Majors and Minors

Major / Minor Details

History (Major/ Minor) BA

  • History
  • School: SAS
  • Program Code: 510
  • Program Type: Minor, Major
  • Program Summary: The Department of History at Rutgers University–New Brunswick is dedicated to the close study and teaching of history from all periods and places. With over sixty members, the faculty boasts an international reputation for the quality of its scholarship, as evidenced by the many prestigious awards and fellowships earned by department members in recent years. The undergraduate program offers you a selection of courses that are unsurpassed by other major universities and provides opportunities for study in areas ranging from ancient China to contemporary America. Areas of specialization include topics such as oral history, public history, and media history. An honors program is also available to qualifying students.

  • History (510) majors may not minor in History- Law and History (518) or History – STEM in Society (519) minors.

  • We recommend that students register for approximately 15 credits each semester and no more than 16 credits in their first semester. Your schedule should be well-balanced and include coursework from a variety of subjects. A diverse schedule will help you begin your studies in potential majors and minors; explore a breadth of new knowledge across departments at Rutgers to meet SAS Core Curriculum learning goals; and survey broader academic interests through elective courses as you work to attain the required 120 degree credits for graduation.

    Your schedule will look something like this:

    College Writing or English course per placement results (3 credits)

    Major Exploration course (3-4 credits)

    Major or Minor Exploration course (3-4 credits)

    Course beyond main academic interest, such as SAS Core or elective course (3 credits)

    Course beyond main academic interest, such as SAS Core or elective course (3 credits)

     Byrne or First-Year Interest Group Seminar (FIGS) (1 credit) 

     Total Credits: 15-16

     

  • Introductory courses recommended by faculty. Include at least one of these in your schedule:

    Course Title

    Course Number

    Credits

    		 Subject on University Schedule of Classes

    Histories of the Pacific

    01:506:203

    3

    		 History - General/Comparative (506)

    Ancient and Medieval Europe

    01:510:101

    3

    		 History (510)

    Modern Africa

    01:508:222

    		 3 History- Africa, Asia, Latin America (508)
    WWII 01:512:242 3 History American (512)
    First-Year Interest Group (FIGS): Exploring History 01:090:120:88 1 Arts and Sciences (090)

     

  • Your first year of college is an opportunity for you to explore fields of interest to enhance your understanding of yourself, the world around you, and your main academic and career goals. Think of your schedule as including courses you must take (English, courses to explore potential majors, etc.) and courses you can take (everything else!) All courses are part of your degree - if necessary, review the components of the SAS degree on this page.

    Through these degree components, you will curate your own unique educational experience - but we understand that this level of flexibility and freedom can feel overwhelming for new students. Like a recommendation based on a book or TV show you enjoyed, the information below can help you identify related courses to consider in your first semester.

    Course Title

    Course Number

    Credits

    Subject on University Schedule of Classes
    World Prehistory 01:070:112 3 Anthropology (070)
    Any World Language   3-4 See Course Schedule Worksheet for languages offered

     

  • The Schedule of Classes provides information about the courses being offered in a particular semester. There are literally thousands of courses offered each semester at Rutgers, and you may find it helpful to narrow down your options by looking for courses in subjects related to your potential major or minor. Use the recommendations below to find possible introductory courses in other subjects.

    To find potential courses in other subjects related to this one:

    1. On the Schedule of Classes, select the current term, location "New Brunswick" and level "undergraduate". Click continue.
    2. In the Search By box, click the "search multiple subjects" link. Select the following departments:
      • American Studies (050)
      • Classics (190)
      • Latino and Hispanic Caribbean Studies (595) - also known as Latino and Caribbean Studies
      • Political Science (790)
      Students considering this discipline are strongly encouraged to also incorporate the study of a world language into their Rutgers degree. This can be starting anew language or continuing a language per your World Language placement test results!
    3. In Section Status, deselect Closed
    4. In Level of Study, deselect 300 and 400. In general, 100 and 200 are appropriate for first-year students, 300 and 400 are often more appropriate for students with more familiarity with the subject. If you are interested in registering for a 300 or 400 level course, consult with an advisor before registering.

    Review these courses for possible inclusion in your first-semester schedule, or to consider for future semesters.
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