Course offerings in the History major span a wide range of geographical regions, such as East Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Indian Ocean. They also address important thematic issues such as empire, colonialism, modernisation, urbanisation, science and technology, migration and diaspora, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, and material culture. In consultation with History faculty, students will have the freedom to shape their own pathways in the major according to their geographical and thematic interests.

Requirements for a Major in History

Class of 2022 onwards

All History majors are required to complete 54-55 Units to fulfil the major:

• Required course:
  • The History of History
• Electives (8 required, 2 of which must be 3000-level courses & 2 of which must be 4000-level courses)
  • Electives are selected from a list of History and related approved courses.
  • At least two History courses at intermediate levels or 3000-level
  • At least two History courses at the advanced or 4000-level
  • Note: Courses outside of the History major taken to fulfil the 3000-level and 4000-level component will have to be approved by the Head of Studies and the student’s faculty advisor. Neither the required course (The History of History) nor a course that has been counted by a student as Historical Immersion, counts towards satisfying this component of the History major programme. Students should plan their pathways within the major in close consultation with the Head of Studies of History or his/her faculty advisor.  – 40 Unit
• Capstone seminar and project. During the fourth year, students will take the capstone seminar. During the first semester, students will carry out a research project; during the second semester, students will complete the project and write a capstone report – 10 Unit

Capstone

The purpose of the capstone project, a year-long undertaking, is to provide History majors with the opportunity to conduct original research. The final product may take the form of a traditional academic dissertation or a non-traditional project. The precise nature of the project is to be determined in consultation with the major advisor.

In the first semester, students will participate in a seminar designed to help students develop their ideas on a research topic, produce an annotated bibliography, literature review, and a dissertation proposal. The seminars will provide a constructive learning environment where students will have the opportunity to share their work in progress with their peers and faculty members, as well as to discuss and critique each other’s work. By completing a capstone project, students will have accomplished the aim of conducting original research based on primary sources work. The capstone experience will culminate in the end of the year presentation, during which History seniors will showcase their final work, present their projects to the larger college community, and field questions and answers.

Requirements for a Minor in History

The History minor is designed to provide a solid grounding in history for students who are pursuing other majors. It allows students to design a curriculum that will not only support their respective majors, but also encourage non-majors to pursue a historical perspective in their own areas of interest.

The History minor consists of five courses. All students are required to have taken The History of History by the end of Year 4. Three of the remaining four courses are to be chosen from any of the survey and intermediate (2000/3000-level history courses) or advanced or 4000-level History courses offered. Historical Immersion (HI) courses as part of the Common Curriculum, do not count towards this component of the minor programme. It is recommended that students undertaking the History minor choose a strong methodological, chronological, or geographic theme from their History courses. This theme can be constructed in consultation with the Head of Studies for History.