Getting Started
College: HFA
Information below is meant to guide first-year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.
How to Explore the Major
Suggested General Education Courses
All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at https://www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.
Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses
Two 100-level courses, at least one of which should be chosen as part of the required survey pair from the following list*:
(Taking up to two history courses per semester is the norm for first-year history majors.)
| HIST 100 + 101(Western Thought) |
|
HIST 120 + 121 (Latin America) |
| HIST 110 + 111 (World History) |
|
HIST 130 + 131 (Middle East) |
| HIST 112 + 111 (World Religions/World History) |
|
HIST 110 + 161 (World History/Africa) |
|
HIST 112 + 116 (World Religions/Japan)
|
|
HIST 180 + 181 (History of Science) |
Elective in U.S. History: HISTORY 150-151, or HISTORY 170 (Indigenous Peoples of North America*)
*Honors versions of many of these sequences may be available. Additional combinations of courses may also be available.
NOTE: If students have AP or transfer equivalents for these or other History courses, they should not take them again.
How to Declare/Change into the Major
For current & admitted students: This major is unrestricted, which means any student may declare the major. Unrestricted majors may still have an entry process such as meeting with an advisor or attending an informational meeting. Students can declare History at any point by contacting the Director of Undergraduate Studies at advising@history.umass.edu.
Transfer Students
Contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies soon after arriving at the University. Note that 400-level courses are advanced seminars; students should not enroll in these unless they have done upper-level work.
Summary of Requirements for the Major
Minimum total # of credits required: 36
- Students should attend at least one History Orientation during their time as majors, ideally as soon as possible after they declare the major.
- Students must complete twelve courses (at least three credits each) distributed as described in the Undergraduate pages of the Academics section on the departmental website. See "The Major" on the left-hand menu bar.
Is there a minor? If so, what are the requirements?
Yes! – A minor is available! Please see "The Minor" page located in the left menu bar to learn more.
For further information, contact:
Undergraduate Program Director
Undergraduate Studies Office
611 & 613 Herter Hall; 413-545-6757
advising@history.umass.edu