Major in History

A cornerstone of Boston College's rigorous liberal arts tradition, the history major provides a thorough grounding in historical study and opportunities to delve into particular periods or regions of interest.

Major Requirements and Information

Major Requirements for Class of 2026, 2027, 2028 (10 courses, 30 credits)

  • The Study and Writing of History (3000-level classes for history majors only)
  • 1 US History elective (2000- or 4000-level)2 free electives (2000- or 4000-level)
  • 2 LAMA (Latin America, Asia, Middle East, Africa) electives (2000- or 4000-level)
  • 3+ upper-division electives (4000-level)
  • Senior Honors Thesis or Senior Colloquium or Making History Public (5000-level classes for history majors only)

* LAMAs taken at the 4000-level can co-count for the upper-division requirements, as long as the student has a total of ten history (non-Core) history courses.

Major Requirements for the Class of 2029 and After (11 courses, 33 credits)

  • 1 History I or II Core class, (a 4 or 5 on the Euro or World AP exam may count in lieu of a  History I or II Core class)
  • 1 Study and Writing of History (3000-level classes for history majors only)
  • 1 US History elective (2000- or 4000-level)2 free electives (2000- or 4000-level)
  • 2 LAMA (Latin America, Asia, Middle East, Africa) electives (2000- or 4000-level)
  • 3 upper-division electives (4000-level)
  • 1 Senior Honors Thesis Seminar or Senior Colloquium or Making History Public course (5000-level classes for history majors only)

* LAMAs taken at the 4000-level can co-count for the upper-division requirements, as long as the student has a total of ten history (non-Core) history courses.

Undergraduate Forms

Declare a History Major

To declare a history major, fill out the following form and contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Study Abroad Approvals

To get a study abroad course evaluated for approval, either before or after you take it, fill out the following form.

Get a Course Counted

To request to have a course counted toward your major, fill out the Degree Audit Course Substitution and Waiver form.