Total credit requirements for a History major: A student who enters Whitman without any prior college-level preparation in history will need to complete 36 credits.
Students declare a major in one of two tracks: History (Global) or History (Thematic).
- Required Courses for All Tracks
- History 299 and 401
- A minimum grade of C is required in History 299.
- One History seminar at the 390-level
- History 402 or 498
- At least one course in pre-modern history
- At least one course in modern history
- History 299 and 401
- Elective Courses for Global Track
- A total of four courses distributed across four of the following geographical areas:
- Africa/African Diaspora
- Ancient Mediterranean
- Asia
- Europe
- Islamic World
- Latin America
- North America/United States
- Two elective courses in any area
- A total of four courses distributed across four of the following geographical areas:
- Elective Courses for Thematic Track
- Four courses in one of the following pathways:
- Cultures and Ideas
- Empires and Colonialism
- Revolution, War, and Politics
- Social Justice
- Before Modernity
- Two elective courses in any area
- Four courses in one of the following pathways:
- Senior Requirements
- History 401
- History 402, in which students choose to write either:
- An integrative essay (bringing together coursework completed in their Track)
- A research essay (conducting further research on a topic related to their Track)
- Honors candidates take History 498 instead of 402.
- Oral defense of the senior essay
- Honors
- Students submit an “Honors in Major Study Application” to their department.
- Students must submit a proposal for their thesis or project within the first six weeks of the two-semester period in which they are eligible.
- Accumulated at least 87 credits
- Completed two semesters of residency at Whitman
- Major GPA of at least 3.500
- Complete a written thesis or research project prepared exclusively for the satisfaction of this program.
- Earn a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis or project and the honors thesis course.
- Pass the senior assessment with distinction.
- The department will submit the honors applications to the Registrar’s Office of students pursuing honors by the specified deadline.
- The department will submit the “Senior Assessment/Major Study Certificate” to the Registrar’s Office no later than Reading Day.
- An acceptable digital copy of the honors thesis must be submitted to Penrose Library no later than Reading Day.
- Notes
- No more than 8 credits at the 100-level may be applied toward the major.
- No more than 8 credits earned in off-campus studies and transfer credits may be applied toward the major.
- No courses may be taken P-D-F after declaration of major.
- Students receiving a 5 on the AP U.S. History exam earn 4 credits for History 106.
- Students receiving a 5 on the AP World History or European History exam earn 4 credits, but no course equivalency.
Total Credits
36