In addition to the two-semester University Core sequence in Modern History, a history major is required to take a two-semester sequence in American Civilization. Students planning to major in history are strongly encouraged to take the history core in their freshman year and American Civilization in their sophomore year.
Note that a score of 4 or 5 on the advanced placement test in European history fulfills the two-semester University Core requirement in history, and a similar score on the A.P. test in American history fulfills the two-semester American Civilization requirement.
In addition to the prescribed courses, the history major is required to complete eight additional courses, including: The Study and Writing of History (preferably taken in the sophomore or junior year); four other Upper-Division Electives; and two courses in Non-Western History.
In sum, history majors are required to take the following courses:
- 2 core-level sequence in Modern History (HS 001-094)
- 2 HS 181-182 American Civilization
- 1 HS 300 The Study and Writing of History
- 7 elective courses (HS 100-699)
- 2 of which must be in non-Western history
- 4 of which must be upper-division (HS 200-699)
Note:
- Students may not take evening courses for major credit.
- Students may not take summer courses for upper-division credit.
- A maximum of 4 courses, and no more than 2 upper-division courses, may be taken abroad. At least 6 of the 10 required major courses beyond the core (including HS 300) must be taken at Boston College during the regular academic year (i.e., during the fall or spring semester).
- A maximum of 2 Reading and Research courses (HS 699) may be substituted for upper-division electives.
- Some upper-division electives also satisfy the non-Western requirement and it should appear that way on the course audit should you take such electives. If this is not reflected in your course audit, see the Undergraduate Programs Assistant.
Majors should concentrate in a field that interests them. At least 3 of the electives, including 2 of the upper-division electives, should be in a field approved by the student's History Department advisor. The fields include:
Method
- Social
- Cultural
- Political
- Intellectual
- Economic
- Legal and ConstitutionalChronological
- Medieval
- Early ModernArea and Nation
- African and Middle Eastern
- Asian
- East European and Russian
- Latin American
- Modern European
- United StatesComparative
- Gender
- Race and Ethnicity
- Religion
- UrbanIndividual Specialized Field
- by arrangement with the student's History faculty advisor
The HS 300 Study and Writing of History requirement. Each major must take one (1) of these courses to complete the major. Several courses are offered each semester, each on a different topic. The purpose of this requirement is to introduce our new majors to the methodology and art of writing history, within the context of a small class and early in their major. So students should plan on choosing one of these courses in their sophomore year.
The proper sequence. Ideally majors should take the History Core as freshmen. The sophomore year should include one of the HS 300 offerings as well as HS 181-182 American Civilization, and possibly other history electives. Junior and senior years should be used to complete the remaining elective courses. Remember that four of the seven elective courses must be upper-division electives (HS 200-699), which are distinguished from introductory surveys (HS 100-199) by their substantial reading and writing assignments. Note, too, that there is no rule against taking more than the ten non-core courses required to complete the major; our strongest majors usually take additional history courses.
For additional information on the history major, please click on the specific topics listed on the left.