Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in History
Program Learning Outcomes for the BA Degree with a Major in History
Upon completing the BA degree with a major in History, students will be able to:
- Identify and connect the ways that people, ideas, commodities, and technologies have circulated across the range of geographic regions and historical periods.
- Apply historical questions to concrete cases and demonstrate analytical skills through the use of historical evidence, rigorous logic, and persuasive argument.
- Exhibit a solid understanding of historical methodologies and research skills, including the careful and creative use of primary and secondary sources that are read critically and weighed carefully as historical evidence.
- Demonstrate an awareness of the scholarly literature on a given research topic and identify the position of their research within that literature.
- Exhibit mastery in writing persuasive and analytical prose following the conventions of the discipline.
Requirements for the BA Degree with a Major in History
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in History must complete:
- A minimum of 10 courses (30 credit hours) to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 6 courses (18 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
- A maximum of 4 courses (12 credit hours) from study abroad or transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
- A minimum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) from departmental course offerings of 400-level seminars.
Some foreign language proficiency is desirable and the department highly recommends that students contemplating graduate work in history study at least one foreign language in some depth.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in History | 30 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BA Degree with a Major in History | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| Premodern Field | ||
| Select at least 1 course from the Premodern field (see course list below) 1, 4 | 3 | |
| Geographical Fields | ||
| Select at least 1 course from at least 3 of the following 7 geographical fields (see course lists below): 1, 4 | 6-9 | |
Europe and Russia | ||
Northern America | ||
Africa | ||
Asia and Oceania | ||
Latin America and the Caribbean | ||
Middle East | ||
Transnational, Transregional, Comparative, World | ||
| Thematic Field | ||
| Select at least 1 course from the Thematic field (see course list below) 1, 4 | 3 | |
| Seminars | ||
| Select 2 seminar courses from departmental (HIST) course offerings at the 400-level. 1, 2, 3 | 6 | |
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Select 3-4 elective courses from departmental (HIST) course offerings. 1, 3, 4 | 9-12 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in History | 30 | |
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | 59 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 31 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Note: University Graduation Requirements include 31 credit hours, comprised of Distribution Requirements (Groups I, II, and III), FWIS, and LPAP coursework. In some instances, courses satisfying FWIS or distribution requirements may additionally meet other requirements, such as the Analyzing Diversity (AD) requirement, or some of the student’s declared major, minor, or certificate requirements. Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements include general electives, coursework completed as upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), and/or any other additional academic program requirements. |
| 1 | Of the 10 courses (30 credit hours) required for the major, a minimum of 6 courses (18 credit hours) must be selected from departmental (HIST) course offerings. |
| 2 | Any departmental (HIST) course offerings between HIST 400 and HIST 499, with the exception of HIST 403 and HIST 404, will fulfill the Seminar Requirement. |
| 3 | Transfer credit received via the articulation of approved exam credit such as Advanced Placement (AP) credit, International Baccalaureate (IB) credit, or A-level credit (for HIST 103, HIST 105, HIST 107) will not be considered towards major requirements. HIST 403 and HIST 404 do not fulfill History major requirements as Electives or as Seminar. Additionally, students may take HIST 390 only once to fulfill History major requirements. |
| 4 | A single course may be used to fulfill both the Premodern and one other field (geographical fields or Thematic), or a single course may be used to fulfill both the Thematic and one other field (geographical fields or Premodern). However, if a student uses one single course to fulfill more than one field, then an additional Elective course (minimum of 3 credit hours) will be required. Therefore, for students using a single course to fulfill more than one field, a total of 4 courses (12 credit hours) of Core Requirements and 4 courses (12 credit hours) of Elective Requirements would be required, rather than 5 courses (15 credit hours) of Core Requirements and 3 courses (9 credit hours) of Elective Requirements. All students must complete a minimum of 10 courses (30 credit hours) to fulfill major requirements; this condition must be fulfilled even if a student uses a single course to satisfy two of the three major requirements as described above. |
Course Lists to Satisfy Requirements
Premodern Field
Select at least 1 course (3 credit hours) from the Premodern field.
Premodern Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 101 | MODERN EUROPE, 1500-1789 | 3 |
| HIST 120 / MDEM 120 | MEDIEVAL CIVILIZATIONS | 3 |
| HIST 188 | THE ATLANTIC WORLD: ORIGINS TO THE AGE OF REVOLUTION | 3 |
| HIST 200 | ANCIENT EMPIRES: ORIGINS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATIONS | 3 |
| HIST 201 / RELI 203 | JUDAISM OF JESUS AND HILLEL | 3 |
| HIST 205 / MDEM 205 | MEDIEVAL MEDITERRANEAN WORLD | 3 |
| HIST 211 / MDEM 210 | MEDIEVAL VIOLENCE | 3 |
| HIST 222 | HISTORY OF EARLY AFRICA | 3 |
| HIST 226 | MESOAMERICAN MEXICO: FROM THE OLMECS TO THE AZTECS ON THE EVE OF TENOCHTITLAN'S FALL | 3 |
| HIST 260 | EARLY HISTORY OF SCIENCE | 3 |
| HIST 281 / MDEM 281 | GOLDEN AGE OF ISLAM | 3 |
| HIST 307 | IMPERIAL ROME FROM CAESAR TO DIOCLETIAN | 3 |
| HIST 308 / MDEM 308 | THE WORLD OF LATE ANTIQUITY | 3 |
| HIST 311 | SEX, GENDER, AND FAMILY IN EUROPE, 1300-1700 | 3 |
| HIST 316 | JEWS AND CHRISTIANS IN THE MEDIEVAL ISLAMIC WORLD | 3 |
| HIST 324 / MDEM 324 | CONFLICT AND COEXISTENCE IN MEDIEVAL SPAIN | 3 |
| HIST 327 / MDEM 327 | MEDIEVAL BORDERLANDS | 3 |
| HIST 357 / MDEM 357 | JEWS AND CHRISTIANS IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE | 3 |
| HIST 361 | HISTORY OF PREMODERN BRITAIN: TUDORS AND STUARTS, 1485 - 1707 | 3 |
| HIST 368 / ASIA 368 | THE AGE OF ISLAMIC EMPIRE | 3 |
| HIST 381 / RELI 385 | GOD, TIME AND HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 392 | PRE-MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT FROM CICERO TO LOCKE | 3 |
| HIST 401 | THE AGE OF ATTILA THE HUN | 3 |
| HIST 409 | MUSLIMS, JEWS, CHRISTIANS, HERETICS, AND PAGANS IN THE AGE OF THE CRUSADES | 3 |
| HIST 438 | THE MEDIEVAL CITY, 300-1500 | 3 |
| HIST 440 | GLOBAL RENAISSANCE, 1400-1700 | 3 |
Geographical Fields
Select at least 1 course (3 credit hours) from at least 3 of the following 7 geographical fields:
- Europe and Russia,
- Northern America,
- Africa,
- Asia and Oceania,
- Latin America and the Caribbean,
- Middle East,
- Transnational, Transregional, Comparative, World.
Europe and Russia Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 101 | MODERN EUROPE, 1500-1789 | 3 |
| HIST 102 | DEMOCRACY, POWER, AND INDUSTRY IN MODERN EUROPE SINCE THE FRENCH REVOLUTION | 3 |
| HIST 225 | EUROPE SINCE 1945 | 3 |
| HIST 256 | EUROPEAN POLITICS AND SOCIETY, 1890-1945 | 3 |
| HIST 257 | AUTHORITARIANISM: FROM THE EARLY MODERN ERA TO THE PRESENT | 3 |
| HIST 311 | SEX, GENDER, AND FAMILY IN EUROPE, 1300-1700 | 3 |
| HIST 324 / MDEM 324 | CONFLICT AND COEXISTENCE IN MEDIEVAL SPAIN | 3 |
| HIST 355 / GERM 345 | FROM DEMOCRACY TO DICTATORSHIP: GERMAN HISTORY, 1890-1945 | 3 |
| HIST 356 | AFTER NAZISM: GERMAN HISTORY, 1945 - PRESENT | 3 |
| HIST 357 / MDEM 357 | JEWS AND CHRISTIANS IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE | 3 |
| HIST 358 | HUMANITARIANISM FROM THE 19TH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT | 3 |
| HIST 361 | HISTORY OF PREMODERN BRITAIN: TUDORS AND STUARTS, 1485 - 1707 | 3 |
| HIST 370 | EUROPEAN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY: BACON TO HEGEL | 3 |
| HIST 372 | IMMIGRATION AND THE STATE: 19TH & 20TH CENTURY | 3 |
| HIST 373 | SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT IN 19TH CENTURY EUROPE | 3 |
| HIST 374 | JEWISH HISTORY, 1500-1948 | 3 |
| HIST 375 | EUROPEAN ROMANTICISM, 1750-1850 | 3 |
| HIST 392 | PRE-MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT FROM CICERO TO LOCKE | 3 |
| HIST 414 | WORLD WAR ONE IN EUROPE: ORIGINS, SOCIAL EFFECTS, POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES | 3 |
| HIST 438 | THE MEDIEVAL CITY, 300-1500 | 3 |
| HIST 459 | NAZISM AND THE HOLOCAUST | 3 |
Northern America Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 111 | RACE IN EARLY AMERICA: CREATING RACIAL IDENTITIES IN THE ERA OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION | 3 |
| HIST 117 | EARLY AMERICA TO THE CIVIL WAR | 3 |
| HIST 118 | THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE CIVIL WAR | 3 |
| HIST 202 | IMMIGRATION IN 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY UNITED STATES SOCIETY | 3 |
| HIST 208 | RACE AND MEDICINE IN AMERICAN HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 216 | BLACK LIFE IN THE NINETEENTH-CENTURY UNITED STATES | 3 |
| HIST 221 | UNITED STATES AND LATIN AMERICAN RELATIONS | 3 |
| HIST 239 | NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY: FROM EUROPEAN CONTACT TO THE ERA OF REMOVAL | 3 |
| HIST 246 | AMERICAN CIVIL WAR ERA | 3 |
| HIST 259 | US IN THE 1960s AND 70s | 3 |
| HIST 266 | SLAVERY AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS | 3 |
| HIST 291 | 20TH CENTURY AMERICAN PRESIDENTS | 3 |
| HIST 295 | THE AMERICAN SOUTH | 3 |
| HIST 301 | FIGHTING THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE | 3 |
| HIST 315 | BLACKS IN THE AMERICAS | 3 |
| HIST 319 | ATOMIC AMERICA | 3 |
| HIST 321 | US ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 330 | ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE AND THE ORIGINS OF AFRO AMERICA | 3 |
| HIST 332 | AMERICAN LEGAL HISTORY, 1863 TO THE PRESENT | 3 |
| HIST 338 / SWGS 338 | 19TH CENTURY WOMEN'S NARRATIVES | 3 |
| HIST 339 | HISTORY OF THE SLAVE EXPERIENCE | 3 |
| HIST 347 | BLACK AMERICA: FROM NADIR THROUGH THE GREAT DEPRESSION | 3 |
| HIST 348 | U.S. LAW AND TECHNOLOGY: INVENTION AND REGULATION | 3 |
| HIST 350 | AMERICA, 1900-1940 | 3 |
| HIST 351 | AMERICA SINCE 1945 | 3 |
| HIST 359 | THE UNITED STATES IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY WORLD | 3 |
| HIST 380 / ASIA 380 | ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 387 | THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLD: AGE OF EMPIRE AND REVOLUTION | 3 |
| HIST 395 | THE AMERICAN SOUTH | 3 |
| HIST 407 | THE RISE AND FALL OF SLAVERY IN THE ATLANTIC WORLD, 1791-1888 | 3 |
| HIST 416 | SEMINAR IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 421 | RACE, EDUCATION AND SOCIETY IN THE URBAN SOUTH | 3 |
| HIST 423 | AMERICAN RADICALS AND REFORMERS | 3 |
| HIST 426 | DISABILITY AND U.S. LAW | 3 |
| HIST 434 | MUSLIMS, AMERICA, AND ISLAMOPHOBIA | 3 |
| HIST 435 | SLAVE REBELLIONS IN THE ATLANTIC WORLD | 3 |
| HIST 436 | AMERICA IN THE MIDDLE EAST | 3 |
| HIST 464 | U.S. FOREIGN POLICY IN THE ERA OF THE COLD WAR | 3 |
| HIST 484 | THE BLACK CITY: AFRICAN AMERICAN URBAN LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
Africa Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 222 | HISTORY OF EARLY AFRICA | 3 |
| HIST 223 | HISTORY OF MODERN AFRICA | 3 |
| HIST 245 / AAAS 245 | RACE, RESISTANCE, AND REVOLUTION: BLACKS AND BLACKNESS IN THE MAKING OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBB | 3 |
| HIST 323 | HISTORY OF ATLANTIC AFRICA | 3 |
| HIST 343 | HISTORY OF AFRICA IN THE MUSEUM | 3 |
Asia and Oceania Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 212 | CONTEMPORARY CHINA | 3 |
| HIST 218 / ASIA 218 / FILM 218 | HISTORY THROUGH FILM IN EAST AND NORTHEAST ASIA | 3 |
| HIST 219 | GENGHIS KHAN AND THE EMPIRE OF THE MONGOLS | 3 |
| HIST 271 | HISTORY OF SOUTH ASIA | 3 |
| HIST 309 | CHINESE INTELLECTUAL HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 320 | IMPERIAL PLEASURE GARDENS, A WORLD HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 342 | MODERN CHINA | 3 |
| HIST 345 | THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES' ENGAGEMENT WITH ASIA, 1780 TO THE PRESENT | 3 |
| HIST 368 / ASIA 368 | THE AGE OF ISLAMIC EMPIRE | 3 |
| HIST 384 / ASIA 328 / SWGS 384 | MODERN GIRL AND ASIA IN THE WORLD | 3 |
| HIST 408 | THE JAPANESE EMPIRE | 3 |
| HIST 430 | HISTORIES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN ASIA | 3 |
| HIST 494 | RULING HINDUSTAN: THE TIMURID-MUGHAL KINGS OF INDIA | 3 |
Latin America and the Caribbean Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 176 | MEXICO: AN INTRODUCTION | 3 |
| HIST 220 | MEXICO: 1910 TO PRESENT | 3 |
| HIST 227 | LATIN AMERICAN CULTURAL TRADITIONS | 3 |
| HIST 228 | MODERN LATIN AMERICA | 3 |
| HIST 237 | RADICAL MOVEMENTS IN THE AMERICAS | 3 |
| HIST 251 / LALX 251 | CONTINUITIES AND CHANGES IN BRAZILIAN HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 312 | ENVIRONMENT, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN LATIN AMERICA | 3 |
| HIST 315 | BLACKS IN THE AMERICAS | 3 |
| HIST 328 | POVERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN LATIN AMERICA | 3 |
| HIST 330 | ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE AND THE ORIGINS OF AFRO AMERICA | 3 |
| HIST 331 | THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION | 3 |
| HIST 339 | HISTORY OF THE SLAVE EXPERIENCE | 3 |
| HIST 354 | RACE AND ETHNICITY IN LATIN AMERICA | 3 |
| HIST 366 / ARCH 366 | RIO DE JANEIRO: A SOCIAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 420 | MEXICAN HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 423 | AMERICAN RADICALS AND REFORMERS | 3 |
| HIST 478 | TOPICS IN LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY | 3 |
Middle East Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 112 | MODERN PALESTINIAN HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 213 | THE MIDDLE EAST FROM THE AGE OF MUHAMMAD TO THE ARAB SPRING | 3 |
| HIST 236 | STATE, SOCIETY, AND THE ECONOMY IN THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST | 3 |
| HIST 275 | MODERN MIDDLE EAST | 3 |
| HIST 281 / MDEM 281 | GOLDEN AGE OF ISLAM | 3 |
| HIST 311 | SEX, GENDER, AND FAMILY IN EUROPE, 1300-1700 | 3 |
| HIST 374 | JEWISH HISTORY, 1500-1948 | 3 |
| HIST 378 | MODERN ARAB HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 436 | AMERICA IN THE MIDDLE EAST | 3 |
| HIST 491 | COEXISTENCE AND SECTARIANISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST | 3 |
Transnational, Transregional, Comparative, World Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 108 | WORLD HISTORY SINCE 1492 | 3 |
| HIST 120 / MDEM 120 | MEDIEVAL CIVILIZATIONS | 3 |
| HIST 211 / MDEM 210 | MEDIEVAL VIOLENCE | 3 |
| HIST 215 | BLACKS IN THE AMERICAS | 3 |
| HIST 221 | UNITED STATES AND LATIN AMERICAN RELATIONS | 3 |
| HIST 244 | MUSEUMS IN WORLD HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 345 | THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES' ENGAGEMENT WITH ASIA, 1780 TO THE PRESENT | 3 |
| HIST 365 / ECON 365 | WORLD ECONOMIC HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 387 | THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLD: AGE OF EMPIRE AND REVOLUTION | 3 |
| HIST 406 | WORKERS' REVOLUTIONS, SUBALTERN SOLIDARITIES, AND THE MAKING OF EMANCIPATORY POLITICS | 3 |
| HIST 412 | EMPIRE AND INTERNATIONAL LAW | 3 |
| HIST 428 | MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING: GLOBAL AND LOCAL | 3 |
| HIST 429 | BORDERLANDS HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 435 | SLAVE REBELLIONS IN THE ATLANTIC WORLD | 3 |
| HIST 440 | GLOBAL RENAISSANCE, 1400-1700 | 3 |
| HIST 457 | FOUR MODERN REVOLUTIONS: 1776, 1789, 1917, 1989 | 3 |
| HIST 461 | THE SECOND WORLD WAR: A POLITICAL HISTORY | 3 |
Thematic
Select at least 1 course (3 credit hours) from the Thematic field.
Thematic Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 207 | SPATIAL HISTORY AND HISTORICAL GIS | 3 |
| HIST 210 | REMEMBERING PAINFUL PASTS: THE PRACTICE OF MEMORY AND PUBLIC HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 214 | THE HISTORY WARS: ARGUING OVER AMERICA'S ORIGINS | 3 |
| HIST 230 | SPORTS, EMPIRE AND NATION: THE HISTORY OF THE MODERN WORLD THROUGH SPORTS | 3 |
| HIST 243 | HISTORY OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES, FROM THE ANCIENT WORLD TO TODAY | 3 |
| HIST 244 | MUSEUMS IN WORLD HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 250 | MAPPING THE WORLD FROM PTOLEMY TO GOOGLE | 3 |
| HIST 260 | EARLY HISTORY OF SCIENCE | 3 |
| HIST 261 | HISTORY OF MODERN SCIENCE | 3 |
| HIST 305 | READING HISTORIES OF WORK | 3 |
| HIST 312 | ENVIRONMENT, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN LATIN AMERICA | 3 |
| HIST 314 | HISTORY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | 3 |
| HIST 319 | ATOMIC AMERICA | 3 |
| HIST 321 | US ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 325 | THE CENTURY OF THE GENE: HISTORY OF GENETICS AND EUGENICS | 3 |
| HIST 328 | POVERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN LATIN AMERICA | 3 |
| HIST 338 / SWGS 338 | 19TH CENTURY WOMEN'S NARRATIVES | 3 |
| HIST 340 / SWGS 345 | HISTORY OF FEMINISM | 3 |
| HIST 346 | COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY | 3 |
| HIST 348 | U.S. LAW AND TECHNOLOGY: INVENTION AND REGULATION | 3 |
| HIST 365 / ECON 365 | WORLD ECONOMIC HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 373 | SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT IN 19TH CENTURY EUROPE | 3 |
| HIST 381 / RELI 385 | GOD, TIME AND HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 391 | QUEER HISTORY | 3 |
| HIST 405 | DEMOCRACY AND CAPITALISM: THE HISTORICAL DEBATE FROM MARX TO TRUMP | 3 |
| HIST 412 | EMPIRE AND INTERNATIONAL LAW | 3 |
| HIST 413 | A HISTORY OF TRAVEL: FROM MEDIEVAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE HIPPIE TRAIL | 3 |
| HIST 426 | DISABILITY AND U.S. LAW | 3 |
| HIST 428 | MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING: GLOBAL AND LOCAL | 3 |
| HIST 445 | WRITING HISTORIES OF WORK | 3 |
| HIST 449 | LAW IN THE DIGITAL WORLD | 3 |
| HIST 455 | THE HISTORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS | 3 |
| HIST 457 | FOUR MODERN REVOLUTIONS: 1776, 1789, 1917, 1989 | 3 |
| HIST 470 | ENCOUNTERING THE ENVIRONMENT: CASE STUDIES FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO THE SPACE AGE | 3 |
| HIST 480 | HISTORY OF MEDICINE: FROM ART TO SCIENCE | 3 |
| HIST 499 | BLACK AT RICE: HISTORIES OF THE UNIVERSITY | 3 |
Policies for the BA Degree with a Major in History
Program Restrictions and Exclusions
Students pursuing the major in History should be aware of the following program restriction:
- As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, students may not major and minor in the same subject.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content). The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with the applicable transfer credit advisor as well as their academic program director when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the major in History should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:
- No more than 4 courses (12 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the major.
- Courses taken at another university, including online courses, must be equivalent in required reading, writing, research and testing, as well as classroom hours, of a Rice history course. Regarding subject matter, however, there does not have to be an equivalent course in the Rice history course offerings, unless the student seeks distribution credit.
- Rice students planning to study at a foreign university must also obtain pre-approval from the Rice Study Abroad Office.
-
Transfer credit received via the articulation of approved exam credit, such as Advanced Placement (AP) credit, International Baccalaureate (IB) credit, or A-level credit (for HIST 103, HIST 105, HIST 107) will not be considered towards major requirements.
Distribution Credit Information
The determination of distribution credit eligibility is done initially as part of the new course creation process. Additionally, as part of an annual roll call coordinated each Spring by the Office of the Registrar, course distribution credit eligibility is routinely reviewed and reaffirmed by the Dean’s Offices of each of the academic schools.
Faculty and leadership in the academic schools are responsible for ensuring that the courses identified as distribution-credit-eligible meet the criteria as set in the General Announcements. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet graduation requirements by completing coursework designated as distribution-credit-eligible at the time of course registration.
Distribution courses from History (HIST) are generally 100- and 200-level introductory courses that do not presuppose work in History or the Humanities.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the History website: https://history.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the BA Degree with a Major in History
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Departmental Honors Program in History
Qualified undergraduates may enroll for 6 semester credit hours of directed honors research and writing, completing an honors thesis in their senior year (these 6 credit hours are in addition to the 30 hours required for the major). Accepted students enroll in HIST 403 for 3 credit hours in the Fall of their senior year and in HIST 404 for 3 credit hours in the Spring of their senior year. Application to the program is required. For current procedures, see the department website. Financial assistance is available to conduct related research during the summer between the junior and senior year for all students accepted into the Departmental Honors Program.
Research Assistantships
The Department of History offers several paid Research Assistantships to give undergraduate students the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member and exercise their historical research skills.
Ira and Patricia Gruber Fund for Undergraduate Research
This fund supports, among other things, independent research projects carried out by history majors under the supervision of department faculty. Typical forms of support include reimbursements or advances for travel to an archive to do research or to a conference to present a paper.
Charles Garside, Jr. Prize in History
Awarded to a "distinguished student of history to honor the memory of Charles Garside, Jr.," a member of the Rice faculty from 1966-1987. The prize offers the winners time to broaden and deepen their education through travel and reflection.
Elizabeth A. Pyke Prize
Awarded to distinguished continuing undergraduate students of history to honor Elizabeth A. Pyke, sister of alumni James T. Pyke '97 and Carolyn S. Pyke '94, and her love of history, especially in the era between the American Civil War and World War II. The prize offers support for domestic or international travel, research, or other experiential learning and enrichment opportunities related to history.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the History website: https://history.rice.edu/.