Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in History and a Major Concentration in History: International Concentration

Program Learning Outcomes for the BA Degree with a Major in History and an International Major Concentration

Upon completing the BA degree with a major in History, students will be able to:

  1. Identify and connect the ways that people, ideas, commodities, and technologies have circulated across the range of geographic regions and historical periods.
  2. Apply historical questions to concrete cases and demonstrate analytical skills through the use of historical evidence, rigorous logic, and persuasive argument.
  3. 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.
  4. Demonstrate an awareness of the scholarly literature on a given research topic and identify the position of their research within that literature.
  5. Exhibit mastery in writing persuasive and analytical prose following the conventions of the discipline.

Additionally, upon completing the BA degree with a major in History and a major concentration in History: International Concentration, students will be able to:

  1. Experience a different language and culture in situ.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to use a second language for research. 

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. 

In addition to the degree and major requirements, students following the major concentration in History: International Concentration will be required to: 

  • Complete a significant study abroad experience (such as those recommended by Rice's Office of International Programs).
  • Demonstrate research competence in a language other than English.

Students may demonstrate language competency in two ways. Students who pass a departmental language exam will be certified as having met the language requirement. Students who complete a history honors thesis or a 400-level seminar paper that draws on a significant number of non-English secondary or primary sources will also be certified as having met the stipulation. 

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

Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in History30
Total Credit Hours Required for the BA Degree with a Major in History120

Degree Requirements

Core Requirements
Premodern Field
Select at least 1 course from the Premodern field (see course list below) 1, 43
Geographical Fields
Select at least 1 course from at least 3 of the following 7 geographical fields (see course lists below): 1, 46-9
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, 43
Seminars
Select 2 seminar courses from departmental (HIST) course offerings at the 400-level. 1, 2, 36
Elective Requirements
Select 3-4 elective courses from departmental (HIST) course offerings. 1, 3, 49-12
Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in History30
Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements *59
University Graduation Requirements *31

Footnotes and Additional Information 

Course Lists to Satisfy Requirements

Premodern Field

Select at least 1 course (3 credit hours) from the Premodern field.

Premodern Courses  

HIST 101MODERN EUROPE, 1500-17893
HIST 120 / MDEM 120MEDIEVAL CIVILIZATIONS3
HIST 188THE ATLANTIC WORLD: ORIGINS TO THE AGE OF REVOLUTION3
HIST 200ANCIENT EMPIRES: ORIGINS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATIONS3
HIST 201 / RELI 203JUDAISM OF JESUS AND HILLEL3
HIST 205 / MDEM 205MEDIEVAL MEDITERRANEAN WORLD3
HIST 211 / MDEM 210MEDIEVAL VIOLENCE3
HIST 222HISTORY OF EARLY AFRICA3
HIST 226MESOAMERICAN MEXICO: FROM THE OLMECS TO THE AZTECS ON THE EVE OF TENOCHTITLAN'S FALL3
HIST 260EARLY HISTORY OF SCIENCE3
HIST 281 / MDEM 281GOLDEN AGE OF ISLAM3
HIST 307IMPERIAL ROME FROM CAESAR TO DIOCLETIAN3
HIST 308 / MDEM 308THE WORLD OF LATE ANTIQUITY3
HIST 311SEX, GENDER, AND FAMILY IN EUROPE, 1300-17003
HIST 316JEWS AND CHRISTIANS IN THE MEDIEVAL ISLAMIC WORLD3
HIST 324 / MDEM 324CONFLICT AND COEXISTENCE IN MEDIEVAL SPAIN3
HIST 327 / MDEM 327MEDIEVAL BORDERLANDS3
HIST 357 / MDEM 357JEWS AND CHRISTIANS IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE3
HIST 361HISTORY OF PREMODERN BRITAIN: TUDORS AND STUARTS, 1485 - 17073
HIST 368 / ASIA 368THE AGE OF ISLAMIC EMPIRE3
HIST 381 / RELI 385GOD, TIME AND HISTORY3
HIST 392PRE-MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT FROM CICERO TO LOCKE3
HIST 401THE AGE OF ATTILA THE HUN3
HIST 409MUSLIMS, JEWS, CHRISTIANS, HERETICS, AND PAGANS IN THE AGE OF THE CRUSADES3
HIST 438THE MEDIEVAL CITY, 300-15003
HIST 440GLOBAL RENAISSANCE, 1400-17003

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

HIST 101MODERN EUROPE, 1500-17893
HIST 102DEMOCRACY, POWER, AND INDUSTRY IN MODERN EUROPE SINCE THE FRENCH REVOLUTION3
HIST 225EUROPE SINCE 19453
HIST 256EUROPEAN POLITICS AND SOCIETY, 1890-19453
HIST 257AUTHORITARIANISM: FROM THE EARLY MODERN ERA TO THE PRESENT3
HIST 311SEX, GENDER, AND FAMILY IN EUROPE, 1300-17003
HIST 324 / MDEM 324CONFLICT AND COEXISTENCE IN MEDIEVAL SPAIN3
HIST 355 / GERM 345FROM DEMOCRACY TO DICTATORSHIP: GERMAN HISTORY, 1890-19453
HIST 356AFTER NAZISM: GERMAN HISTORY, 1945 - PRESENT3
HIST 357 / MDEM 357JEWS AND CHRISTIANS IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE3
HIST 358HUMANITARIANISM FROM THE 19TH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT3
HIST 361HISTORY OF PREMODERN BRITAIN: TUDORS AND STUARTS, 1485 - 17073
HIST 370EUROPEAN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY: BACON TO HEGEL3
HIST 372IMMIGRATION AND THE STATE: 19TH & 20TH CENTURY3
HIST 373SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT IN 19TH CENTURY EUROPE3
HIST 374JEWISH HISTORY, 1500-19483
HIST 375EUROPEAN ROMANTICISM, 1750-18503
HIST 392PRE-MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT FROM CICERO TO LOCKE3
HIST 414WORLD WAR ONE IN EUROPE: ORIGINS, SOCIAL EFFECTS, POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES3
HIST 438THE MEDIEVAL CITY, 300-15003
HIST 459NAZISM AND THE HOLOCAUST3

Northern America Courses 

HIST 111RACE IN EARLY AMERICA: CREATING RACIAL IDENTITIES IN THE ERA OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION3
HIST 117EARLY AMERICA TO THE CIVIL WAR3
HIST 118THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE CIVIL WAR3
HIST 202IMMIGRATION IN 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY UNITED STATES SOCIETY3
HIST 208RACE AND MEDICINE IN AMERICAN HISTORY3
HIST 216BLACK LIFE IN THE NINETEENTH-CENTURY UNITED STATES3
HIST 221UNITED STATES AND LATIN AMERICAN RELATIONS3
HIST 239NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY: FROM EUROPEAN CONTACT TO THE ERA OF REMOVAL3
HIST 246AMERICAN CIVIL WAR ERA3
HIST 259US IN THE 1960s AND 70s3
HIST 266SLAVERY AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS3
HIST 29120TH CENTURY AMERICAN PRESIDENTS3
HIST 295THE AMERICAN SOUTH3
HIST 301FIGHTING THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE3
HIST 315BLACKS IN THE AMERICAS3
HIST 319ATOMIC AMERICA3
HIST 321US ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY3
HIST 330ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE AND THE ORIGINS OF AFRO AMERICA3
HIST 332AMERICAN LEGAL HISTORY, 1863 TO THE PRESENT3
HIST 338 / SWGS 33819TH CENTURY WOMEN'S NARRATIVES3
HIST 339HISTORY OF THE SLAVE EXPERIENCE3
HIST 347BLACK AMERICA: FROM NADIR THROUGH THE GREAT DEPRESSION3
HIST 348U.S. LAW AND TECHNOLOGY: INVENTION AND REGULATION3
HIST 350AMERICA, 1900-19403
HIST 351AMERICA SINCE 19453
HIST 359THE UNITED STATES IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY WORLD3
HIST 380 / ASIA 380ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY3
HIST 387THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLD: AGE OF EMPIRE AND REVOLUTION3
HIST 395THE AMERICAN SOUTH3
HIST 407THE RISE AND FALL OF SLAVERY IN THE ATLANTIC WORLD, 1791-18883
HIST 416SEMINAR IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY3
HIST 421RACE, EDUCATION AND SOCIETY IN THE URBAN SOUTH3
HIST 423AMERICAN RADICALS AND REFORMERS3
HIST 426DISABILITY AND U.S. LAW3
HIST 434MUSLIMS, AMERICA, AND ISLAMOPHOBIA3
HIST 435SLAVE REBELLIONS IN THE ATLANTIC WORLD3
HIST 436AMERICA IN THE MIDDLE EAST3
HIST 464U.S. FOREIGN POLICY IN THE ERA OF THE COLD WAR3
HIST 484THE BLACK CITY: AFRICAN AMERICAN URBAN LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES3

Africa Courses

HIST 222HISTORY OF EARLY AFRICA3
HIST 223HISTORY OF MODERN AFRICA3
HIST 245 / AAAS 245RACE, RESISTANCE, AND REVOLUTION: BLACKS AND BLACKNESS IN THE MAKING OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBB3
HIST 323HISTORY OF ATLANTIC AFRICA3
HIST 343HISTORY OF AFRICA IN THE MUSEUM3

Asia and Oceania Courses

HIST 212CONTEMPORARY CHINA3
HIST 218 / ASIA 218 / FILM 218HISTORY THROUGH FILM IN EAST AND NORTHEAST ASIA3
HIST 219GENGHIS KHAN AND THE EMPIRE OF THE MONGOLS3
HIST 271HISTORY OF SOUTH ASIA3
HIST 309CHINESE INTELLECTUAL HISTORY3
HIST 320IMPERIAL PLEASURE GARDENS, A WORLD HISTORY3
HIST 342MODERN CHINA3
HIST 345THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES' ENGAGEMENT WITH ASIA, 1780 TO THE PRESENT3
HIST 368 / ASIA 368THE AGE OF ISLAMIC EMPIRE3
HIST 384 / ASIA 328 / SWGS 384MODERN GIRL AND ASIA IN THE WORLD3
HIST 408THE JAPANESE EMPIRE3
HIST 430HISTORIES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN ASIA3
HIST 494RULING HINDUSTAN: THE TIMURID-MUGHAL KINGS OF INDIA3

Latin America and the Caribbean Courses

HIST 176MEXICO: AN INTRODUCTION3
HIST 220MEXICO: 1910 TO PRESENT3
HIST 227LATIN AMERICAN CULTURAL TRADITIONS3
HIST 228MODERN LATIN AMERICA3
HIST 237RADICAL MOVEMENTS IN THE AMERICAS3
HIST 251 / LALX 251CONTINUITIES AND CHANGES IN BRAZILIAN HISTORY3
HIST 312ENVIRONMENT, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN LATIN AMERICA3
HIST 315BLACKS IN THE AMERICAS3
HIST 328POVERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN LATIN AMERICA3
HIST 330ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE AND THE ORIGINS OF AFRO AMERICA3
HIST 331THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION3
HIST 339HISTORY OF THE SLAVE EXPERIENCE3
HIST 354RACE AND ETHNICITY IN LATIN AMERICA3
HIST 366 / ARCH 366RIO DE JANEIRO: A SOCIAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY3
HIST 420MEXICAN HISTORY3
HIST 423AMERICAN RADICALS AND REFORMERS3
HIST 478TOPICS IN LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY3

Middle East Courses

HIST 112MODERN PALESTINIAN HISTORY3
HIST 213THE MIDDLE EAST FROM THE AGE OF MUHAMMAD TO THE ARAB SPRING3
HIST 236STATE, SOCIETY, AND THE ECONOMY IN THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST3
HIST 275MODERN MIDDLE EAST3
HIST 281 / MDEM 281GOLDEN AGE OF ISLAM3
HIST 311SEX, GENDER, AND FAMILY IN EUROPE, 1300-17003
HIST 374JEWISH HISTORY, 1500-19483
HIST 378MODERN ARAB HISTORY3
HIST 436AMERICA IN THE MIDDLE EAST3
HIST 491COEXISTENCE AND SECTARIANISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST3

Transnational, Transregional, Comparative, World Courses 

HIST 108WORLD HISTORY SINCE 14923
HIST 120 / MDEM 120MEDIEVAL CIVILIZATIONS3
HIST 211 / MDEM 210MEDIEVAL VIOLENCE3
HIST 215BLACKS IN THE AMERICAS3
HIST 221UNITED STATES AND LATIN AMERICAN RELATIONS3
HIST 244MUSEUMS IN WORLD HISTORY3
HIST 345THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES' ENGAGEMENT WITH ASIA, 1780 TO THE PRESENT3
HIST 365 / ECON 365WORLD ECONOMIC HISTORY3
HIST 387THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLD: AGE OF EMPIRE AND REVOLUTION3
HIST 406WORKERS' REVOLUTIONS, SUBALTERN SOLIDARITIES, AND THE MAKING OF EMANCIPATORY POLITICS3
HIST 412EMPIRE AND INTERNATIONAL LAW3
HIST 428MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING: GLOBAL AND LOCAL3
HIST 429BORDERLANDS HISTORY3
HIST 435SLAVE REBELLIONS IN THE ATLANTIC WORLD3
HIST 440GLOBAL RENAISSANCE, 1400-17003
HIST 457FOUR MODERN REVOLUTIONS: 1776, 1789, 1917, 19893
HIST 461THE SECOND WORLD WAR: A POLITICAL HISTORY3

Thematic

Select at least 1 course (3 credit hours) from the Thematic field.

Thematic Courses

HIST 207SPATIAL HISTORY AND HISTORICAL GIS3
HIST 210REMEMBERING PAINFUL PASTS: THE PRACTICE OF MEMORY AND PUBLIC HISTORY3
HIST 214THE HISTORY WARS: ARGUING OVER AMERICA'S ORIGINS3
HIST 230SPORTS, EMPIRE AND NATION: THE HISTORY OF THE MODERN WORLD THROUGH SPORTS3
HIST 243HISTORY OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES, FROM THE ANCIENT WORLD TO TODAY3
HIST 244MUSEUMS IN WORLD HISTORY3
HIST 250MAPPING THE WORLD FROM PTOLEMY TO GOOGLE3
HIST 260EARLY HISTORY OF SCIENCE3
HIST 261HISTORY OF MODERN SCIENCE3
HIST 305READING HISTORIES OF WORK3
HIST 312ENVIRONMENT, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN LATIN AMERICA3
HIST 314HISTORY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE3
HIST 319ATOMIC AMERICA3
HIST 321US ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY3
HIST 325THE CENTURY OF THE GENE: HISTORY OF GENETICS AND EUGENICS3
HIST 328POVERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN LATIN AMERICA3
HIST 338 / SWGS 33819TH CENTURY WOMEN'S NARRATIVES3
HIST 340 / SWGS 345HISTORY OF FEMINISM3
HIST 346COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY3
HIST 348U.S. LAW AND TECHNOLOGY: INVENTION AND REGULATION3
HIST 365 / ECON 365WORLD ECONOMIC HISTORY3
HIST 373SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT IN 19TH CENTURY EUROPE3
HIST 381 / RELI 385GOD, TIME AND HISTORY3
HIST 391QUEER HISTORY3
HIST 405DEMOCRACY AND CAPITALISM: THE HISTORICAL DEBATE FROM MARX TO TRUMP 3
HIST 412EMPIRE AND INTERNATIONAL LAW3
HIST 413A HISTORY OF TRAVEL: FROM MEDIEVAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE HIPPIE TRAIL3
HIST 426DISABILITY AND U.S. LAW3
HIST 428MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING: GLOBAL AND LOCAL3
HIST 445WRITING HISTORIES OF WORK3
HIST 449LAW IN THE DIGITAL WORLD3
HIST 455THE HISTORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS3
HIST 457FOUR MODERN REVOLUTIONS: 1776, 1789, 1917, 19893
HIST 470ENCOUNTERING THE ENVIRONMENT: CASE STUDIES FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO THE SPACE AGE3
HIST 480HISTORY OF MEDICINE: FROM ART TO SCIENCE3
HIST 499BLACK AT RICE: HISTORIES OF THE UNIVERSITY3

Policies for the BA Degree with a Major in History and an International Major Concentration

Program Restrictions and Exclusions

Students pursuing the major in History should be aware of the following program restriction:

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 and an International Major Concentration

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/.