Requirements for the History Major

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Americas and Africa
Asia and the Islamic World
Europe

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Senior Thesis Guidelines & Proposal
Senior Check
Courses by Time Period

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 70A, 70B, 70C, 65A, or 65B

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

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 a final review of their degree progress and submit it to the History Undergraduate Adviser for review. The purpose of completing this review early is to ensure that all students are on track to finish the major requirements by their graduation quarter. Senior Checks must be completed and on file no later that the quarter before the student indends to graduate. Students who do not file their senior check may have their graduation date delayed. Senior Check forms are available, here. All graduating seniors must also complete a brief Exit Survey before leaving UCSC.

Comprehensive (exit) Requirement

History majors may satisfy the UCSC comprehensive (exit) requirement in one of two ways:

1. HISTORY 190, 194 or 196 (depending on area of concentration)
   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 desinged 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.
2. HISTORY 195A (Thesis Research) and HISTORY 195B (Thesis Writing)
   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 [PDF] for departmental approval. Proposals are due the quarter before the research quarter begins (see deadlines below). A senior thesis that has not been pre-approved by the History Undergraduate Committee will NOT be accepted toward graduation requirements.
   
   After your thesis is approved:
   • You will enroll in HIS 195A for the first quarter and HIS 195B for the second quarter. See the History Department for class numbers.
   • Meet regularly with your thesis advisers, during both the "research quarter" and the "writing quarter"; normally students are engaged in both research and writing in each quarter to varying degrees. It is essential to reach an understanding with your thesis adviser regarding the content and frequency of thesis advising sessions.
   • The thesis must be at least 40 pages in length. Penultimate drafts must be submitted to the thesis adviser and second reader no later than the beginning of the eighth week of classes during the thesis-writing quarter (see below). Three signed copies of the final version must be submitted to the History Department no later than the last day of the thesis-writing quarter. Submissions must follow departmental formatting guidelines. Incomplete submissions (e.g., missing signatures) will not be accepted.
   • HISTORY 195B satisfies the general education Writing-intensive (W) requirement. 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.

Senior Thesis Proposal Deadlines

• Winter 2008/Spring 2008 thesis: Friday, October 26
• Spring 2008/Fall 2008 thesis: Friday, February 1
• Fall 2008/Winter 2009 thesis: Friday, April 25

Thesis Penultimate Draft Deadlines

• Spring 2007/Fall 2007 thesis: Monday, November 19, 2007
• Fall 2007/Winter 2008 thesis: Monday, February 25, 2008
• Winter 2008/Spring 2008 thesis: Monday, May 19, 2008