Undergraduate Program
Undergraduate Program information will be updated for the upcoming academic year in July 2008, please check back.
The Major
The prerequisite for entering the History major is two terms of history. Courses completed in fulfillment of the prerequisite may be applied to meet the requirements of the major.
Selection of Courses
The Department of History strongly urges each student to devise a program of study that, while it meets individual interests and needs, also achieves a balance between diversification and specialization. Exposure to a variety of areas of history is desirable first because only wide-ranging experience can give students confidence in having discovered their own true interests and aptitudes. Equally important, studying various times and societies, including preindustrial ones, prevents provincialism and provides the comparative knowledge essential to a clearer understanding of the area chosen for specialization. Finally, the department assumes that all students understand the vital importance of studying the historical traditions from which their society has developed. One cannot expect to understand another culture without a firm historical grasp of one's own.
Requirements of the major
Twelve terms of history are required, which may include the two terms taken as prerequisites. Included in these twelve terms must be:
(a) two terms of United States or Canadian history (courses in the colonial period may fulfill this requirement);
(b) two terms of European or British history (courses in Greek and Roman, Byzantine, and Russian history may fulfill this requirement);
(c) three terms of African, Asian, Latin American, or Middle Eastern history.
Two of these seven terms must be courses in preindustrial history, and they must be chosen from two of the geographical categories listed above. Preindustrial history courses are so marked in their data lines. Students may use the same courses to count toward both geographical and preindustrial distribution requirements. Only in rare cases will the director of undergraduate studies consider petitions from History majors seeking geographical or chronological credit outside of a History course's primary distributional designation.
Two terms of HIST 400-490 are required and are taken normally during the junior year, although students are encouraged to take more than two junior seminars. Students must choose junior seminars from two different geographical categories. Sophomores contemplating a junior term abroad are urged to consider taking at least one junior seminar in the sophomore year. Residential college seminars that count toward the History major do not fulfill the junior seminar requirement. During senior year, each student must complete a senior departmental essay written under the guidance of a member of the faculty.
Credit toward the major will be given only for courses included in the History section of the Programs of Study guide and in the History course listings included in the Fall and Spring Supplements. All courses in History of Science, History of Medicine count automatically toward the History major. No substitutions from other departments are allowed.
Library orientation
The History department requires all majors to complete a ninety-minute introductory research session for historians by the end of the third week of the junior year. Several library orientation sessions are offered at the beginning of each term. Students are strongly encouraged to take this class during their sophomore year; indeed, sophomores who have not taken the library orientation before the end of the first week after spring break will not permitted to preregister for the following year's junior seminars. Students may offer no substitutions for this orientation. If a student chooses the History major later than the third week of the junior year, the session must be taken no later than a month after the declaration of the major. Students should register on the Web. For questions students should contact the director of undergraduate studies.
History of Science, History of Medicine
A major in History of Science, History of Medicine is available to students through the auspices of the History department. See under History of Science, History of Medicine.
Placement in advanced courses
With a few exceptions, chiefly HIST 400-496, history courses are automatically open to all freshmen. Acceleration credit in history resulting from the requisite score on an Advanced Placement test in history will not be counted toward the History major. Courses for the major must be taken at Yale, except with prior permission of the director of undergraduate studies.
Senior departmental essay
History is more than past events; it is also the discipline of historical inquiry. As a discipline, it uses many techniques, but its basic method is the collection and careful evaluation of evidence and the written presentation of reasonable conclusions derived from that evidence. To experience history as a discipline, a student must grapple at first hand with the problems and rigors involved in this kind of systematic investigation and exposition. The Department of History therefore requires each student majoring in History to present a historical essay on a subject of the student's choice to the department in the senior year. The range of acceptable topics is wide, but most essays fall into two categories. The first involves the study of a limited problem through research in accessible source materials. The second is a critical assessment of a significant historical controversy or historiographical issue. Whatever topic the student elects, the essay must be interpretive and analytical, not only narrative and descriptive.
In choosing the subject of the senior essay, students should be aware that lack of foreign language expertise is not necessarily a bar to researching a topic in the history of a non-English-speaking area. Many translated materials exist, and for some areas of the world (chiefly Africa, Asia, and Latin America) diaries, letters, and newspapers composed by missionaries, businessmen, and diplomats writing in English are available. Many of these sources are held in Yale's extensive archival collections; others are available on microfilm.
Seniors receive course credit for satisfactory completion of their departmental essays by enrolling in HIST 498a or b and 499a or b.
Requirements of the Major
Prerequisites: Two term courses in history
Number of courses: Twelve term courses (including prerequisites and senior essay)
Substitution permitted: None outside the History dept listing
Distribution of courses: two courses in U.S. or Canadian, two courses in European or British, three courses in African, Asian, Latin American, or Middle Eastern history, of which two must be preindustrial in different geographical areas; at least two courses in HIST 400-490, normally in junior year, in two different geographical areas (as defined above).
Senior requirement: senior essay (HIST 498a and 499b, or 498b and 499a)
Frequently Asked Questions
History Major FAQ's
1. How do I become a declared History major?
ANSWER: You declare the major on line using the Student Information System (SIS).
2. How do I get a History adviser who will sign my schedule?
ANSWER: After you declare the major, the History Department will assign you a History faculty member as your adviser. You will be notified by e-mail during the summer between your sophomore and junior years. This is the adviser who is authorized to sign your schedule. The History DUS will not sign your schedule.
3. I am a sophomore. How do I pre-register for junior seminars?
ANSWER: Pre-registration for junior seminars is done on-line. All declared History majors will receive an e-mail toward the middle of each semester giving them instructions for pre-registration for seminars to be offered the following semester. Remember that pre-registration is limited to declared History majors who have taken the library orientation. If you have any questions, see Essie Barros in 237 HGS.
4. How do I sign up for the library orientation?
ANSWER: Library orientation sessions are normally held during the first month of each semester. You can register online at http://www.library.yale.edu/instruction/hist
5. I missed the deadline for Junior Seminar pre-registration. Can I still get into one?
ANSWER: Yes. You get in by shopping. Many junior seminars still have openings at the beginning of the semester. Be sure to show up at the first meeting.
6. How do I know if I was admitted to the Junior Seminar of my choice?
ANSWER: Check the junior seminar pre-registration website. You will receive instructions by e-mail on when and how to access the site.
7. Do Directed Studies courses count towards the History major?
ANSWER: DRST 003a and DRST 003b (Historical and Political Thought) both count towards the History major and the European distribution requirement. DRST 003a also counts towards the Pre-Industrial requirement.
8. Do History courses taken for Credit/D/Fail count towards the History major?
ANSWER: Up to two lecture courses taken for Credit/D/Fail may be counted towards the major and may be used to fulfill geographical or pre-industrial distribution requirements. Please note that taking a course for Credit/D/Fail makes it more difficult to achieve Distinction in the major because a grade of “Credit” counts as a “non-A.”
9. I am taking a course that covers more than one geographical distribution credit area. How do I get distribution credit for it?
ANSWER: See Essie Barros in 237 HGS and fill out a green Geographical Distribution Form. Attach your syllabus and any research papers that you wrote. As a general rule, if the course material is evenly divided among two geographical distribution areas, then the topic of your research paper tips the balance one way or the other.
10. I took a course in another department that had a lot of history in it. Can I count it toward the History Major?
ANSWER: The only courses that count toward the History major are (a) courses that originate in the History Department and therefore carry HIST numbers, or (b) courses originating in another department that are double-titled and therefore carry a HIST number. If a course that originates in another department does not carry a HIST number, it does not count toward the History major.
Study Abroad FAQ's
1. I am planning to study abroad during my junior year. How do I select courses that will count towards the History major?
ANSWER: In choosing history courses while you are abroad, please make sure that they are clearly marked as HISTORY courses, and not listed as civilization courses, politics courses, international relations courses, art history courses, etc. Final determination of credit towards the History major will be made after you return.
2. How do I receive credit towards the History major after I return to Yale?
ANSWER: You must fill out a pink Course Certification Form in the undergraduate History office (237 HGS) and turn in copies of your transcript, syllabus, and any papers or exams that you wrote.
3. How many History courses taken abroad can I count towards the History major?
ANSWER: Up to three courses for students who take a semester abroad, and up to six courses for students who take a full junior year abroad, provided that the courses are credited by the History DUS.
4. Do grades received in courses taken abroad count in the calculation of Distinction in the History major?
ANSWER: Yes.
5. Because I was abroad during my junior year, I need to take a junior seminar in my senior year to fulfill the requirements. How can I get in?
ANSWER: It is advisable to pre-register for a junior seminar while you are abroad. Declared History majors will be alerted by e-mail about the pre-registration deadlines and procedures. Seniors who were abroad during their junior year and need another junior seminar in order to graduate get priority in admission. Be sure to let the instructor know that you need the seminar in order to graduate as a History major.
FAQ's for Freshmen
1. How do I enroll for a freshman seminar in History?
ANSWER: In the fall, you enroll during Freshman Orientation through the Freshman Seminar Program, not through the History department. For the spring semester, you enroll at the end of the fall term through the Freshman Seminar Program’s website.
2. As a freshman, am I limited to freshman seminars and History lecture courses with 100-199 numbers?
ANSWER: No. The numbering system for Yale History courses is confusing at first glance. Freshman seminars carry numbers beginning with 00. United States History lecture courses carry numbers 100-199. European History lecture courses carry numbers 200-299. Lecture courses on the history of the other regions of the world carry numbers 300-399. All lecture courses (numbers 100-399) are open to freshmen. Courses carrying the suffix “J” are junior seminars and are not open to freshmen.
3. Do I need to take my History lecture courses in a particular sequence?
ANSWER: No. Each course is self-contained and stands on its own. You are responsible only for the material that is presented in the course.
4. How do I get into a History lecture course?
ANSWER: For the overwhelming majority of lecture courses, you just show up when the class meets and then list the course on your registration form when you register. There are a handful of very popular History lecture courses that are forced to limit enrollment for lack of space. For such courses, just show up for the first class. The professor will explain whether or not enrollment will be limited and how they will determine who is in and who is out.
5. I am very interested in History and will probably be a History major. How many History courses should I take during my freshman year?
ANSWER: Because you need to fulfill your distribution requirements during your freshman and sophomore years, we suggest no more than one History course per semester during the freshman year.
6. Do Directed Studies courses count towards the History major?
ANSWER: DRST 003a and DRST 003b (Historical and Political Thought) both count towards the History major and the European distribution requirement. DRST 003a also counts towards the Pre-Industrial requirement.
7. In high school I earned AP credits in History. Does this allow me to “place out” of certain History courses?
ANSWER: The History Department does not allow students to use AP credits to "place
out" of History courses. All History majors need to take a minimum of 12 History courses.