Chair: P. David Lagomarsino
Vice-Chair: Margaret H. Darrow
Professors C. G. Calloway, P. K. Crossley, M. H. Darrow, H. M. Ermarth, G. R. Garthwaite, M. Navarro, J. B. Nelson, A. Orleck, H. W. Whelan, C. S. Wilder, J. Wright; Associate Professors S. J. Ericson, C. B. Estabrook, D. E. Haynes, R. L. Kremer, P. D. Lagomarsino, W. P. Simons; Assistant Professors L. A. Butler, J. F. Cullon, J. J. Kim, E. G. Miller, C. E. Naylor, T. Padilla; Visiting Professors R. W. Edsforth, J. L. Huffman, A. V. Koop; Visiting Assistant Professor C. W. Schmidt; Visiting Instructor L. F. Braun; Adjunct Assistant Professor S. A. Culbert.
The Department of History offers a Standard Major, a Modified Major, an Honors Major, and a Minor. Most courses fall into one of four areas: (1) United States and Canada, (2) Europe, (3) Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, or (4) Interregional and Comparative. A Major or Minor in History is built around a concentration or focus. Students take the initiative to craft their own centers of concentration in consultation with their respective faculty advisers within the department. A concentration may be geographical (e.g. European History), chronological (e.g. the 20th Century), or thematic (e.g. Social History). Participants in the Department’s Honors Program then crown their field of concentration with a thesis written in the senior year.
Because planning is essential, it is critical that a student establish a relationship with a faculty member who can act as an adviser. Any member of the Department can serve as a major adviser, and it is best to pursue this relationship as early as possible. If you do not know who to approach, the Department Chair or Vice Chair will be happy to suggest a possible adviser to suit your interests.
While the course information listed below was complete and accurate as it went to press, it is normal for scheduling changes to occur, including the adding and dropping of courses. For the most up-to-date list of courses, see http://www.dartmouth.edu/~history/calendar.html.
STANDARD MAJOR IN HISTORY
Requirements:
The Standard Major in History comprises the successful completion of at least ten courses including:
1. One course each from the following areas:
a) United States and Canada (such courses are designated Major Dist: US & CAN in the course listing below);
b) Europe (designated Major Dist: EUR in the course listing below);
c) Africa, Asia, Latin America & Caribbean (designated Major Dist: AALAC in the course listing below);
d) Interregional (designated Major Dist: INTER in the course listing below).
2. At least five additional History courses in a geographic, chronological or thematic concentration selected in consultation with a faculty adviser.
3. A culminating experience in the form of an upperclass seminar (History 96) taken in the general area of the proposed geographic, chronological or thematic concentration.
4. At least five History courses must be taken in residence at Dartmouth College, one of them being the upperclass seminar (History 96).
5. Among the ten courses required for the Standard Major, each student must include either two pre-1700 courses or three pre-1800 courses. In the course listing below, courses fulfilling the pre-1700 requirement are designated <1700, while <1800 designates those fulfilling the pre-1800 requirement.
Special Provisions
1. History 7 (First-Year Seminar) and History 98 (Honors Seminar) may not be counted toward the major.
2. Students may not include more than two of the following courses: History 1, 2 or 3.
3. Students may not use more than two upperclass seminars (History 96) or two independent study courses (History 97) in satisfying the major requirements.
4. Major GPA is figured on all History courses taken.
5. The Department will consider approving transfer credits for History majors and non-majors only for History courses taken at institutions with which Dartmouth College has institutional exchange programs.
6. Entering first-year students may receive one unspecified credit for a History course by achieving a score of 5 on the relevant College Entrance Examination Board’s Advanced Placement Tests or scores of 6 or 7 on the Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB) exam. This unspecified credit counts as one course credit toward the degree requirement but receives no credit within the major.
MODIFIED MAJOR IN HISTORY
The Modified Major consists of the successful completion of twelve courses, eight of them in History, and four from one or more modifying departments. A Modified Major will be approved only if the student provides a convincing written rationale for the intellectual coherence of the proposed program of study. The modified major plan should be discussed and approved by the chairs of the relevant departments.
1. The requirements in History include: the minimum number of courses as specified in (1) under the requirements for the Standard Major.
2. At least three additional courses in a geographic, chronological or thematic concentration selected in consultation with a faculty adviser.
3. A culminating experience in the form of an upperclass seminar (History 96) taken in the general area of the proposed geographic, chronological or thematic concentration.
4. At least five History courses must be taken in residence at Dartmouth College, one of them being the upperclass seminar (History 96).
5. Among the eight History courses required for the Modified Major, each student must include two pre-1800 courses. Qualifying courses are designated <1800 in the course listing below.
6. The Modified Major is completed with four courses from other departments. None of these may be prerequisite to the major of another department.
Special Provisions, described under the Standard Major, also apply to the Modified Major.
HONORS MAJOR IN HISTORY
Potentially eligible students should meet with their respective advisers to plan for the History Honors Major. History majors who have achieved an overall College grade point average of 3.0 and one of 3.5 in History (based on a minimum of five graded History courses) may apply for admission to the Honors Program through a written proposal submitted in the spring term of their junior year. Others interested in the program should petition the Department for admission by August 15th of the summer term leading into their senior year.
The Honors Program consists of the successful completion of the following requirements:
1. The minimum number of courses as specified in (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) under the requirements for the Standard Major. Alternatively, the minimum number of courses specified in (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) under the requirements of the Modified Major.
2. In addition to completing the requirements of the Standard Major, honors majors must complete the Honors Seminar (History 98) in the fall term of their senior year and a thesis (History 99), normally written in the winter and spring terms. History 98 counts as one course credit toward the degree requirement but receives no credit within the major. History 99 may carry up to two credits toward the degree requirement, but receives no credit within the Standard Major.
Special Provisions, described under the Standard Major, also apply to the History Honors Program.
MINOR IN HISTORY
The Minor in History consists of the successful completion of seven courses:
1. Minimum number of courses required for the Standard Major as specified in (1) above.
2. At least two additional courses in a geographic, chronological or thematic concentration selected in consultation with a faculty adviser.
3. A culminating experience in the form of an upperclass seminar (History 96) taken in the general area of the proposed geographic, chronological or thematic concentration.
4. Among the seven courses required for the Minor in History, each student must include two pre-1800 courses. Qualifying courses are designated <1800 in the course listing below.
Special Provisions, described under the Standard Major, apply to the Minor.