Curricular Requirements for the History Major*

1. There is no foreign language requirement if your high school foreign language experience results in placement into at least a third-semester language course (e.g. French 3). Students who place below this level must pass a second-semester language course (e.g. Spanish 2).

2. Three introductory courses chosen from HIST 38, 39, 40, 71, and 72.
Students can obtain credit for these courses on the Advanced Placement Examination. Students who score  4 or 5 on the American history exam  will be credited with 6 hours for History 71-72. A score  of 4 or 5 on the European history exam  will result in 6 hours of credit for History 39-40, and a score of 4 or 5 on the World History exam will result in 3 credit hours for History 38. Waivers of these courses may obtained on SAT subject exams. For American History a score of 650 or above waives History 71 and 72. For the World History exam a score of 650 or above for ESIA students waives History 38. For all other students it waives History 39 and 40.

3. Eight 100-level courses, distributed as follows: at least one course that covers a historical period before 1750 (e.g., HIST 39, 103, 107-114, 118, 121, 123, 141, 145, 149, 151, 153-154, 163, 168) and at least two courses from each of our three regional groups: a) Europe; b) United States; c) Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Latin America. All HIST 101 (Special Topics) and HIST 700-level (University Professor) courses count for one of the three groups; some may also fulfill the chronological requirement.

4. Sophomore Seminar (HIST 102W). Required of all students who declared their major after June 2009. Offered only in the Spring semester, this is a writing intensive (WID) seminar designed to introduce beginning majors to important methodological aspects of the historian's craft. Some sections will focus on historiography (how historical interpretations of a given subject have changed over time), while others will concentrate on close readings of primary sources. Each section of HIST 102W focuses on a different subject, and some may fulfill the chronological requirement; check the Schedule of Classes. Majors are expected to take the seminar in their sophomore year, but those who declare the major late or transfer to GW from another school should take it as soon as possible thereafter.

5. Undergraduate Research Paper. Most majors fulfill this requirement by taking the Thesis Seminar (HIST 199W) in their junior or senior year. During the seminar students research and write a 25-page paper using primary sources on a topic chosen in consultation with the seminar instructor. Depending on their area of interest, students enroll in either the U.S. or the "non-U.S." section.

An alternate (and less common) way to fulfill the research requirement is by taking HIST 191 (Senior Honors Thesis). Students interested in pursuing this route must find a full-time faculty member who is willing to work with them independently on a senior thesis topic. (You should not expect faculty members to agree to direct your thesis unless you have done very well in at least one class with them.) Once you find a willing director, he or she signs you into HIST 191, which then takes the place of HIST 199W. This tutorial can be for one or two semesters, as agreed upon between the two of you. If you earn at least an A- and meet the department,s GPA requirements for Honors, you graduate with Honors in History.

We encourage all majors to start thinking about possible thesis topics early on in their time at GW, while they are taking other history classes.

* Students must earn a C- or higher for course credit to count towards these requirements.

Choosing an Undergraduate Academic Advisor

Every History Major needs an undergraduate academic advisor. Students are free to choose any full-time faculty member in the department to serve as their advisor. Many choose a professor with whom they have already taken a course. Advisors help students make wise decisions about course selection, study abroad options, career directions, and graduate school. They can also recommend how to build relationships with other faculty members who work on topics that interest you or who might be appropriate for writing you letters of recommendation for study-abroad programs or graduate school.

How to Declare a Major in History

Students in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences should fill out as completely as possible the Declaration of Major/Minor form. Bring the form to your History Department faculty advisor during his or her office hours to discuss your plans. Have your advisor sign the form, bring it to 335 Phillips Hall in order to add your email address to the History Majors Listserv, and then return it to 107 Phillips Hall. Make sure to list the courses you have taken and plan to take to fulfill both the General Curriculum Requirements and the requirements for a History Major.

Students in the Elliott School of International Affairs who want to double major in History should fill out as completely as possible the Declaration of a Second Major in CCAS form. Bring the form to your History Department faculty advisor during his or her office hours to discuss your plans. Have your advisor sign the form, bring it to 335 Phillips Hall in order to add your email address to the History Majors Listserv, and then return it to the ESIA Office of Academic Advising and Student Services.