哥伦比亚大学

The history curriculum covers most areas of the world and most periods of history. It encourages students to develop historical understanding in the widest sense of the word: a thorough empirical grasp along with the kind of analytical skills that come with a genuinely historical sensibility. This is done through two types of courses: lectures and seminars. Lectures range from broad surveys of the history of a place or period to more thematically oriented courses.

Major in History

Students must complete a minimum of nine courses in the department, of which four or more must be in an area of specialization. Students must fulfill a breadth requirement by taking three courses outside of their specialization.

The breadth requirement itself has two parts, time and space, which are explained below. Two of the courses taken in the major must be seminars, at least one of which must be in the area of specialization.

The requirements of the undergraduate program encourage students to do two things:

Develop a deeper knowledge of the history of a particular time and/or place. Students are required to complete a specialization by taking a number of courses in a single field of history of their own choosing. The field should be defined, in consultation with a member of UNDED, according to geographical, chronological, and/or thematic criteria
Gain a sense of the full scope of history as a discipline by taking a broad range of courses. Students must fulfill a breadth requirement by taking courses outside their own specialization, at least one course far removed in time and two removed in space.

Time: majors and concentrators must take at least one course removed in time from their specialization:
Space: majors must take at least two additional courses in regional fields not their own, meaning that the courses should cover regions removed from their chosen specialization

Thematic Specializations

Suitably focused thematic and cross-regional specializations are permitted and the breadth requirements for students interested in these topics are set in consultation with a member of UNDED. Classes are offered in fields including, but not limited to:

• Ancient history
• Medieval history
• Early modern European history
• Modern European history
• United States history
• Latin American and Caribbean history
• Middle Eastern history
• East Asian history
• South Asian history

Additionally, classes are offered in thematic and cross-regional fields which include, but are not limited to:

• Intellectual history
• Jewish history
• Women's history
• International history
• History of science

These fields are only examples. Students should work with a member of UNDED to craft a suitably focused specialization on the theme or field that interests them.