Curriculum Overview
History
A major in History provides students with a broad understanding of long-term historical trends in introductory-level courses; an in-depth knowledge of regions, countries and issues at the 300-level; an appreciation for historiography and understanding of the approaches that historians take to the study of history in the methodology course; and guidance in applying all three components of the major, as well as hone their research, presentation and writing skills at the 400-level. The History Department is committed to ensuring that its students emerge from Franklin & Marshall with a well-rounded History education that incorporates strong emphasis on regional distribution. It is also committed to the goals of internationalizing the curriculum and to this end encourages its majors and minors to study foreign languages and pursue academic work off campus and particularly abroad.
A major in History consists of 10 courses: These courses must include HIS 360 (History Workshop: Methods and Practice), which should be taken no earlier than spring of the sophomore year and no later than fall of the senior year; two seminars or one seminar and one Independent Study Course (HIS 490) taken during the junior and senior years; and at least three additional courses at the 300- level, only one of which may be a Directed Readings Course (HIS 390). A student may count one course taken outside of the department towards the major in history with prior approval by his/her adviser. This course must be at the 300- or 400-level and complement the student’s course of study. It cannot substitute for a seminar. History majors must fulfill a distributional requirement by taking two courses in each of the following areas—United States (designated U), European (designated E) and World (Latin American, African and Asian) history (designated WH) — two of which must be designated pre-modern (designated PM). In most cases, majors must take at least five history courses at Franklin & Marshall.
A minor in History consists of at least six courses. These courses must include HIS 360 (History Workshop: Methods and Practice), which should be taken no earlier than spring of the sophomore year and no later than fall of the senior year; one seminar; and two additional courses at the 300-level. History minors must fulfill a distributional requirement by taking one course in two of the following areas — United States (U), European (E) and World (Latin American, African and Asian) history (WH) — one of which must be designated pre-modern (PM). In most cases, minors must take at least four history courses at Franklin & Marshall.
Students should consult with their academic adviser or the History Department Chair for questions concerning requirements for the major/minor.
The writing requirement in the History Major is met by completion of the normal courses required for the major.
History majors are advised that command of at least one foreign language is important for those who plan to do graduate work in history.
Majors in the Department of History are strongly encouraged to study off-campus and abroad because personal familiarity with foreign cultures is increasingly useful in an ever more interconnected world. Students interested in off-campus study should meet with their academic adviser or the History Department chairperson as early as possible. Typically, students will receive History credit at the 200- or 300-level for courses that they take abroad; these courses will often fulfill other distributional requirements in the Pre-modern, European, or World areas and credit transfer for these courses is very easily accomplished. Those students considering study abroad during their junior year are strongly urged to take the History Workshop (HIS 360) by the second semester of their sophomore year at the College.
