Overview

History is the systematic study of the past. The study of history includes training in how to gather information, how to research issues and problems, how to analyze data and construct arguments, and how to communicate ideas in writing. These are essential skills, tools that are prized in the world beyond the university. A major in history is an excellent beginning and solid stepping stone to professional school and the business world. For goals ranging from law to journalism, and from medicine to the MBA, history serves as a versatile undergraduate major. Multinational businesses demand that their executives understand the peoples and cultures around them, and be able to communicate that understanding effectively. If an occupation demands critical thinking and analysis, a background in history is invaluable.

Educational Objectives

All history courses expose students to historical interpretation and critical analysis.

  • Courses at the 100 and 200 levels are intended as introductions to broad fields of history and are open to students with no previous college-level history experience.
  • All 300 level history courses are writing intensive, are graded principally through essay examinations and short papers, and count toward the fulfillment of the University of Miami writing across the curriculum requirement.
  • Courses at the 500 level require a 300 level history course as prerequisite. All 500 level courses deal extensively with the historiography of their particular subjects, and all require a written research project as a major component of the work of the course. 

  • Since all History courses at the 300-level and higher are officially designated as "Writing" courses, History majors will automatically fulfill the College of Arts & Sciences's Advanced Writing and Communication requirement by completing the major.

Curriculum Requirements

Required Courses 1
HIS Courses 300 Level or Higher9
Two Additional Courses6
Total Credit Hours15
1

These credit hours may include history courses taken for general distribution requirements, and must include at least 9 credit hours at the 300 level or above. 

*

A grade of C- or above in each course and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 are required in all history courses.