Department of History

State University of New York, Stony Brook

Undergraduate Program

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR IN HISTORY

The major in history leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. Completion of the major requirements entails 39 credits (33 credits in history plus 6 credits in a related field).

All courses taken to meet requirements I and II must be taken for a letter grade. No grade lower than “C”. At least 12 credits must be taken at Stony Brook. No transfer grade lower than C will be accepted towards the major.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR IN HISTORY

I. History Courses (Total 33 credits)

A. Two courses at the Introductory 100-level (6 credits)

B. Five courses in one of the following primary fields: United States, Europe, Latin America, Asian Ancient or Medieval or Global history. (Note: Other primary fields, based on topical or thematic lines may be selected with the approval of the department’s Undergraduate Director.

The 15 credits of courses shall be distributed as follows:
Two courses at the 200 level
Two courses at the 300 level
One course at the 400 level, excluding His 447, 487, 488,495 and 496

C. HIS 301 (Must be completed prior to the 400-level seminar in your primary field).

D. Three courses selected from outside the primary field and above the 100 level, with at least
one of these courses at the 300 or 400 level.

II. Courses in a Related Discipline (Total 6 credits)

TWO upper-division courses in ONE discipline. Examples of suggested disciplines are Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, Philosophy, Art History, Music History, Religious Studies, Africana Studies, Women’s Studies, English Literature, Humanities, etc.

III. Upper-Division Writing Requirement

Students will be required to complete an upper-division course in their primary field. They will inform the instructor of the course in advance of their plan to use the term paper (or papers) in fulfillment of the writing requirement for the major. In addition to the grade for the course, the instructor will make a second evaluation of writing competency in the field of history. If the second evaluation is favorable, the paper will be submitted to the Undergraduate Director for final approval.

Notes:

1. All courses taken to meet major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.
2. No grade lower than a C may be applied toward the major requirements.
3. At least 12 credits in Group A must be taken within the Department of History at
Stony Brook including the 300-level writing seminar and the 400-level seminar.
4. No transferred course with a grade lower than C may be applied toward the Major
requirements.

FORMS

History Major Declaration Form [***]
History Major Checklist [***]
Writing Requirement Form [***]

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR IN HISTORY

The minor, which requires 18 credits, is organized around the student’s interest in a particular area of history, defined either by geography (e.g., United States, Latin America) or topic (e.g., imperialism, social change). Courses must be taken for a letter grade. No grades lower than C in upper division courses may be applied to the history minor. At least nine of the 18 credits must be taken at Stony Brook, with three of the courses at the upper division level. The specific distribution of the credits should be determined in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. An example of an acceptable distribution would be the following: 1. One two-semester survey course in the period of the student’s interest (100 or 200 level)
2. One (additional) course at the 200 level
3. Three courses at the 300 or 400 level, at least one of which must be at the 400 level

NOTE

HIS 447, 487. 488 may not be used to satisfy minor requirements.

Undergraduate Blog

• Program

  • Undergraduate Director: Robert Goldenberg
  • Undergraduate Coordinator: Susan Grumet