Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires departmental
approval. 

University Requirements

• A total of 120 credit hours 
• 6 credit hours of college writing 
• 3 credit hours of college mathematics or the equivalent by examination 

General Education Requirements

• A total of ten courses, consisting of one foundation course and one second-level course in an approved sequence from each of the five curricular areas 
• No more than 6 credit hours may be taken in the same discipline 

Major Requirements

• 39 credit hours with grades of C or better including at least 15 credit hours at the 300 level or above. 

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

Advanced Placement

Prospective history majors may qualify for 3 advanced placement (AP) 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 towards the major if they also take the comparable survey courses in either American history (HIST-205 and HIST-206) or European history (HIST-110). A satisfactory International Baccalaureate (IB) examination may count toward fulfilling a specific course requirement for the major. Entering students with academic credit for IB examinations in history courses should consult with the department. A total of 6 AP and IB credits can be counted toward the history major. 

Course Requirements

• HIST-480 Major Seminar I (3) 
• HIST-481 Major Seminar II (3) 
• One course in ancient or medieval history 
• One course in Asian, East European, modern Middle Eastern, or Russian history 
• One course in African, African-American, Latin American, or Native American history 
• One course in Western European or British history at the 300 level or above 
• One course in U.S. history at the 300 level or above 
• 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. 

University Honors Program

All University Honors students must complete at least 12 credit hours of advanced-level (300-level and above) Honors courses including a 3 to 6 credit hour Honors Senior Capstone Project. Students may graduate with University Honors in the major if they complete at least 12 advanced-level Honors courses including the Senior Capstone Project in the department. Each department has three levels of University Honors requirements: Level I Options (100-200-level Honors classes); Level II Options (300-level and above Honors classes); and Level III Options (Honors Senior Capstone). The department Honors coordinator advises students in the University Honors Program regarding departmental options. For more information, go to www.american.edu/academic.depts/honors/ . 

Combined B.A. and M.A. in History

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs. Undergraduate students may complete up to 3 credits for every 9 credits required for the graduate degree that may be applied to the requirements for both degree programs. The department that oversees the graduate program the student enters will determine if the courses the undergraduate student completes will satisfy master’s degree requirements. Bachelor’s/master’s students must complete at least 18 in-residence credit hours at the graduate level after the bachelor’s degree is earned and maintain continuous, sequential enrollment in the two programs. 

This program enables students to complete both the B.A. and M.A. in History.  

Requirements

• Interested students should apply for admission to the program in their junior year. Students in this program are not required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students will be admitted formally to M.A. status only if they have completed all requirements for the B.A. in History with at least an overall 3.20 grade point average and a 3.50 grade point average in history courses. 
• All requirements for the B.A. in History 

Undergraduate students may apply up to 9 credit hours of approved graduate-level course work in history to satisfy the requirements of both degrees. 

• All requirements for the M.A. in History, including a minimum of 18 credit hours completed in residence in graduate status after the undergraduate degree has been awarded. Students must finish the master’s degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master’s program.