History


        Read the sections describing general education and CLAS requirements. Refer especially to the Majors and Minors in the College section.

        THE MAJOR: Majors must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours in history. Of these, at least 27 hours must be at the 3-4000 level. Majors are encouraged but not required and take a total of nine hours at the introduc-tory 2000 level, including one course in American history (AMH), one course in European history (EUH) and one in either African, Asian or Latin American history (AFH, ASH, LAH courses). AP or IB credits count toward the credits at the 2000 level.

        The one required course for all majors is the junior seminar. This course, which teaches methodological skills, should be taken during the junior year. Enrollment is restricted to history majors. Students may select from AFH 3930, AMH 3030, ASH 3930, HIS 3930 or LAH 3930.

        To ensure a good grasp of history in diverse cultures, majors must take at least two courses in American history (AMH), two in European history (EUH) and two courses in other geographical areas (AFH, ASH, or LAH prefixes only). The junior seminar counts toward this distribution requirement.
Students should balance their general and specialized courses. Too narrow a focus obscures the general trends of history; too broad a focus obscures the complexities of historical study and the importance of interpretation. Students should take four to six courses in a geographi-cal, chronological or thematic concentration and seek electives that complement this concentration.

        Students should consult a department adviser if they have questions about the area of concentration. Students who wish to concentrate in the history of science, tech-nology and medicine should contact a faculty member in the field or discuss requirements with an adviser in that concentration.

HISTORY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE: Students must meet the following re-quirements:

COMBINED B.A./M.A. PROGRAM: See a depart-ment adviser for program details.

        HONORS: Students earn honors when the jun-ior/senior year GPA is 3.5 or higher. They earn high honors if their GPA is 3.5 or higher AND they write an acceptable senior thesis (HIS 4970) under the supervision of a faculty member in the department. The student should normally have completed at least one course with that professor. The supervisor nominates outstanding senior theses to the department honors committee, which may recommend highest honors.

        THE MINOR: A minor in history consists of 15 credits minimum, at least twelve of which must be at the 3-4000 level with grades of C or better in each course. Individual study and the S/U option are not acceptable. Transfer students who minor in history must take at least nine hours of history at UF.

        A new interdisciplinary minor in medieval and early modern studies focuses on medieval and early modern European culture and its influences on the modern world. Students acquire historical perspectives that can contrib-ute to current discussions about ethnicity and nationality, colonialism, technologies and their effects, gender and sexuality and the characteristics of historical and fictional narratives.

        At least half of the 18 hours must be taken at the 3-4000 level, with at least one 3-credit, 4000-level course. An additional requirement is completion of a 2000-level foreign language course (3 hours). A list of courses and additional information is available from Dr. Will Hasty, Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies, 254 Dauer, 392-2101.

        OVERSEAS STUDY: The department regularly con-ducts a summer history seminar at Cambridge University in England. The program provides nine credits at the 3000 level, meets UF summer residency requirements and applies to the Gordon Rule. The six-week seminar varies each year in content. Past seminars have had the following topics: England in Crisis: The Age of Shake-speare; Victorian Britain; Britain in the 20th Century. Information is available from the department or the UF International Center, 123 Grinter.

        NOTE: Read the Academic Advising section of this catalog regarding the Gordon Rule communication and computation requirement. Many general education courses qualify; check the schedule of courses. Six gen-eral education credits must be international/diversity (I).
 
 
FRESHMAN YEAR
Semester 1 - Fall Credits
One 2000-level (or above) history course 3
Composition 3
Foreign Language 4-5
Mathematics (GE) 3
Total
13-14
Semester 2 - Spring Credits
Foreign Language 3-5
Social & Behavioral Sciences (GE) 3
Physical & Biological Sciences Lab (GE) 1
Electives 6
Total
13-15
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Semester 3 - Fall Credits
One 2000-level (or above) history course 3
Social & Behavioral Sciences (GE) 3
Physical & Biological Sciences (GE) 3
Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) 6
Total
15

 
 

Critical Tracking Criteria:
• Complete at least one history course by end of semes-ter 3
 
 
 
Semester 4 - Spring Credits
One 3000-level (or above) history course 3
Mathematics (GE) 3
Physical & Biological Science (GE) 3
Electives 6
Total
15

 
Critical Tracking Criteria:
• 2.0 cumulative UF GPA
• Two history courses (2.5 GPA or better in these track-ing courses) by end of semester 4
 
 
 
JUNIOR YEAR
Semester 5 - Fall Credits
Two history courses (3000-level or above) 6
History 3930 Junior Seminar  3
Social & Behavioral Science (GE) 3
Composition 3
Total
15

 
Critical Tracking Criteria:
• Complete tracking criteria for semesters 1-4
• Complete another history course (3000- or above)
• GPA of 2.5 or better in courses listed as critical track-ing criteria in semesters 1-4
 
 

 
 
 
  

 
Semester 6 - Spring Credits
History courses (3000-level or above) 
 (includes junior seminar if not taken)

6
Electives (3000-level or above, not in major) 6
Physical & Biological Sciences 3
Total
15

 
 

SENIOR YEAR

Semester 7 - Fall Credits
Two history courses (3000-level or above) 6
HIS 4970 (if honors candidate) 2
Electives (6 credits at 3000-level or above, not in major) 6-8
Total
14-16
Semester 8 - Spring Credits
Two history courses (3000-level or above) 6
HIS 4970 (if honors candidate) 2
Electives (6 credits at 3000-level or above, not in major) 6-8
Total
14-16

 
 
        NOTE: Students with AP credit should not take any 2000-level courses in American or European history; proceed to the 3000 level. Generally, only 2000-level classes are offered in the summer.

        History majors should consider study abroad, which often offers courses in a single subject. Plan ahead for study abroad by adjusting the timetable of general educa-tion requirements.