The development of a historical frame of reference, an appreciation of the dynamics of change and an understanding of the modern world constitute the broad objectives of the offerings in history and political science. The department's aim is the development of specific competencies: the ability to pursue historical research with skill and integrity, the facility to analyze with insight and balance and the demonstrated capacity to write with clarity and readability.
Even though there is not a separate major in political science or international studies, history majors may choose to minor in those areas - provided that no courses taken to fulfill the requirements for one area are used to meet those in another area (An exception to this rule is that either HIS 245: Regional and National Studies or HIS 205: World Civilizations may count once for both the major and the International Studies minor). The same rule holds true with regard to students wishing to have a minor in more than one area: no course may overlap among the different minors (while this rule may prevent students from doing certain combinations of minors using our existing course offerings, it does not exclude the possibility that other courses transferred in from other institutions might not make these combinations possible.)
Students interested in using the History major in preparation for law school should also complete the pre-law core program. All majors are required to take at least one course in a non-Western area. Students considering graduate work in history are encouraged to consider a departmental honors project. Incoming first-year students might also want to consider the honors program.
The department welcomes nonmajors in all of its courses.
Electives: (any three of the following)
HIS 390 Independent Study in History (3)
Any history course not taken in the above list*
Any political science course*
Any one course in history of religion
Any one course in art history
Any one course in music history
*May take three history or political science courses as electives.