Mar 29, 2024  
2019-2020 Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


History, B.A.



In addition to adhering to General Education  and School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts Requirements , the History major requires 48 units. Courses in the major must be taken for a letter grade and may not be taken on a pass/no pass basis unless the course is only offered on a pass/no pass basis. Students must complete all major course prerequisites with a C-or better.

Lower Division Major Requirements [16 Units]


Upper Division Major Requirements [32 Units]


Upper Division Major Core Courses [12 units]


The Historian’s Craft Requirement [4 units]


Compete the following course before the end of your junior year:

Research Intensive Requirement [4 units]


Complete one course with an R designation, which must be taken before taking HIST 191 . Example Research Intensive courses include:  

Senior Capstone Requirement [4 units]


Complete the following course:

Additional Upper Division Courses in History [20 Units]


Upper Division Non-United States History Requirement [8 units]


At least two courses dealing primarily with subject matter outside the United States from the following list:

Additional History Courses Requirement [8 units]


Complete two additional upper division HIST courses. With approval of Chair, students may substitute up to 8 units of advanced world language study for their Additional History Courses Requirement.

Transfer Students


Transfer students who wish to major in History should complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) at their community college. Transfer students may not be admitted to the History major without specific major preparation. Please contact the Office of Admissions for current information.

Transfer Selection Criteria


To be admitted to the History major transfer students must meet the following requirements:

Applicants will, at the time of admission have completed at minimum each of the following courses (or their equivalent) with a “C-” or better:

  • At least two UC-Transferrable Courses in History

History Honors Program


UCM History majors may petition to join the Honors Program, which will have additional requirements beyond the standard History major. Undergraduate majors who are accepted and successfully complete the Honors Program will receive a notation to that effect upon their diploma at graduation.

To be eligible for the Honors Program, a History major must achieve a minimum overall GPA of 3.3, a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the major and a minimum grade of A- in the major induction course, HIST 100: The Historian’s Craft . Applications from qualified students will be considered by the History Honors Committee (composed of Academic Senate faculty in History). Please contact SSHA Advising for more information.

Language Recommendation


History majors are encouraged (but not required) to exceed the General Education language requirement. Advanced language skills are necessary for those interested in pursuing graduate training in History. Such students should contact the Chair or other faculty members to discuss this further. History Majors may exchange up to 8 units of advanced language classes (at UC Merced or approved courses offered elsewhere including in summer language institutes) for their Additional History Courses Requirement with consent of Chair.