Program Overview
In addition to intensive examination of a wide range of historical periods and subjects, the history major allows room for students to pursue other studies. For example, some take a second major, and many complete minors in fields such as English, Spanish, Digital Public Humanities, Religion, Communication, Business, Politics, and Classical, Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Students are also required to seek experiential learning, either through study abroad or through an internship experience.
Major Requirements
Complete the following for your major:
| HIST 099 | Introduction to History | 1 |
| HIST 141 | United States History Survey to 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 142 | United States History Survey Since 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 258 | Historical Methods | 3 |
| One 300-level Classical and Medieval European History course | 3 |
| One 300-level Modern European History course | 3 |
| One 300-level World History course | 3 |
| One 300-level American History course | 3 |
| Nine credits (3 courses) of 300-level HIST courses | 9 |
| HIST 401 | Historiography & Philosophy of History | 3 |
Classical and Medieval European History course, Modern European History course, World History course, American History course: HIST 391 Historical Study of Peace, HIST 392 Women and Gender in History, and HIST 393 Public History count as concentration courses but do not count as the “One 300-level American, Modern European, World, or Classical and Medieval European History course.”
HIST 401: fulfills Writing Enriched course requirement for major.
Three credits from the following:
| HIST 101 | Western Civilization: Bronze Age-1500 | 3 |
| HIST 102 | Western Civilization: 1500-Present | 3 |
Three credits from the following:
| HIST 171 | World Civilizations: Bronze Age to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 172 | World Civilizations: 1500 to Present | 3 |
One of the following Experiential Learning Components
INTE 391/INTE 394 must be taken for a letter grade to fulfill major requirement.
History majors must participate in one of the following options:
Option 1 - One ore more approved historical internships (INTE 391 & INTE 394) of up to nine credits during the academic year or during the summer in one of the following areas: Archives, Museums, Historical Libraries and Societies, Historical Preservation, Historical Research, Public History, or Richmond University Internships in London. Students with a Public History concentration must take 4-9 credits of INTE 391 & 394.
Option 2 - Participation in an approved study abroad program, with at least one history course in the semester’s curriculum. That history course(s) will count towards either the core requirements or the elective requirements, and therefore will not increase the amount of credits required for the major. See the department for a complete list and more information about the study abroad programs.