All History Majors begin their study of History with HSTU201, the History Colloquium, where they learn advanced research methods, internet-based research, and gain experience in the interpretation and use of evidence, and in the construction of written arguments. In their very first History course at Northeastern, students must write a major research paper, make their first multimedia classroom presentation, and subject their work to critical review and revision.
By their middler year, History majors are prepared to do advanced historical research and writing in HSTU301, the History Seminar, where research faculty engage students in their primary research fields. After the first History seminar, majors define their cluster, a four course subfield--and then either take HST701, which is a second History Seminar, or complete a senior project.
Undergraduates may select one of two degree options. The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) is the broadly based liberal arts degree in history. Students who pursue the B.A. degree must satisfy language and math requirements and take 12 courses from across the Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum categories II through VI, in addition to required and elective history courses. The B.A. degree requires at least two semesters of foreign language study. These requirements help students develop their historical knowledge and skills within the contexts of the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences that together comprise the disciplinary sources of historical knowledge. They enable historical understanding to be culturally and linguistically sensitive to the subjects of historical inquiry.
The History Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree emphasizes greater specialization in history, a program of study either in Public History or in a minor field outside of history and a course in statistics. These programs are designed for students interested either in Public History or in quantitative analysis and the mastery of social science models and methods. In order to provide the space in the curriculum for the development of these specialized skills, this option limits the Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum requirements to six courses distributed in categories II through VI. B.S. students are not required to study a foreign language. Students who plan to go to graduate school in history should consider the possibility of taking language courses as electives, since most graduate programs continue to require foreign language competence.
Many History majors are double majors. Most work in adjacent fields such Sociology, Political Science, Journalism, Art, and Architecture.
Public History Concentration
The BS in Public History requires a total of 45 History credits, the BS Core, one approved statistics course, and an approved minor. The Public History Concentration requires the following (4) courses:
- Course List: HSTU120,631+,903,904
An appropriate graduate course in public history may be substituted for HSTU631+. See History faculty advisor for an approved list.
History Clusters
History clusters include various periods or fields in American, European, Asian, African, or African-American History, Contemporary History, or World History. A student may also work with their History Advisor to develop his or her own History cluster from the department's courses according to a thematic, methodological, or other suitable principle (e.g., a cluster in cultural history, history of violence, contemporary history, women's history, history of war, etc.)
Language Study
History majors interested in advanced study in history are strongly advised to study one or more languages during the course of undergraduate work.
Five-Year Bachelor's/Master's Program
Students seeking the combined BA or BS/MA Degree in History must complete five courses in History by the end of autumn of their middler year, eight courses by the end of their middler year: the standard history major, less three electives. In January of their middler year, students with a 3.33 (B+) cumulative average, 3.50 or better in History, may submit an application for admission into the Five-Year BA or BS/MA degree in History. Applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee and qualified candidates will be selected as part of each year's MA applicant pool.
Experiential Education Requirement
All students are required to fulfill this requirement. See the College of Arts and Sciences Guide to Experiential Education for a full description of the requirement. HSTU301/701 The History Seminar (Capstone Seminar) fulfills the Experiential Education Requirement for History majors.
BA in History BS in History 5 Year BA or BS/MA Degree The History Minor Semester Conversion Orientation Package(for new majors and transfers) History Brochure A & S Core Curriculum