History Major Requirements

We believe a student's course of study should encourage discovery, reflect nterests, and prepare for career objectives.  There is no one right way to do history. Therefore our courses do not have prerequisites, which allows tremendous scheduling freedom.

Many history courses taken during a study abroad semester can be used to fulfill these requirements as well, making it easy to complete the major in a relatively short time, even if off campus. Please consult with the College History Advisor (historyadvise@unm.edu) to make sure you're able to get the kind of credit you need with external courses.

A History Major requires 4 lower-division courses (12 credit hours) and 8 upper-division courses (24 credit hours). 

 

Lower division requirements

Students must complete ONE SURVEY SERIES (two courses), and TWO OTHER COURSES (FOUR TOTAL), all from the following list:

  • HIST 1105: Making History
  • HIST 1110 / 1120: U.S. History I and II
  • HIST 1150 / 1160: Western Civilization I and II
  • HIST 1170 / 1180: Early and Modern Latin America
  • HIST 2110: Survey of New Mexico History
  • HIST 2255 / 2256 Traditional and Modern Eastern Civilizations

All the 1000-level HISTORY courses fulfil the UNM Gen Ed requirement (but HIST 2110 and 2255/56 do not).

 

Upper division requirements

Students must complete EIGHT upper-division courses, which include ALL courses at the 300 or 400 level. There is NO DISTINCTION in difficulty between 300 and 400 courses. 

As part of the EIGHT-course requirement, all students are required to take:

- HIST 491 (Historiography)

- HIST 492 (Senior Seminar). 

For a broad, liberal arts background, students are encouraged to take courses across several different geographical or chronological areas of interest.

 

Students may also choose to develop an area of concentration or select courses that will prepare them for graduate or professional school in a particular field. In consultation with a professor, students may undertake independent study (History 496), which gives them the opportunity to investigate a subject of their own choice, reading and holding discussions on an individual basis with the professor. 

Honors Program 

Our Honors Program allows students to work closely with a faculty advisor to research and write a senior thesis over two semesters. A great way to explore your own research interests and get advanced training in research methods and historical writing.

History Honors requires FOUR COURSES (all of which count toward the 8-course requirement for the major):

  • History 491 (Historiography),
  • History 492 (Senior Seminar)
  • History 493 (Reading and Research in Honors)
  • History 494 (Senior Thesis)

Shared Credit Program

Our Shared Credit Program allows outstanding students to take graduate seminars that count toward both their undergraduate and graduate degrees.