History (BA)
This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2022–Spring 2023 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Bachelor of Arts in History
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: History
Academic Plan Code(s): See Track Requirements tab.
Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.
Program Information
The University of Louisville Department of History offers a comprehensive undergraduate program. Our course offerings include an extensive array of classes covering American, South American, European, African, South Asian, and Asian history. Courses are taught by an internationally recognized faculty. Students who choose to pursue a history major or minor receive extensive, one-on-one advising with the department's faculty.
Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.
Degree Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | 31 | |
| College/School Requirements | 22 | |
| Program/Major Requirements 1 | 39 | |
| Track Requirements | 29 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121 | |
| 1 | Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework. |
Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.
Accelerated BA/MA in History Program
History majors who are considering pursuing a master’s degree (MA) in History can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master's degree. Students accepted into the Accelerated BA-MA take three graduate courses (9 credit hours) as an undergraduate that apply toward both the bachelor’s degree and the eventual master's degree.
Interested students should apply to the program during their Junior year (i.e., when they have accumulated 60-90 hours of credit). Applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.35, a History GPA of 3.35, and meet all other requirements for admission to the History Department's Master of Arts program (including at least 21 hours of history courses).
Students must retain a 3.35 GPA in history during their senior year to remain in the program.
Departmental Admission Requirements
Admission to the BA in History requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on courses in the major.
The Application for Major form can be found on the Arts & Sciences Advising Center website.
Accelerated BA/MA in History Program
Interested students should apply for entry into the accelerated program no later than the end of their Junior year.
Interested students should:
- Complete an application for admission to the History Department's Master of Arts program (including GRE scores, transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose) no later than the end of their junior year.
- Have a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.35, a history GPA of 3.35, and meet all other requirements for admission to the History Department's Master of Arts program (including at least 21 hours of history courses).
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements * | 31 | |
| The following courses are required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education Requirement: | ||
| History of Civilizations I - SBH, D2 | ||
or HIST 102 | History of Civilizations II - SBH, D2 | |
or HIST 103 | The World Since 1900 - SBH, D2 | |
| American History I - D1, SBH | ||
or HIST 105 | American History II - SBH, D1 | |
| Courses above satisfy the SBH, D1 and D2 requirements; students will need to complete an additional course designated SB or SBH to complete the Social & Behavioral Sciences Requirement. | ||
*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
College/School Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Sciences Requirements | ||
| GEN 100 | Student Success Center First Year Experience | 1 |
| or GEN 101 | Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | |
| Foreign Language 1 | 12 | |
| Electives in Humanities or Natural Sciences 2 | 9 | |
| WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above 3 | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 22 | |
Program/Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Department of History | ||
| Take two (2) of the following courses: | 6 | |
| History of Civilizations I - SBH, D2 | ||
| History of Civilizations II - SBH, D2 | ||
or HIST 103 | The World Since 1900 - SBH, D2 | |
| American History I - D1, SBH | ||
| American History II - SBH, D1 | ||
| HIST 304 | Historical Methods - WR | 3 |
| Pre-Modern World 4 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Early Political Thought | ||
| Studies in History | ||
| Women in the Ancient World | ||
| Ancient Mediterranean World | ||
| The Ancient Near East | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| The Roman World | ||
| Introduction to Ancient Egypt. | ||
| Culture of the Ancient Near East | ||
| Greek and Roman Culture | ||
| Origins of Christianity | ||
| Medieval Europe I | ||
| Medieval Europe II | ||
| European Ideas and Ideologies: Selected Topics - WR | ||
| Islamic Middle East | ||
| The Origins of Islam | ||
| Russian History I | ||
| African History Before 1800 - D2, SBH | ||
| History of India | ||
| Traditional China | ||
| Research Seminar in World History - WR, CUE | ||
| The Americas (US, Caribbean/Latin America) 4 | ||
| Select three of the following. Courses must come from at least 2 fields: | 9 | |
| Modern Political Thought | ||
| Historical Geography of the United States | ||
| Studies in History | ||
| United States Economic History | ||
| History of US Foreign Relations I | ||
| Comparative Environmental History | ||
| History of US Foreign Relations II | ||
| United States Constitutional History I - WR | ||
| United States Constitutional History II - WR | ||
| African American Experience in Wartime | ||
| U.S. in the Sixties | ||
| African-American History I - D1, SBH | ||
| African-American History II - D1, SBH | ||
| Black Culture and U.S. Democracy | ||
| The History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1900 to Present | ||
| Modern American Social Movements | ||
| History of Childhood in America - D1, WR, SBH | ||
| American and U.S. Military History to 1877 | ||
| American and U.S. Military History Since 1877 | ||
| History of the New South | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Latin America, 1820 to Present | ||
| Women in Latin American History | ||
| History of Modern Science | ||
| Modern Jewish History: The 20th Century | ||
| The United States and the Middle East | ||
| Research Seminar in the Americas - CUE, WR | ||
| The World 4 | ||
| Select three of the following. Courses must come from at least 2 fields: | 9 | |
| Early Political Thought | ||
| Modern Political Thought | ||
| Europe from 1500 to the French Revolution | ||
| Europe from 1800 to the Present | ||
| Studies in History | ||
| The History of Women, 1700 to the Present | ||
| Women in the Ancient World | ||
| Ancient Mediterranean World | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| The Roman World | ||
| Culture of the Ancient Near East | ||
| Greek and Roman Culture | ||
| Origins of Christianity | ||
| Medieval Europe I | ||
| Medieval Europe II | ||
| Europe in the Sixteenth Century | ||
| Renaissance Culture | ||
| European Ideas and Ideologies: Selected Topics - WR | ||
| Islamic Middle East | ||
| Middle Eastern History, 1453 to the Present - WR | ||
| The Scientific Revolution | ||
| History of Modern Science | ||
| The Origins of Islam | ||
| Modern Jewish History: The 20th Century | ||
| The United States and the Middle East | ||
| Russian History I | ||
| Russian History II | ||
| English History: Tudor Age to Welfare State | ||
| British Imperialism | ||
| History of France, 1598-1799 | ||
| French Empire | ||
| Golden Age of Spain | ||
| War in the Modern Middle East - WR | ||
| The Ottoman Empire to 1800 | ||
| The Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey from 1800 - WR | ||
| Modern Culture | ||
| Russian Cultural History - WR | ||
| Modern Germany, 1848-1945: The Struggle for Unity | ||
| The Holocaust, Genocide, and Global Imagination - D2, SBH | ||
| History of India | ||
| Traditional China | ||
| Modern China | ||
| Modern Japan: Imperialism and Democracy | ||
| Research Seminar in World History - WR, CUE | ||
| History elective at the 300 level | 3 | |
| HIST 504 | Research Seminar in the Americas - CUE, WR | 3 |
| HIST 505 | Research Seminar in World History - WR, CUE | 3 |
| Minimum Total Hours | 39 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Track Requirements (see the Track Requirements tab) 5 | 29 | |
At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.
Once a student has declared a History major, the student must enroll in HIST 304 as 3 of the next 12 History credit hours. A grade of C or better must be earned in HIST 304.
Six hours of required 500-level history courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement) | ||
| Requirement fulfilled by completing one of the following: | ||
| Cooperative Internship in History - CUE | ||
| Research Seminar in the Americas - CUE, WR | ||
| Research Seminar in World History - WR, CUE | ||
| 1 | Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language |
| 2 | In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above |
| 3 | May be incorporated into other degree requirements |
| 4 | Courses numbered HIST 310, HIST 410, HIST 498, HIST 499, HIST 501, HIST 502, HIST 503 and HIST 540 may at times also fulfill area requirements; consult History Department |
| 5 | Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree. |
Tracks
Track in Humanities
Academic Plan Code(s): HISTBA_HUM
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Courses | ||
| HUM 590 | ST: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Humanities - WR | 3 |
| or HUM 595 | Principles of Cultural History - WR | |
| Electives in the Division of Humanities at the 300 level or above | 15 | |
| Minimum Electives | 11 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 29 | |
Track in Social Sciences
Academic Plan Code(s): HISTBA_SSC
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Courses | ||
| Electives in one department in the Social Sciences Division, other than History 1 | 6 | |
| Electives in a second department in the Social Sciences Division, other than History 1 | 6 | |
| Electives in Social Sciences Division, other than History, at the 300 level or above | 6 | |
| Minimum Electives | 11 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 29 | |
| 1 | In addition to courses counted toward General Education |
Flight Plan
Track in Humanities
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| GEN 100 or GEN 101 |
Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience |
1 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| HIST 101 |
History of Civilizations I - SBH, D2 |
3 |
| Foreign Language 1 | 4 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
| HIST 101 |
History of Civilizations I - SBH, D2 |
3 |
| Foreign Language 2 | 4 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences - SB | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences with Lab - S+SL or B | 4 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| HIST 304 | Historical Methods - WR | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 3 | 4 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| 300 Level History Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| History: The Americas Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| History: Premodern World Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| History: The World Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| History: The World Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| History: The World Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| History: The Americas Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| HIST 504 or HIST 505 |
Research Seminar in the Americas - CUE, WR |
3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIST 505 or HIST 504 |
Research Seminar in World History - WR, CUE |
3 |
| History: The Americas Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| ST: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Humanities - WR | ||
| Principles of Cultural History - WR | ||
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 122 | |
Track in Social Sciences
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| GEN 101 or GEN 100 |
Arts & Sciences First Year Experience or Student Success Center First Year Experience |
1 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| HIST 101 |
History of Civilizations I - SBH, D2 |
3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 1 | 4 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
| Foreign Language 2 | 4 | |
| HIST 101 |
History of Civilizations I - SBH, D2 |
3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Science with Lab - S+SL or B | 4 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| HIST 304 | Historical Methods - WR | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences - SB | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 3 | 4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| 300 level History Elective | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| Humanities or Natural Science Elective | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective (other than History) | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective (other than History) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| History: The Americas Area (300 level or higher) | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective (other than History at 300 level) | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective (other than History) | 3 | |
| Humanities or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| History: Premodern Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| History: The World Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective (other than History at 300 level) | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective (other than History) | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| History: The Americas Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| History: The World Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| History:The World Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| HIST 504 or HIST 505 |
Research Seminar in the Americas - CUE, WR |
3 |
| Humanities or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIST 505 or HIST 504 |
Research Seminar in World History - WR, CUE |
3 |
| History: The Americas Area (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 122 | |
Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan. What-if reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan. Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.
To create either report:
- Log into your ULink account.
- Click on the Academic Progress tile.
- Next, click on "View my Degree Audit" to run a Degree Audit report in the Undergraduate Advising area.
- To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
Click here to run a Degree Audit report, or create a What-if report.
Flight Planner
Based on your major, the Flight Planner tool may be available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan. The Flight Planner can be found in the ULink Student Center. Consult with your advisor for assistance with the Flight Planner.
