History Major

The major consists of a minimum of 9 full courses (or the equivalent).

Note: Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the major.

View the catalog page for the history department.

Summary of Requirements

Minimum One Full 100-Level Course
Minimum One Full 200-Level Course
Minimum One Full 300-Level Course
Minimum One Full 400-Level Course
HIST 299 - Introduction to Historical Methods
One Full Pre-Modern Course
Geographic Distribution Requirement
Additional History Major Elective Courses

Note(s) on Requirements

At least five full courses must have the HIST prefix.
No more than three full courses taken from selected courses based on historical methodologies taught in other departments or programs may apply to the major.
Courses that count toward the major but are administered by other departments can be used to fulfill any history major requirement except that of the 300-level course.
Credit earned in first-year seminar program courses taught by members of the history department may be applied toward the major, but cannot be used to fulfill the 100-level course requirement.

Transfer of Credit Toward the Major

Students seeking to transfer credit toward the history major for classes not taken at Oberlin must consult with their advisor and/or the chair of the history department in advance, and gain written preliminary approval for courses they wish to take elsewhere.

Students may be eligible to transfer credit toward the major for a maximum of two full courses completed outside Oberlin, including courses completed during study away. Other courses may be transferred for general credit toward graduation. Normally, the history department does not accept toward the major any courses completed at two-year institutions after a student has declared a major in history at Oberlin.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit

AP/IB transfer credit received for HIST 097, HIST 098, and HIST 099 does not count toward the history major.

Capstone Courses

The history major does not have a required capstone, but majors are encouraged to consider pursuing a senior capstone that focuses on advanced work in their area of interest through either HIST 500 , a one-semester course available to seniors by consent of the instructor, or HIST 501 /HIST 502 , the two-semester honors program sequence open to students admitted to the Honors Program in History.

Honors in History

The Honors Program in History offers the opportunity for recognition of distinguished achievement in historical research and writing. Qualified students apply to enter the program in their sixth semester. Proposals are due in mid-April and should be prepared in consultation with department faculty. Further information is available from the chair or the history honors coordinator.

Visit the department website for more detailed guidelines.

Detailed Major Requirements

History Major Course Lists

100-Level Courses

Return to the summary of requirements.

Note: FYSP courses do not count toward this requirement.

Students must complete at least one course in three of the different geographic areas regularly or occasionally offered by the department. Students may take a class that is global/transnational in focus to substitute for one geographic area. No single class may count simultaneously for global/transnational and a specific geographic area.