College of Letters & Science
History
Goals of the Major
Skills Developed in the Major
Requirements for the Major
Honors in the Major
Joint Major in History and History of Science, Medicine,
and Technology
Honors in the Joint Major in History and History of
Science, Medicine, and Technology
Courses
3211 Mosse Humanities Building, 455 North Park Street, Madison, WI 53706; 608-263-1800; history.wisc.edu
Professors Archdeacon, Bernault, Boswell, Chamberlain, Cohen, Cronon, Desan, Dunlavy, Enke, Enstad, Guérin-Gonzales, S. Johnson, Kantrowitz, Kleijwegt, Koshar, Mallon, Mazzaoui, McCoy, McDonald, Plummer, Reese, Roberts, Scarano, Sharpless, Sommerville, Stern, Suri, Sweet, Wandel, Winichakul, Wink, Young; Associate Professors Hirsch, Jones, Kodesh, Michels, Neville, Shoemaker, Thal; Assistant Professors Aiyar, Cheng, Dennis, Hall, Ipsen, M. Johnson, Kim, Ratner-Rosenhagen
Undergraduate advisor in the major: Scott Burkhardt, 3211 Mosse Humanities Building, 608-263-1800
Undergraduate assistant: Amy Schultz, 3211 Mosse Humanities Building, 608-263-1800
Faculty diversity liaison: Stephen Kantrowitz, skantrow@wisc.edu
History is the study and interpretation of human society as it changes over time. It addresses questions of human identity and transformations of civilizations and societies. Historians study all past human experience, bringing to the task a broad range of methodological and analytical tools. In the process, historians do many things. They compile, analyze, and compare statistics on everything from literacy to poverty. They scrutinize a variety of primary and secondary sources to reconstruct what life was like for people in other times and places. They weave individual lives and collective action into narratives and descriptions of change and continuity in human societies.
The study of history helps us to understand and grapple with complex questions and pressing dilemmas by forcing us to consider how the past continues to shape relationships between people and between societies in the present.
Goals of the Major
The goal of the history major is to offer students both deep and broad knowledge of the past. In studying history, students can develop skills and habits that enable them to define important historical questions, analyze the relevant evidence with rigor and creativity, and present convincing conclusions based on original research in a manner that contributes to academic and public discussions.
To insure that students gain exposure to some of the great diversity of topics, methodologies, and philosophical concerns that inform the study of history, the department requires a combination of courses that offers depth, breadth, and variety of exposition. Through those courses, students should develop:
- An understanding in depth of one of the main geographic regions of the world or areas of thematic coverage studied in the department.
- Broad acquaintance with the other geographic areas of the world and with both the pre-modern and modern eras.
- Familiarity with the range of sources and modes through which historical information can be found and expressed. Sources may include textual, oral, physical, and visual materials. The data within them may be qualitative or quantitative, and they may be available in printed, digital, or other formats. Modes of expression may include textbooks, monographs, scholarly articles, essays, literary works, or digital presentations.
- Habits of persistent effort, resourceful inquiry, careful reading, repeated revision, and critical engagement.
Skills Developed in the Major
Define Important Historical Questions
- Pose a historical question and explain its academic and public implications.
- Using appropriate research procedures and aids, find the secondary resources in history and other disciplines available to answer a historical question.
- Evaluate the evidentiary and theoretical bases of pertinent historical conversations in order to highlight opportunities for further investigation.
Collect and Analyze Evidence
- Identify the range and limitations of sources available to engage the historical problem under investigation.
- Examine the context in which sources were created, search for chronological and other relationships among them, and assess the sources in light of that knowledge.
- Employ and, if necessary, modify appropriate theoretical frameworks to examine sources and develop arguments.
Present Original Conclusions
- Present original and coherent findings through clearly written, persuasive arguments and narratives.
- Orally convey persuasive arguments, whether in formal presentations or informal discussions.
- Be aware of, and able to use, appropriate venues and formats of presentation for sharing information with academic and public audiences.
Contribute to Ongoing Discussions
- Extend insights from research to analysis of other historical problems.
- Demonstrate the relevance of a historical perspective to contemporary issues.
- Recognize, challenge, and avoid false analogies, overgeneralizations, anachronisms, and other logical pitfalls.
Requirements for the Major*
Students interested in declaring a History major should meet with an advisor in the History Department. Information about advising and declaring the major is available on the undergraduate section of the department Web site. A minimum of 30 credits in history is required to complete the major. Additional requirements are:
- Breadth requirement: At least one course in U.S. history, one course in European history, and one course in Non-Western/Third-World history (Africa, Asia, or Latin America). At least one of these three required courses must deal with the history of Europe and/or the Mediterranean before A.D. 1500 or with the history of Africa or Asia before these areas fell heavily under European influence. No seminar or thesis course may be used to satisfy this requirement.
- Concentration requirement: A concentration is a group of History courses with a common intellectual theme. Students must take at least four courses in one of the following concentrations: Europe (with at least one course on European history at the 100-level, not including 124); United States; The Americas; Africa and the African Diaspora; Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia; Pacific Worlds; Ancient and Medieval Worlds; Early Modern Worlds; Modern Worlds; Imperialism, Colonialism, and Postcolonialism; History of Ideas; or Social History. Some "topics" courses and seminars can be used to satisfy this requirement; please consult the undergraduate advisor.
- At least one advanced research-oriented seminar: History 481, History 482, or History 600. Students who are eligible to take graduate-level courses (i.e., senior standing or junior standing in the L&S Honors Program, a minimum 3.5 grade point average, and instructor's consent) may use a graduate seminar in History (700-999) to satisfy this requirement.
- All students must fulfill the L&S requirement of at least 15 credits in upper-level work in the major completed in residence. Students may fulfill this requirement with any of the History courses designated as "intermediate" or "advanced."
*Please check with the history undergraduate advisor regarding current requirements for the major.
Courses are grouped below according to the major requirements that they fulfill. No list can be either complete or definitive; questions about "topics" courses and seminars should be directed to the undergraduate advisor.
1. Breadth Requirement
Europe: 110, 115, 119, 120, 121, 123, 124, 208, 215, 223, 224, 251, 253, 254, 271, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 316, 317, 318, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 326, 333, 334, 339, 340, 348, 349, 351, 352, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 372, 373, 374, 409, 410, 415, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 426, 429, 430, 431, 432, 437, 447, 467, 469, 470, 473, 474, 475, 477, 478, 479, 507, 508, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 517, 518, 529, 531, 532, 539, 540, 541, 554, 561, 568, 570, 577, 578
United States: 101, 102, 140, 150, 160, 161, 219, 221, 222, 247, 258, 272, 290, 301, 302, 322, 330, 331, 343, 344, 353, 354, 355, 390, 391, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 411, 412, 416, 433, 434, 451, 460, 461, 462, 465, 466, 468, 490, 504, 560, 569, 607, 625, 626, 628, 635, 636, 644, 672
Non-Western/Third World: 103, 104, 105, 106, 108, 138, 139, 142, 205, 225, 226, 241, 242, 243, 244, 260, 265, 273, 277, 278, 279, 297, 309, 319, 332, 335, 336, 337, 338, 341, 342, 347, 371, 375, 376, 377, 378, 436, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 448, 449, 450, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 463, 495, 496, 533, 539, 540, 541, 548, 552, 555, 556, 557, 621, 660, 661, 663, 696, 697
Ancient/Medieval: 107, 110, 115, 121, 123, 205, 208, 215, 251, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 316, 317, 318, 321, 325, 326, 333, 336, 339, 360, 366, 368, 369, 376, 439, 442, 448, 453, 454, 457, 477, 507, 511, 517, 539, 550, 561, 562, 567, 569, 597, 663
2. Concentration Requirement
Europe (one of the four courses must be a 100-level course, not including 124): 110, 115, 119, 120, 121, 123, 124, 208, 215, 223, 224, 251, 253, 254, 271, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 316, 317, 318, 320, 321, 323, 324, 325, 326, 333, 334, 339, 340, 348, 349, 351, 352, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 372, 373, 374, 409, 410, 413, 415, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 426, 429, 430, 431, 432, 437, 447, 467, 469, 470, 473, 474, 475, 477, 478, 479, 507, 508, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 517, 518, 525, 529, 531, 532, 550, 561, 562, 567, 568, 577, 578
United States: 101, 102, 140, 150, 160, 161, 219, 221, 222, 247, 258, 272, 290, 301, 302, 319, 322, 327, 330, 331, 343, 344, 353, 354, 355, 390, 391, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 411, 412, 416, 433, 434, 451, 460, 461, 462, 465, 466, 468, 490, 504, 567, 607, 625, 626, 628, 631, 635, 636, 644
The Americas (two must be from the U.S. Concentration and two from the following): 241, 242, 243, 260, 278, 279, 347, 436, 441, 533, 552, 555, 556, 557.
Africa and the African Diaspora: 105, 243, 277, 278, 279, 297, 330, 347, 376, 377, 378, 436, 440, 443, 444, 445, 446, 533, 555, 628, 631, 635, 636
Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, South Asia: 106, 138, 139, 142, 205, 252, 265, 332, 371, 375, 379, 438, 439, 440, 442, 448, 449, 450, 457, 463, 472, 539, 540, 541, 548, 660, 661, 663
Pacific Worlds: 103, 104, 108, 244, 319, 335, 336, 337, 338, 341, 342, 438, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 621
Ancient and Medieval Worlds: 110, 115, 123, 205, 208, 215, 251, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 316, 317, 318, 321, 325, 336, 337, 360, 366, 368, 369, 376, 413, 417, 426, 439, 442, 448, 453, 454, 477, 478, 517, 539, 550, 561, 562, 567, 661, 663
Early Modern Worlds: 101, 119, 121, 123, 124, 241, 243, 278, 301, 320, 323, 324, 333, 334, 337, 339, 343, 344, 347, 351, 352, 353, 358, 361, 362, 367, 370, 372, 373, 377, 379, 401, 405, 407, 409, 420, 431, 436, 439, 447, 449, 451, 454, 457, 461, 465, 467, 473, 478, 479, 490, 507, 511, 512, 525, 529, 533, 555, 556, 568, 625, 635, 660
Modern Worlds: 102, 120, 124, 139, 140, 150, 160, 161, 219, 220, 242, 243, 247, 252, 258, 260, 279, 302, 319, 322, 324, 327, 330, 331, 332, 338, 340, 341, 342, 346, 347, 348, 349, 354, 355, 356, 357, 359, 363, 364, 365, 370, 371, 374, 375, 378, 379, 390, 391, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 402, 403, 404, 406, 408, 410, 411, 412, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420, 421, 423, 424, 425, 429, 430, 432, 433, 434, 441, 443, 444, 445, 446, 450, 452, 455, 456, 458, 460, 462, 466, 469, 471, 474, 475, 479, 490, 504, 508, 513, 514, 515, 518, 529, 531, 532, 534, 536, 540, 541, 552, 555, 557, 577, 578, 597, 607, 626, 628, 636
Imperialism, Colonialism, and Postcolonialism: 106, 241, 242, 243, 260, 303, 306, 307, 309, 319, 332, 343, 347, 365, 371, 375, 377, 378, 396, 424, 433, 434, 436, 445, 446, 447, 449, 455, 456, 458, 461, 462, 525, 533, 539, 541, 607, 660
History of Ideas: 205, 208, 219, 220, 301, 302, 309, 311, 317, 318, 323, 324, 331, 333, 334, 336, 337, 338, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 379, 394, 405, 406, 411, 412, 416, 420, 423, 426, 437, 438, 439, 451, 459, 470, 477, 478, 479, 501, 504, 507, 508, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 517, 518, 529, 536, 561, 562, 567, 568, 570, 621
Social History: 219, 241, 243, 247, 275, 297, 321, 322, 327, 330, 353, 354, 392, 401, 402, 403, 404, 409, 410, 416, 436, 441, 446, 460, 465, 466, 467, 472, 473, 474, 475, 490, 497, 516, 518, 529, 533, 534, 555, 557, 625, 626, 628, 635, 636, 644
Honors in the Major
The Honors in the Major track in history is intended for students who are eager to experience the excitement of original historical research and who wish to graduate with the best possible undergraduate training in this discipline. Honors in the Major is especially appropriate for students who are considering graduate work in history or who want an especially rigorous training in research, reasoning, and writing skills useful to a wide range of career choices.
To earn the B.A. or B.S with Honors in the Major in History, students must satisfy both the normal major requirements and the following additional requirements:
- GPA requirements : Achieve a GPA of 3.5 in all history courses and an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all courses taken at UW-Madison at the time of graduation.
- Course work requirements: Complete at least 36 credits within the major including 15 credits of honors course work in residence and 21 upper-level credits in residence.
- Senior honors thesis requirement: Complete a senior honors thesis, a piece of original work of approximately forty pages, in History 681-682, taken in conjunction with the thesis colloquium (History 680) both semesters. The thesis must be approved by advisors in both History 680 and in History 681-682.
Joint Major in History and History of Science, Medicine, and Technology
A minimum of 30 credits in history and in history of science, distributed as follows:
- At least four courses in history. At least one of these courses must be in U.S. history, at least one must be in European history, and at least one must be in the history of the Third World (Africa, Asia, Latin America).
- At least four courses in history of science. Students are urged to take one or more of these from the 300-599 series.
- At least 15 credits of upper-level course work (as defined by each department) of which at least 6 credits must be in history and at least 6 credits must be in history of science.
- At least one seminar course chosen from History 600 or History of Science 555.
- Knowledge of a science is recommended but not required for the joint major.
Honors in the Joint Major in History and History of Science, Medicine, and Technology
To be awarded honors in the joint major in history and history of science, medicine, and technology, students must:
- Achieve a GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 in all history and history of science courses and an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all courses taken at UW-Madison at the time of graduation.
- Complete a minimum of 36 credits, to include five courses in history (one in each of U.S., European, non-Western) and five courses in history of science, of which three must be from the 300-599 series (substitutions may be accepted at the discretion of the history of science, medicine, and technology honors advisor).
- Complete at least 21 credits of upper-division and/or graduate-level work (300-999) in the major while in residence at UW-Madison.
- Complete History 600 and one of the following history of science courses: 180, 280, 284 (in conjunction with 212), or one 900-level seminar.
- Complete 6-8 credits of Senior Honors Thesis in History 681-682 or History of Science Senior Honors Thesis 681-682. Students choosing History 681-682 must take History 680 both semesters in conjunction with the thesis. Students choosing History of Science 681-682 must take History of Science 555 before embarking on the thesis; in exceptional cases, it may be taken in conjunction with 681.