B.A. or B.S. in History

So you've decided to become a history major? Great! We're happy to welcome you to our program. Studying the past in our department will open up a world of possibilities. You will gain new knowledge and new perspectives on life, and you will develop critical reading, analytical, writing, speaking and related skills that will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. Our major will deepen your understanding of the human experience across a wide sweep of times and places.

In the NIU history major, you will find a straightforward path to completing your NIU degree. To get started, you will need to consult with the advising staff in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to make sure you have completed the requirements for general education and for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science options. Your work in our department will be divided into three areas:

• Lower-division courses: You will complete two courses at the 100 level and two courses at the 200 level.
• Upper-division courses: You will complete seven courses at the 300 and 400 levels. Three of them will be in required areas, and four will be electives. The three required areas involve one course each in pre-modern history; modern history outside the U.S. and Europe; and modern U.S. and European history.
• Methods courses: You will complete two required courses that train you in the ways historians work. The first must be completed before taking the second:
  • HIST 395 Historical Methods - Introduces you to the discipline of history, how to read historical sources, conduct research and write as historians do.
  • HIST 495 Senior Thesis - You will pursue your own research project with about ten to fifteen other students, meeting regularly with your instructor and other faculty in your field. Your final paper will be an original and significant contribution to knowledge.

These are the basic requirements for the major. For more information, visit the undergraduate catalog. Be sure to see a history advisor and consult your faculty mentor regularly.