Major/Minor Requirements

Major

The requirements of the History major are as follows:

1. a minimum of 30 hours in History courses;
2. at least one course from each of the following three regions: 1) North America 2) Europe, Russia 3) Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, the Caribbean. Students may request that courses in the category "Global or Comparative" history be counted in any one region empasized by the instructor. Transfer credits from college-level courses and Oberlin courses apply to this distribution requirement; credits earned at the secondary level, such as AP and IB do not fulfill this requirement;
3. at least one 300-level or above course taught by faculty in the Oberlin History Department; and
4. at least 18 hours of coursework taught by members of the Oberlin History Department. Twelve hours may be applied to the major through any combination of AP or IB credit, credit from approved study-away programs, and credit from selected courses based on historical methodologies taught in African American Studies (African, African American, and Caribbean history), East Asian Studies (Korean History), and Classics (Greek and Roman History).
5. First-Year Seminars taught by members of the Oberlin History Department will count toward the major.
6. Grades below "C-" will not count toward the major.

Minor

The minor in history consists of not fewer than 15 hours of credit in history courses. These must include at least one 300- or 400-level course. Minors must take at least 10 hours of history from members of the Oberlin History Department.

Concentrations in the Major

In consultation with their departmental advisor, majors are expected to develop a balanced program of historical study culminating in a concentration (at least four courses drawn from geographic, chronological, or thematic groupings). The choice of field of concentration will depend on a number of factors including plans after graduation, particular interests, linguistic competencies, and staffing strengths in the Department. A fuller description of "Concentrations in the History Major" is available from History Department advisors, the History Department office, and our web site.

Honors

The Honors Program in history offers the opportunity for recognition of distinguished achievement in historical research and writing. Qualified students are invited to enter the program in their seventh semester. Students wishing to be considered for Honors should indicate that interest to the department chair in their sixth semester. Further information is available from members of the department. See also the general statement on Honors on our web site.

Transfer of Credit

As detailed in the section above on the Major, students may be eligible to transfer a maximum of 12 hours toward the major.  Students seeking to transfer credit toward the major in History for classes not taken at Oberlin, but taken after their declaration of a History major, should consult in advance with their advisor and the History Department chair.  They should also obtain the "History Department Guidelines on Transfer Credit toward the History Major," available in the History Department Office.

Winter Term

Please check with the Department to determine which History faculty will be participating in Winter Term 2010 and will be available to sponsor projects.

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