Degrees

IU Bloomington offers the following undergraduate degree:

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History

Major Requirements

• For a printable one-page version of these requirements click here.
• Students who entered IU Bloomington prior to Fall 2004 have different requirements. Click here for more information.

Students must complete 30 credit hours in History with the following requirements:

• 15 of the 30 credits must be completed on the IU Bloomington campus
• 18 of the 30 credits must be completed at the 300 and/or 400 levels
• Concentration: Choose four courses (12 credits) from one of the areas below as your Concentration.
• Field: Choose a minimum of two additional courses (6 credits) from an area outside of the Concentration as your Field.
• Electives: Choose a minimum of two additional courses that may not be from the Concentration or Field (6 credits).
• Seminars: Students must complete two seminars:
  • HIST J300 Junior Seminar in History (also fulfills Intensive Writing) (3 cr.)
  • HIST J400 Senior Seminar in History (Prerequisite: J300) (3 cr.)

Areas of Study:

• Africa and the Middle East
• Ancient
• Asia
• Europe after 1500
• Jewish
• Latin America
• Medieval
• Pre-Modern Mediterranean World
• Russia and Eastern Europe
• United States
• World and Comparative

Students may also design their own concentrations in consultation with a faculty mentor. 

Departmental Honors

Major Requirements

Students who are recommended by faculty and admitted to the competitive Department of History Honors Program must complete:

• At least 33 credits in History with 3.50 minimum Major GPA and a minimum 3.30 Cumulative GPA. Students are encouraged to seek the advice of the departmental advisor and faculty mentors regarding their selection of courses.
• At least 15 of the 30 credits must be taken on the IU Bloomington campus
• At least 18 of the 30 credits must be completed at the 300 and/or 400 level
• Meet all Concentration, Field, and elective credits for the major (see above).
• Seminars:
  • HIST K392 which substitutes for both J300 and J400 and fulfills Intensive Writing
  • Either HIST K498 (3 credit Honors Paper) or HIST K499 (6 credit Thesis with Oral Defense).

Prelaw Track

Students intending to study law should follow the general requirements for the major. In addition, those interested in legal careers should concentrate on developing particular kinds of skills needed in legal education and practice. For further information, please contact Jim Basore, the Academic Advisor, or our Pre-law Advisor, Professor Michael Grossberg. Majors should also keep in contact with the University's Pre-Law advising office located in Maxwell Hall 010 (855-1873).

Double Major

Recognizing the knowledge and skills History provides, many students decide to complement other major areas and disciplines with a History degree.  Many of our students have double majors in Political Science, Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography, English, and Religious Studies. Students seeking a double major must have two advisors, one from each department in which they propose to study, and the final program of studies must be approved by the College of Arts and Sciences.  For more information contact the College Recorder’s office.

Interdepartmental Major in History and African-American and African Diaspora Studies

Students interested in African-American History can greatly benefit from this interdisciplinary major.  For more information, see the College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin.

Languages and Overseas Study

History majors in good standing and with appropriate language training may earn credit toward the major and toward other degree requirements in the university’s overseas study programs.