The Bachelor of Arts degree in History is designed to provide an understanding of societal development in all aspects of experience and environment, and of the relevance of the past to the present. The program permits pursuit of a wide range of interests within the purview of historical methodology. Students should confer in advance with a history adviser to select the courses and program appropriate to their goals.
For an overview of our department's areas of thematic interest and geographic focus, please check out our Areas of Departmental Specialization webpage.
Requirements for the Major: 78-80 units
The major is comprised of a required core of 18-20 lower division and 44 upper division units, plus 16 units of electives.Lower Division Required Courses
(20 units, or 18-20 units of equivalent transfer credit)
- HIST 110ABC: World Civilization I, II and III (12 units)
- HIST 202AB: US Civilization I and II (8 units)
Upper Division Required Courses (44 units)
- HIST 388: Historiography (4 units)
- HIST 390: Historical Research and Writing (4 units)
- Group A Requirement: two courses in Western Civilization or European History at the 300 or 400 level (8 units)
- Group B Requirement: two courses in U.S. History at the 300 or 400 level (8 units)
- Group C Requirement: two courses in African, Asian, Latin American, and/or Middle Eastern History at the the 300 or 400 level (8 units)
- Three Research Seminars: one HIST 450 ("Special Studies in History") on a theme in Western Civilization or European History; one HIST 450 on a theme in U.S. History; and one HIST 450 on a theme in African, Asian, Latin American, or Middle Eastern History (12 units)
Upper Division Electives (16 units)
- Select any 300 or 400 level courses in history. No more than 8 units may be taken at the 300 level for the major. With prior departmental approval, a maximum of 8 units may be taken in fields outside history.