Requirements for the History Major
Select one of the following breadth areas as a region of concentration
- Americas and Africa
- Asia and the Islamic World
- Europe
In consultation with the Faculty Adviser, each student plans a program of study satisfying the following distribution of course work:
Region of Concentration (5 courses + 1 comprehensive requirement)
1. One survey course in your region of concentration:
Americas/Africa: HIS 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, or 30
Asia/Islamic World: HIS 40A, 40B, 41 or 43
Europe: HIS 65A, 65B, 70A, 70B, or 70C
Note: Transfer course work may or may not apply toward the survey course requirement; consult the History Department.
2. Four courses, three of which must be upper-division
3. One comprehensive (exit) requirement:
All students must complete either a research / readings seminar (HIS 190, 194, 196), OR a senior thesis (HIS 195A and 195B) in their area of concentration. Detailed information on the comprehensive exit requirement can be found below.
Remaining Breadth Requirements (4 courses)
Two courses from each of the remaining regions
Electives (2 courses)
Two upper-division courses in any region
Note: With the approval of your Faculty Adviser, you may substitute up to two upper-division individual study or related courses for History electives. (A related course is a regularly scheduled UCSC course in another discipline which has substantial historical content [at least 50% of the readings and written work are historical in nature]).
Distribution Requirements
Chronologic Distribution:
- One must be in ancient history (pre-600)
- Two courses must cover a pre-modern (pre-1800) period
Lower-division Course Restrictions:
A maximum of four lower-division courses may apply to the major.
Senior Check and Exit Survey
In the first quarter of each students' senior year, they must complete the Senior Check and Exit Survey and submit them to the History Undergraduate Adviser for review. Review the Senior Year and Graduation page for detailed information on how to complete these requirements.
Comprehensive (exit) Requirement
History majors may satisfy the UCSC comprehensive (exit) requirement in one of two ways:
- HISTORY 190, 194 or 196 (depending on area of concentration) = One Quarter
In courses designated as History 190 (Americas and Africa), 194 (Asia and the Islamic World), or 196 (Europe), students participate in either a Senior Research Seminar, which are designed as an opportunity to focus on specific research problems and acquire experience in practical research skills and the writing of a substantial research paper, or a Senior Readings Seminar, which are designed as a small-group discussion course providing a broad overview of some general area or theoretical concern within an area of concentration. Emphasis in reading seminars is placed on discussion of assigned readings plus either a series of short papers or completion of a single, more substantial term paper. Both types of seminars require submission of written work totaling approximately 25 pages; both varieties of seminars satisfy the general education Writing-intensive (W) requirement. Seminars must be taken in the student's chosen area of concentration to qualify as their exit requirement.
- HISTORY 195A (Thesis Research) and HISTORY 195B (Thesis Writing) = Two Quarters
To complete a senior thesis, you must first meet to discuss potential thesis topics with appropriate faculty members at least one quarter before the planned beginning of thesis research. Once a thesis adviser and second reader have been secured and a topic defined, submit a completed Senior Thesis Proposal form for departmental approval. Proposals are due the quarter before the research quarter begins. Completed theses must be at least 40 pages in length; students must receive a grade of C or better in both quarters to meet the senior comprehensive requirement and the "W" general education requirement. Outstanding achievement in the thesis makes the work eligible for honors and awards consideration. A senior thesis that has not been pre-approved by the History Undergraduate Committee will NOT be accepted toward graduation requirements. Download a Senior Thesis Guidelines and Proposal Packet for detailed information.
Transfer Credits and Substitutions
A minimum of five regularly scheduled History courses plus the comprehensive requirement must be taken from members of the UCSC History faculty. Subject to the limits indicated in parentheses, a total of three courses from the following categories may also be applied to the History major:
- Courses taken at another institution (limit of 3)
- Education Abroad Program (limit of 3)
- UCDC (limit of 2)
- UC in Sacramento (limit of 2)
- Related courses taked in another UCSC department (limit of 2)
- Independent and field studies (limit of 2)
Double Major
A double major involves satisfying all the major requirements for two declared majors, including two comprehensive (exit) requirements. Declaration of a double major requires approval from both departments as well as approval from your college. Courses used for another major may not also be used towards the history major requirements.
AP History
Students with AP (Advanced Placement) history credit earn general education credits, but do not earn credit toward fulfilling history major requirements.
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