Minor in History
Combined B.A./M.A. in History

To declare a major in history, you will have to schedule an appointment with the Chair of the Undergraduate Committee.  To the meeting, bring The Major information packet, containing two checklists and a Declaration of Major form; if you are a transfer student, also bring a Transfer Evaluation and, if possible, an AU transcipt.

HISTORY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

The department recommends that before enrolling in a course at the 300 level or above, students complete a suitable introductory course or attain equivalent knowledge.

Complete 39 credit hours with grades of C or better including at least 15 credit hours at the 300 level or above including the following:

1. HIST-480 Major Seminar I (3 credit hours)
2. HIST-481 Seminar II (3 credit hours) (HIST 480 and 481 must be taken in sequential order and during a single academic year).
3. One course in ancient or medieval history
4. One course in Asian, East European, modern Middle Eastern, or Russian history
5. One course in African, African-American, or Latin American history
6. One course in Western European or British history at the 300 level or above
7. One course in U.S. history at the 300 level or above
8. Additional courses to make a total of 39 credit hours in history (which may include JWST-205, Ancient and Medieval Jewish Civilization).  At least 20 of the 39 credit hours must be taken at American University; at least 15 of the 39 must be at the 300 level or above.

Majors are encouraged to take courses at other Consortium schools on subjects not offered at American University.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Prospective history majors may qualify for 3 advanced placement credits toward the major in both American and European history (for a total of 6 credits), provided the appropriate AP examination grade is a 4 or 5. Students cannot receive AP credit if they also take the comparable survey courses in either American history (HIST-205 and HIST-206) or European history (HIST-110) at American University.  Students may receive 6 credit hours for each AP examination (12 credit hours total) toward the 120 credit hour university requirement.
 
 

ADMISSION AND DECLARATION OF MINOR

To declare a minor in history, you will have to schedule an appointment with the Chair of the Undergraduate Committee.  To the meeting, bring a Declaration of Major/Minor form and a Checklist for Undergraduate History Minors; if you are a transfer student, also bring a Transfer Evaluation and, if possible, an AU transcipt.
 

HISTORY MINOR REQUIREMENTS:

Complete 21 credit hours  with grades of C or better and at least 12 credit hours unique to the minor including the following:

1. One course in Western European or British history at the 300 level or above
2. One course in U.S. history at the 300 level or above
3. One course in an area other than Western European, British, or U.S. history
4. Four more courses in history, including at least two at the 300 level or above. The department requires that all 300-level courses be taken at American University.

At least 12 of the 21 credit hours in history must be taken at American University.
 

The program enables students to complete both the B.A. and the M.A. in History in five years.

ADMISSION

Students should apply for admission to the program their junior year.  Students will be admitted formally to M.A. status only when they have completed all requirements for the B.A. in History with strong grades (3.00 grade point average on a 4.00 scale and a 3.20 in history courses).  Those students moving to M.A. standing will be exempt from the usual Graduate Record Examination (GRE) admission requirement.
 

1. All requirements for the B.A. in History
2. All requirements for the M.A. in History