor once a semester to review your progress, compare the courses you have completed to the courses you have planned, and make whatever adjustments are necessary in your plan of study. You must meet with your advisor at least three times: in the third, fifth, and seventh semesters of study. Bring the Advising Record form to each meeting and make sure that both you and your advisor sign it. At the end of each session, return the original of the form to the Department office. You should also keep a copy for your own records.
Helpful Links for History Majors
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