Major Requirements

Overview

The major in history consists of 12 courses, at least 11 of which must be completed within the Department of History. Students may (with permission) include one course from another department in constructing their “Fields of Concentration” (see below).

Individual programs must satisfy both lower- and upper-division requirements. They must also include at least one course (as one of the 12 required courses) devoted entirely to premodern history to be selected from courses focused on one or more of the following eras: Antiquity, the Classical Period, and the Medieval Period; courses dealing solely with the Early Modern Period do not satisfy this requirement. For courses satisfying the premodern history requirement, please review the current list. (This list may not be completely up to date. If you have a question, please ask.)

Students may declare the major after completing three courses in the Department of History, including at least two courses in the lower division.


Please scroll down for more important information about the History major.

Double majors please note: 
If you are adding History as a second major, or declaring a double, please fill out the Major declaration form by clicking the box below. Within the form, be prepared to upload your completed double major packet (provided by L&S here), as well as email a copy to the undergraduate major advisor at history-undergradadvisor@berkeley.edu.  You can also reach out to the same email if you have any questions! 
If you are declaring a simultaneous degree please follow the same process but use the Simultaneous Degree packet which can be found here.

Declare the Major

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Lower-Division Requirements

Four courses at UC Berkeley (or their equivalents elsewhere), to include:

  • 3 lower division courses from 3 different regions
    • Africa: 10
    • Asia: 6A, 6B, 11, 11A, 13, 14
    • Europe: 4A, 4B, 5
    • Latin America & The Caribbean: 8A, 8B
    • Near & Middle East: 3, 12
    • North America: 7A, 7B
  • Elective or Topic Course
    • Any of the above region courses, or one elective such as History 1, 2, 30 or 39. Note that History R1B, 24, 84 and 98 do not fulfill this requirement.)

Students may substitute one upper division course for any one of the lower division requirements, pending course review and approval by the Undergraduate Advisor. Please note that an upper division course in this case can only count for one lower division requirement or one upper division requirement; it cannot overlap.

For Non-Berkeley Courses

To find equivalent courses at California Community Colleges, see assist.org. Please be aware that not every possible course is articulated on assist.org. You are welcome to ask the Undergraduate Advisor about any non-articulated history courses. To have any non-Berkeley course approved, please supply a syllabus, or at least a course description, along with a copy of the transcript on which the course appears (unofficial is fine) when you declare the major, either online or in person.  

Upper Division Requirements

Eight History courses, to include:

  • History 104-The Craft of History (Required only for students who entered Berkeley in Fall 2023 and afterwards)
  • History 103 (Proseminar)- A minimum of one is required; any additional 103s taken will count towards the history upper division electives.
  • 5 History upper division electives
  • A thesis course: HIST 102 (Semester) OR HIST 101A and 101B (Yearlong thesis)

Students may petition for one non-history upper division course to satisfy one of the five upper division elective requirements.  The course must be a minimum of 3 units, taken for a letter grade, and the syllabus will need to be approved by the undergraduate major advisor. 

Field of Concentration

Effective Fall 2023, a Field of Concentration is no longer required for all history majors.

Independent Study in History

Students may create an independent study project in consultation with a supervising professor in the History Department under the number History 199. (Lecturers and GSIs may not supervise History 199.) With the professor's approval, History 199 may be taken for one to four units. A four-unit History 199 may count once as an upper division course requirement and can be a great addition to your Field of Concentration. History 199 may only be taken P/NP and will not be counted in the major GPA.

Please complete the History 199 Form with a faculty member, and turn the completed form in to the Undergraduate Advisor before the add deadline.

Sample Program Plans

Students interested in 2 and 4 year program plans can view sample programs here. 

Major Requirements Checklist

Major Map

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