HistoryHistory Courses for First Year Students
If you are considering a history major, we encourage you to take one of our gateway courses. These courses are designed to introduce new and potential majors to the ways historians do their work. Expect to engage with historical literature and to develop skills in historical research, writing, and thinking in these classes.
Most History courses are open to all undergraduates, including first-year students. You may enroll in any history courses numbered 1–389 with only a few exceptions.
Especially for First Years
Focus Program courses (HISTORY 190FCS)
The Focus Program is Duke University 's signature program for first-year students, providing clusters of interdisciplinary courses designed around a common theme. In these thematic clusters students explore issues such as engineering and the urban environment, performing arts, genomics, migration and globalization, global health, and social ideals from multiple perspectives. History seminars in the Focus Program bring a long term perspective to these themes. Look for HISTORY 190FCS to register.
First Year Seminars (HISTORY 89S)
First-year seminars are designed to engage first-year students in a small-group learning experience that will serve to integrate them into the academic life of this institution. The 89S-series seminars enable new students to work closely with a distinguished member of the Duke faculty and a small group of their classmates to explore a special topic of interest. Look for HISTORY 89S to register.