Getting Started (Majors Guide)

College: HFA

 (Revised Spring 2018)  

How to Explore / Get Started in the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

Under the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus.  For Fall 2018 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track.  Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened.

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

 Two 100-level courses, at least one of which should be chosen as part of the required survey pair from the following list*: 

(Taking up to two history courses per semester is the norm for first-year history majors.)

HIST 100 + 101(Western Thought)   HIST 120 + 121 (Latin America)
HIST 110 +111 (World History)   HIST 130 + 131 (Middle East)
HIST 112 + 111 (World Religions/World History)   HIST 160 + 161 (Africa)
HIST 114 + 115 (China)   HIST 180 + 181 (History of Science)

Elective in U.S. History: HISTORY 150-151, or HISTORY 170 (Native American History*)

*Honors versions of many of these sequences may be available.

NOTE: If students have AP or transfer equivalents for these or other History courses, they should not take them again.

How to Declare the Major

Students can declare the major at any point by contacting the Director of Undergraduate Studies at advising@history.umass.edu.

Transfer Student:

Contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies soon after arriving at the University. Note that 400-level courses are advanced seminars; students should not enroll in these unless they have done upper-level work.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # of credits required: 36

No pass/fail courses may be counted towards the major. Students must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for courses in the major. Students must complete twelve courses (at least three credits each) distributed as follows:

  • Required: One pair chosen from the 100-level sequences listed above under “Suggested Courses for First-Year Students”
    Optional: Up to three other 100-level courses in any combination if one is a non-western course. (No more than a total of five 100-level courses will be accepted towards the major.)
  • Six to nine courses numbered 200-499 (at least six upper level courses are required).
  • History 450 Junior Year Writing.
  • At least two courses must focus on Africa, East Asia, Latin America, the Middle East or the World.
  • At least one course must focus on History before 1500.
  • Even if they have a second major, students must complete all of the History major requirements.
  • If History is the primary major, they must also complete an Integrative Experience course in History. This can count as one of their six to nine upper level courses.
  • Students should attend at least one History Orientation during their time as majors, ideally as soon as possible after they declare the major.

Is there a minor? If so, what are the requirements?
Yes. A total of six courses (18 credits) are required for the minor: no more than two introductory courses at the 100-level and at least four upper-level courses, numbered 200 and above. All of the upper-level courses must be taken in residence, although with prior approval, one may be transferred from a study abroad program. None of these courses may be taken pass/fail. Students must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for courses counted towards the minor.

For further information, contact:
Undergraduate Program Director
Undergraduate Studies Office
611 & 613 Herter Hall; 545-6757
advising@history.umass.edu