Major & Minor Requirements

All prospective majors must begin the major declaration process by writing to:

Professor George <ageorge@barnard.edu> 

Requirements for the Major

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Students who are interested in majoring in History should consult a History professor or the Chair in their sophomore year to plan their academic programs. They may choose to focus their study of history on a region (such as Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, South Asia, U.S., transnational), period (such as ancient, medieval, early modern), or theme.

The History major consists of eleven courses: six in the area of concentration; the other five may be either within or without. Six of the eleven courses must be taken at Barnard or Columbia.

The eleven required courses should include:

1. Three introductory lecture courses (at least one 1000-level course; the two others may be 1000- or 2000-level courses. Note that a Columbia global core course is listed at 2000 level but counts as a 1000-level course);
2. Two seminars (3000- or 4000-level courses), one of which must be taken at Barnard or Columbia;
3. At least one course (lecture or seminar) must demonstrate your temporal breadth. This usually means one course that covers themes and topics related to the pre-modern period (generally taken to mean the period before the nineteenth century);
4. At least one course (lecture or seminar) must demonstrate a geographic range unless your area of concentration already does so. If your concentration is geography-based, this means a geographical area or region that is outside your field of study;
5. The two-semester senior research seminar (HIST BC3391 Senior Research Seminar I and HIST BC3392 Senior Research Seminar II) are taken in sequence, beginning in the Fall and continuing into Spring of the senior year.

Majors may, with the approval of their advisers, include two non-history courses in their list of eleven if the subjects are closely related to their concentrations.

How to Become a History Major

1. Schedule an Advising Appointment Before declaring the major, you must meet with the Advising Czar. In this meeting, you'll discuss your background in History and your academic interests. This information helps determine a good match for your faculty advisor.
2. Requesting an Advisor You may request specific faculty members as your advisor, though such requests are not guaranteed.
3. Declaring the Major After your advising meeting, declare the major on Slate and input the name of your assigned advisor. You'll receive a welcome email introducing you to your advisor.

Double Majors

There are two types of double majors:

1. Regular Double Major

Student must complete two full theses or capstone projects- one for each major.

 2. Double Major with a Single Integrating Project

This is very common and likely what some people mean when referring to a "combined" major.

Here's how it works:

• Students must declare this specific major type on Slate.

Thesis Requirements

• Students must complete two semesters of senior thesis work (History requires two).
• The structure depends on the other department's thesis system (1 or 2 semesters) and its flexibility.

Structure Options (with mutual departmental approval):

• Fall thesis seminar in History + spring seminar in the other department.
• Both seminars in History, with a second reader from the other department.
• Both seminars in the other department, with a second reader from History.

Studying Abroad

• History courses taken abroad may count toward major requirements if taught by historians.
• Meet with your major advisor before traveling to review and secure course approval.

Limits:
No more than 5 courses from outside Barnard/Columbia may count toward the History major.
You must take at least 6 courses at Barnard or Columbia.

Forms for Majors

Major Declaration Form

• Progress Report for Majors - In order to keep track of your requirements, you will go over this form with your advisor every semester. 
• European Studies Form
• Major/Adviser Change Form
• Slate for Students (Other forms can be found here) 

Requirements for the Minor

• The minor is declared only after completing the required courses.
• Students can meet with the Advising Czar at any time to determine which of their History
• courses count toward the minor.

Requirements:

• 5 total History courses.
• 4 in one area of concentration, 1 outside that area.
• Must include 1 seminar.
• At least 3 of the 5 courses must be taken at Barnard or Columbia.
• Minors do not receive a departmental advisor.

Minor Declaration Form