History Major

Department Website

Welcome to the History major at the University at Albany.  The Department of History provides its students with a thorough education in history, seen from both social-scientific and humanistic perspectives, and in historical analysis. 

As a transfer student it is important for you to use your Degree Audit Report (DARS) to determine what you’ve already completed and what is left for you to finish at Albany.  As you do this, please consider the following information that we have found to be important to transfer students:

• Your history concentration will be in one of three areas: US, Europe, or World.  Declare one as soon as you know what you’d like to emphasize within the major.  Your concentration will help determine what courses you should take, so the sooner you decide on a concentration, the easier it will be for you to plan your course schedules. You'll still be able to take courses in other areas beyond your concentration, but most of your upper-level courses will be focused on the one geographical area you choose. 
• Declare your minor as soon as possible, since you must complete a minor for a bachelor's degree at UAlbany (unless you have more than one major).  If you are still unsure about what to choose, try taking an introductory class in a discipline you are considering—trying it out, so to speak, so you can make an informed decision later on.  For a list of minors and the course required to complete them click here.
• To declare your concentration and/or minor, please call Advisement Services at 518-442-3960.

Briefly, the History major consists of 36 credits, with a concentration in United States, Europe, or World History. 

• Nine (9) credits of foundational coursework: three 100-level surveys including one in US, one in Europe, and one in World History
• Fifteen (15) credits of coursework in the field of concentration: four 300-level courses, and one 200-level course
• Nine (9) credits of coursework outside the field of concentration: two 300-level courses, and one 200-level course
• Three (3) credits earned in the department’s capstone course, A His 489Z, the Senior Research Seminar

Students should take the nine credits of foundational coursework before taking courses at the 300 level. However, transfer students who have not already completed all of their foundational coursework at another institution may finish this during their first semester at UAlbany, while simultaneously beginning courses at the 200 and 300 level.  Nonetheless, it is important to move up to higher-level coursework progressively, and so lower-level and general education courses should be a priority during your first semester here.

The MAP (Major Academic Pathway) shows how the History major might be completed in four years.

Choosing courses: To obtain a fuller description of the history courses being offered in a given semester, visit the department's web site, click on “Courses” at the top of the page, and then click on the appropriate semester and year.  A Word document with course descriptions will open in a separate window.  Also, note that there is a great deal of helpful information on our Web site, including contact information for professors, information about the major and the department, a “Frequently Asked Questions” section for majors (click on “People and Programs,” then “Undergraduate Program”), and much more.

If you have any questions about the information that you see here, please contact Irene Andrea at iandrea@uamail.albany.edu.

ON-LINE REGISTRATION PROCESS

1.          Please complete and submit your Educational Plan as soon as possible, to maximize access to available seats.

2.          A member of the History faculty will review your Educational Plan, and will then contact you by email with comments or questions, advice about building your schedule, and an AVN that will allow you to register. 

3.          After you have registered, please contact that faculty member to make sure the schedule meets with approval, to get answers to any remaining questions, and for any final words of advice.