Undergraduate Program

Why Study History?

Historians treat the past as a foreign place that can unlock the mysteries of the present and the future. We study history for instrumental reasons, to redress the pervasive “history deficit” in political discourse and policy formation. We also study the past for broader, more imaginative purposes: to see and understand that everything in human experience – ideas, emotions, identities, social hierarchies, categories of difference – has a history that is constantly changing. Thinking like a historian will help you understand how attention to change, context, and contingency is critical to understanding the ethical and political dilemmas of the past, present, and future. These skills provide a foundation for careers in law, medicine, education, business, and public policy, while fostering the grounded imagination that makes activism, innovation, and entrepreneurship possible.

Credential Requirements Overview
Bachelor of Arts in History

10 Courses

  • At least 7 must be at the 200-level or above
  • Gateway seminar
  • Courses focused in thematic or geographic areas
  • 2 Pre-Modern courses
  • At least 1 Senior Capstone Seminar
Minor in History

5 Courses

  • At least 3 must be at the 200-level or above
Minor in Inequality Studies

6 Courses

 > Core Courses

  • HISTORY 288: History of Inequality
  • HISTORY 323: Methods in Inequality Studies
  • PUBPOL 435/645: Global Inequality Research Initiative

 > Electives

  • History Gateway course, typically listed between 160 – 180 with inequality themes
  • History course at the 200-level or above with inequality themes
  • History course at the 300-level or above with inequality themes