UNDERGRADUATE

Majoring in History

All students must complete the General Education requirements, known as Minerva’s Academic Curriculum (MAC).* They must also complete the Communicating Ideas in Context (CIC) curriculum, required by the College of Arts and Sciences. Students majoring in History must also complete 30 credit hours of coursework in History (10 courses), subject to specific guidelines explained below. Students must also maintain a cumulative grade point average in History courses of at least 2.0. For a more comprehensive definition of the History Major, including all MAC and CIC requirements, see the Undergraduate Catalog. For more information about all MAC and CIC requirements, see links:

MAC: https://success.uncg.edu/undergraduate-studies/minervas-academic-curriculum/students/

CIC: https://catalog.uncg.edu/arts-sciences/#additionalundergraduaterequirementstext

*Students who entered UNCG during the 2020-21 academic year or earlier must complete the earlier General Education Curriculum (GEC) and the College Additional Requirements (CAR).

Levels and fields: History courses are categorized by level and by field. To achieve a breadth of education and knowledge, students must take courses from each level and from each field.

1. Level refers to the type of course, indicated by course numbers.
   • 100- or 200-level: introductory surveys appropriate for newer students
   • 300-level: more advanced studies of specialized themes; includes internships
   • 400-level: small seminars appropriate for experienced juniors and seniors, independent studies, licensure courses, and the History major capstone (HIS 411)
2. Field refers to the geographic area covered in a particular course. There are three fields:
   • United States: covers the peoples of the United States and its colonial antecedents
   • Europe: covers European civilizations, including ancient and medieval roots
   • Wider World: covers the "non-Western" world of Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa

See the Undergraduate Catalog for a list of all History courses offered, including level and field.

Additional requirements: There are two special courses required of all History Majors.

1. HIS 391, Research Skills & Methods: this course focuses on the practice of History as an academic discipline. Students must have completed the three 200-level courses in each of the geographic fields before they can register for HIS 391.
2. HIS 411 (A [US History], B [European History], or C [Wider World]), Seminar in Historical Research and Writing: this is the capstone of the History Major, normally taken during the final year. Students must have completed HIS 391 before they can register for HIS 411.

Distribution: The distribution of level and field requirements (along with HIS 391 and HIS 411) within the 30-hour History Major is as follows:

1. At least 9 hours (3 courses) at the 100-200 level.
   • As part of these 9 hours, 3 hours must come from each geographic field.
2. At least 9 hours (3 courses) at the 300 level.
3. At least 9 hours at the 400 level (including HIS 411).
   • As part of these 18 hours at the 300+ level, 3 must come from each field.
4. In addition, all majors must take HIS 391 (prior to HIS 411). Students must have completed the three 200-level courses in each of the geographic fields before they can register for HIS 391.

While continuing to comply with all MAC and CIC requirements, a student can complete the History Major by taking 1-2 History courses each semester, beginning in his or her second year at UNCG.

Other opportunities: Some students may choose enhanced or specialized training in History, which involve a different set of requirements than the ones listed above.

1. Honors: Students who qualify may apply to pursue Disciplinary Honors in History, which involves an enhanced curriculum.
2. Social Studies Licensure (SSL): Students interested in becoming teachers should consider our Social Studies Licensure program, which involves a special, modified curriculum blending training in History and pedagogy.
3. Study Abroad: The History Department strongly encourages students to take advantage of our study abroad programs. Please the International Programs Center website for more information.

Minoring in History

The History Minor consists of 15 credit hours in History (5 courses), at any level and from any field, at least 9 of which must be taken in residence at UNCG. The flexibility of a History Minor makes it a good choice for students majoring in other disciplines who wish to enhance their education and boost the value of their degree by acquiring the reading, writing, and analytical skills gained through the study of History.