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College of Arts & Sciences
- Undergraduate
Educational Objectives
| Major |
Minor | Departmental
Honors
Introduction
History is the systematic study of the past. The study of
history includes training in how to gather information, how
to research issues and problems, how to analyze data and construct
arguments, and how to communicate ideas in writing. These
are essential skills, tools that are prized in the world beyond
the university. A major in history is an excellent beginning
and solid stepping stone to professional school and the business
world. For goals ranging from law to journalism, and from
medicine to the MBA, history serves as a versatile undergraduate
major. Multinational businesses demand that their executives
understand the peoples and cultures around them, and be able
to communicate that understanding effectively. If an occupation
demands critical thinking and analysis, a background in history
is invaluable.
Educational Objectives
All history courses expose students to historical interpretation
and critical analysis. Courses at the 100 and 200 levels are
intended as introductions to broad fields of history and are
open to students with no previous college-level history experience.
All 300 level history courses are writing intensive, are graded
principally through essay examinations and short papers, and
count toward the fulfillment of the University of Miami writing
across the curriculum requirement. The normal prerequisite
for 300 level history courses is 3 credits in history at the
college level. Courses at the 400 level are programs of individual
directed study. Permission of the instructor is required in
each case, and such permission is normally given only to students
who have completed a lower-level course with the faculty member
in question. Courses at the 500 level require a 300 level
history course as prerequisite. All 500 level courses deal
extensively with the historiography of their particular subjects,
and all require a written research project as a major component
of the work of the course.
Major
A major in history consists of at least 30 credits in history
with a grade of C- or better in each course, and with a cumulative
GPA of at least 2.0 in history courses. These credits may
include history courses taken for general distribution requirements,
and must include at least 18 credits at the 300 level or above,
of which at least 6 credits must be taken in the form of 500-level
seminars. (HIS599 Independent Research does not count). All
courses for majors will be selected by students in consultation
with advisors designated by the department.
Credits from other institutions may be counted toward the
major or minor, and to general distribution requirements as
appropriate, but departmental approval is required in each
case. Students who complete the Advanced Placement course
in either United States or European history and pass the examination
with a grade of 4 or 5 may receive credit in the appropriate
history courses. Students who complete the International Baccalaureate
program and pass the higher level history examination with
a grade of 6 or higher will receive 3 credits in the appropriate
entry-level history course. (However, in some cases students
will only receive elective credit). At least 18 credits
of the major and at least 9 credits of the minor must be completed
at the University of Miami.
The department offers a variety of study abroad options with
credit toward the major or minor.
Minor
A minor in history consists of at least 15 credits in history
with a grade of C- or better in each course, and with a cumulative
GPA of at least 2.0 in history courses. These credits may
include history courses taken for general distribution requirements,
and must include at least 9 credits at the 300 level or above.
Courses for minors should be selected in consultation with
a departmental advisor.
Departmental Honors
History majors with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.6 in history
courses may earn departmental honors by completing a research
project of 6 credits judged worthy of honors by a departmental
committee, provided that at least 6 courses worth 18 credits
have been completed at the University of Miami.
Other
For the requirements of the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history
see the Bulletin of the Graduate School.
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