History

College: Liberal Arts and Sciences

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Hours for the Degree: 120

Specialization: History of Science, Technology and Medicine

Minor: Yes

Combined-Degree Program: Yes

Website: www.history.ufl.edu/undergraduate.htm

The history major focuses on the development of three related sets of skills.

• Writing: History is a writing-intensive discipline. Though assignments vary by course, students will be taught a set of critical skills and research techniques that will help them gather and analyze sources and then marshal the evidence in the presentation of coherent historical arguments.
• Reading: In the typical upper-division course, students read an average of 75 to 125 pages each week. Students will be expected to synthesize the material effectively and come to class ready to discuss the readings.
• Oral communication: Rather than merely recounting facts from readings and lectures, students will develop their own interpretations of historical events and ideas and discuss them with their peers and professor. They will be expected to contribute actively in the classroom and will on occasion lead discussions and give short reports.

Majors must complete a minimum of 35 semester hours in history (with grades of C or better). Of these, at least 27 hours must be at the 3000-4000 level. Majors are encouraged, but not required, to take a total of nine hours at the introductory 2000 level, including one course in American history (AMH), one course in European history (EUH), and one course in African, Asian or Latin American history (AFH, ASH, LAH courses).

Only exam (AP, IB) credits with course equivalencies at the University of Florida will count toward the requirements for the major and then only at the 2000 level. AMH 0301, EUH 0301 and WOH 0301 will not count toward the major. Courses used to meet the requirements of another major or minor may not be used toward a major in history.

There are two required courses for all majors. The History Practicum, a methodological introduction to the study of history, is to be taken as the first course of the major. The History Research Seminar is the capstone course of the major and is normally taken in the senior year though gifted students who plan to write a senior thesis may take the course as juniors. In this seminar, students will produce a substantial research paper. Enrollment for both courses is restricted to majors. Only in truly exceptional circumstances will the department permit a student to register more than once for the research seminar.

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.

History majors must take a minimum of 21 hours of history at the University of Florida.

• 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5

• Maintain 2.0 UF GPA

• Complete 1 history course with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking course work

• Complete 2 additional history courses with a 2.8 GPA on all critical-tracking course work

• Complete 1 additional history course (1 of the 4 courses must be at the 3000 level) with a 2.8 GPA on all critical-tracking course work
• Must have completed History Practicum

---

Semester 1	Credits
One history course (2000 level or above)	3
HIS 3953 History Practicum (students advised to complete first semester)	2
Composition	3
Foreign language	4-5
Mathematics (GE-M)	3
Total	15-16
Semester 2	Credits
Foreign language	3-5
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)	3
Biological Science (GE-B)	3
Science laboratory (GE-P or B)	1
Electives	6
Total	16-18
Semester 3	Credits
One history course (2000 level or above)	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)	3
Physical Science (GE-P)	3
Electives (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option)	6
Total	15
Semester 4	Credits
One history course (3000 level or above)	3
Mathematics (GE-M)	3
Physical Science (GE-P)	3
Electives	6
Total	15
Semester 5	Credits
Two history courses (3000 level or above)	6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)	3
Composition	3
Total	12
Semester 6	Credits
Two history courses (3000 level or above) (includes HIS 3930 if not taken)	6
Biological Science (GE-B)	3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)	6
Total	15
Semester 7	Credits
History research seminar	3
History course (3000 level or above)	3
HIS 4970 Senior Thesis (if honors candidate)	2
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)	6
Electives	3-0
Total	17-14
Semester 8	Credits
Two history courses (3000 level or above)	6
HIS 4970 Senior Thesis (if honors candidate)	2
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)	6
Electives	3-0
Total	17-14

Students who wish to concentrate in the history of science, technology and medicine should contact a faculty member in the field or discuss requirements with an adviser in that concentration.

Students must meet the following requirements:

• 35 hours minimum in the history of science program, 27 at the 3000-4000 level, including History Practicum and History Research Seminar.
• 18 hours in history of science, technology and medicine, including at least three in history of technology or history of medicine. These courses also meet the history of science requirement: AST 3043 (History of Astronomy), LIT 4431 (Literature of Science), PSY 4604 (History of Systems of Psychology) and MHF 4404 (History of Mathematics).
• Nine hours of science or mathematics that are listed as requirements for majors in that discipline.