Concentrations

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin
The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

Art History

The art history major does not offer formal concentrations, but it does include five 300-level ARTH courses of your choice. We encourage you to talk with your art history advisor about how to use those choices to shape your major most closely to your interests and goals.

History

To concentrate or not to concentrate? 

The history major offers concentrations but does not require that you do a concentration. The classic history program without concentration is highly flexible and is often the best choice for students whose degree has a lot of other moving parts - for example, teaching licensure, a double major, the bachelor's to accelerated master's (BAM) program, or more than one minor. And all of the courses that are available in the concentrations are available to history majors who are not doing a concentration.

That said, if you do have the bandwidth for a concentration, a concentration can be a great way to signal on your diploma and resume that you have developed specialized knowledge and are particularly serious about an area of study. So talk with your history advisor about your interests and goals so you can make the best  choice about whether or not to declare a concentration, and if so, which one. 

Concentrations in the history major

Our concentrations are designed to fit within the 36-credits required for the history major (in other words, they are part of, not extra to, the credits needed for your major). Four pre-structured concentrations are available:

Digital History

In this concentration, students explore and develop skills in using digital methods for the research, analysis, and presentation of history. Students interested in graduate education or careers in the digital humanities and new media or in working with digital methods in museums, archives, and other public history institutions should consider this concentration.

Public History

In this concentration, students explore a variety of issues related to preserving historical materials and presenting historical information to a broader public. Students interested in graduate education in public history or in working in public history institutions such as museums, libraries, archives, and historic sites should consider this concentration.

Global History

In this concentration, students explore the interconnected histories of major world regions beyond the United States and Europe. Students interested in graduate education in global history or careers in government or business or with nongovernmental organizations or other employers operating in the international arena should consider this concentration. Students in the global history concentration are especially encouraged to study abroad as part of their undergraduate program.

U.S. History

In this concentration, students focus in-depth on the history of the United States while developing research and writing skills and completing at least one course in applied history. Students interested in law, government, and other career paths or in graduate education in U.S. history should consider this concentration.

Additionally, based on the approval of the undergraduate director, an Individualized concentration may be available.

Learn More

To view a summary of the requirements for the pre-structured concentrations, see our History BA Concentrations advising sheet.

To view detailed requirements information for each concentration, see our BA in History program page and scroll down to "Degree Requirements" and open the "Major with Concentration" section.

And again, talking with your academic advisor will be you best next step in weighing the pros and cons of declaring a concentration.