Planning a Major

Suggestions for First Year Students Considering the History Major

May enroll in 105 or 200 level classes as space permits.
Spaces have been saved for first year students in all 105 courses and in HIS 233 (Twentieth Century America).
105 classes are Writing Intensive F2, as well as earning F3 credit.
History majors are not required to take a 105 but it is highly recommended.
Do not choose HIS 200 (The Historian′s Craft) until the second year.
HIS 205-295 classes are larger and more lecture-oriented than 105s. They earn F3credit.

Declaration of Major

Prospective majors should take History 200 by the end of the sophomore year. Declaration of Major forms should be filed by the end of sophomore year. Courses at the 200-level are normally taken during the first, sophomore, and junior years. Students should have completed at least one course at the 200 level before attempting coursework at the 300 or 400 level. In the senior year, majors must complete the Senior Seminar (History 485). Complete requirements for a major can be found under Degree Requirements.

Objectives for Majors

By carefully selecting advanced courses in consultation with members of the department, the history major can design a program to meet one of several specific objectives:

For a broadly based liberal arts education, the student may follow departmental requirements, emphasizing both geographic and chronological diversity.
For teaching history at the secondary level, the student should discuss the minor in Education with Dr. Mark Smith.
As preparation for graduate work in history, the student should concentrate on upper level research courses and consider doing an honors project (see Honors Research in History).

Students with a variety of career objectives may major in history and choose from appropriate corollary courses in other departments:

For law or politics, add courses in English, logic, and political science.
For a business or government service career, choose courses in economics, business administration, and political science.
For a career in foreign services, add courses in international studies and modern languages.
For church-related careers, choose courses in religion, philosophy, English, and psychology.

Interdisciplinary Programs

The College offers a number of interdisciplinary programs that draw on faculty from history and other departments, and offer both majors and minors. Students interested in History may want to investigate possible minors in American Studies, Asian Studies, Russian Studies, Latin American Studies, Women’s Studies, and African American Studies, or pursue a major in Urban Studies. For futher information on interdisciplinary programs at Rhodes, see the section on Interdisciplinary Study in the college catalogue.