History
The History Department curriculum explores human societies over time and across the globe. History courses provide training in the methods of historical research and allow students to hone skills in thinking critically, interpreting evidence and writing effectively. The program offers a balance between humanistic approaches to the study of the human experience and approaches based on the methods of the social and behavioral sciences.
History Department courses are offered at four levels.
• Introductory Courses: Courses on the 100 level; general introductions to and overviews of the history of a particular area or region (e.g. general views of European, United States, Islamic, Far Eastern, African and Latin American history). Open to all students (history majors and minors taking 100-level courses do so before their junior year). May be taken in any sequence.
• Intermediate Courses: Courses on the 200 level; more specialized analyses of eras and themes, suitable for students at all levels
• Advanced Courses: Courses on the 300 level; more advanced and specialized, with more difficult reading assignments. The normal prerequisite is junior standing; sophomores are admitted only by consent of the instructor.
• Research Seminars: Courses on the 400 level (with the exception of HIST 498 and 499); small intensive seminars in which a research paper is required. The normal prerequisite is junior standing.
Students planning to major or minor in history should consult, as early as possible, with the departmental director of undergraduate studies. History majors and minors should visit the director’s office whenever they need advice on their programs. The History Department does not require that majors or minors specialize or concentrate in any area, period or type of history. Some students, however, may wish to create an ad hoc concentration by taking several courses in one field, such as the United States, Europe, the Third World, ancient history, modern history or social and economic history. Those who do may seek advice from the director of undergraduate studies. The department accepts up to two history courses taken at other colleges in fulfillment of the requirements for the minor and up to four history courses taken at another college in fulfillment of the requirements for the major. The department does not accept advanced placement credit, CLEP credit or course credit by examination in fulfillment of the requirements for the major or the minor.
History Major
The Department of History requires for the major a minimum of 10 courses distributed as follows:
• four courses: one from each of the following areas:
— United States;
— Europe;
— a third area, e.g., Middle East, Asia, Africa, Latin America;
— world history or inter-regionally comparative history.
• at least five 300- or 400-level courses, one of which must be a research seminar (HIST 400 through 487A-Z). The research seminar may not be taken under the Pass/Fail option;
• at least one other history course. 100-level history courses do not count toward the major when taken by students in their junior and senior years. Furthermore, no more than four 100-level courses (including no more than two numbered 101,102, 103 or 104) may be counted toward the major.
No more than one course of HIST 397, Independent Study, may be used to satisfy the total requirements for the major. Only one course taken under the Pass/Fail option is credited to the major. HIST 395 does not count toward the major.
The History Department views the grade of D as passing but unsatisfactory. Courses passed with a grade of D do not fulfill requirements for the major.
Honors Program
The director of undergraduate studies administers the honors program offered by the Department of History. Candidates for honors must consult with the director and complete a form kept in the Harpur College Academic Advising Office.
To be eligible to earn honors, a history major must:
• have a GPA of 3.60 in history, not counting courses taken Pass/Fail;
• have taken at least one Senior Seminar in which the student earned a grade of A or A–.
Both of these conditions must be satisfied by the end of the student’s penultimate semester.
In addition, the student must either write an honors thesis or take a written comprehensive examination. Whichever of these options is chosen, the work must be judged worthy (of honors, high honors, or highest honors) by the faculty supervisor and one other member of the department (or a faculty member outside the department approved by the undergraduate director). In case of disagreement between the two readers, a third is designated by the undergraduate director. This work may be completed during the student’s last semester.
Thesis Option
The student must arrange with a faculty member in the History Department to supervise the research and writing of a thesis, and with a second member of the department to read the thesis. Students writing an honors thesis may (but are not required to) register for HIST 498 and 499. These courses may not be used to satisfy the history major requirement. For more information, the student should refer to the “Rules Governing the Preparation of Undergraduate Honors Theses,” available from the undergraduate director.
Examination Option
Students interested in this option choose a mentor from the faculty of the department and take courses on the advice of the mentor. Normally, students are expected to take at least four history courses in the area to be examined (e.g. ancient history, modern U.S. history, or East Asian history). The area is defined jointly by the mentor and the student. The mentor prepares and grades the examination, as does one other member of the department.
History Minor
The purpose of the history minor is to encourage students to supplement their major in another discipline with a coherent program in history. Each student develops a program to satisfy the minor requirements in consultation with the department’s advisers. The general requirements are:
• a minimum of six history courses (24 hours). No more than two courses numbered HIST 101, 102, 103 or 104, and no more than one independent study, may be counted. 100-level courses taken during the junior or senior year do not count toward the minor. Only one course taken under the Pass/Fail option is credited toward the minor;
• At least two 300- or 400-level courses, one of which must be a seminar (HIST 400 through HIST 487 A-Z). The seminar may not be taken under the Pass/Fail option. HIST 395 does not count toward the minor.
At least four of the courses in the history minor program must be in addition to history courses counted toward fulfillment of the student’s major. At least four of the six courses counting toward the minor must be taken at Binghamton University.
The History Department views the grade of D as passing but unsatisfactory. Courses passed with a grade of D do not fulfill requirements for the minor.