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Department of History

Undergraduate

Studying history gives you a window to the world. It makes you a critical thinker, gives you a well-informed lens for current events, and helps you understand other cultures on a deep level. When you study at the University of South Carolina you'll be exposed to amazing faculty, hands-on research, and study abroad options. 

Courses of Study

We offer both a B.A. and a minor course of study. You can find our course schedule and program descriptions in the academic bulletin. 

Undergraduate Concentrations

Undergraduate majors may declare a concentration within the major.  A "concentration" means that the student has taken four HIST courses beyond the 100-level in the area/topic.

A student may declare up to two concentrations (three with the permission of the department).

Choosing a concentration is not required for the major, but it is a great way to demonstrate that a student has specialized knowledge or background in a topic or geographical region.

Geographic and Subject Area Concentrations
  • Global History
  • Regional Concentrations (Africa, Europe, Latin America, Middle East/North Africa, United States, or U.S. South)
  • Subject Concentrations:

* African-American History
* Cultural History 
* Digital History and the Computer Age
* Gender and Women's History
* History of Religion
* History of Science, Technology, the Environment, and Medicine
* History of Slavery
* History of Social Justice and Humanitarianism
* Legal History
* Political History
* Public History
* Social History
* War, National Security, and International Relations 

Custom Concentrations

Students can develop a custom concentration upon discussion with the student’s advisor and the Department, dependent upon courses and faculty. Examples of custom concentrations would be Capitalism, Business, and Economic History; Christian, Islamic, or Jewish History and Culture; Media History; and Race and Ethnicity.

B.A with Distinction 

The Bachelor of Arts with Distinction for history majors requires a rigorous course of study above and beyond that required of a traditional history student.  

  • Maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA.
  • Maintain 3.6 major GPA.
  • Complete an additional 9 hours of history courses at the 200-level or higher (maximum of two 200-level courses may count toward the History major).
  • Notify the professor of your senior seminar or senior thesis in writing of your intention to pursue a degree “with distinction” and complete to the professor’s satisfaction the additional research necessary for work “with distinction”.
  • Publicly present your research project at Discovery Day.
  1. Fill out our online application.
  2. Print and sign a B.A. with Distinction contract [pdf]. 
  3. Print and sign a senior seminar thesis contract [pdf].

The senior seminar or senior thesis B.A. with Distinction contract should be signed by the student and thesis advisor/seminar instructor.

All contracts must be submitted to the History Undergraduate Coordinator in Gambrell Hall Rm# 245.

 

Personal Advising 

We have two dedicated student-services staff members in our department, Tyler Mcnamara and Jay Pou. They're happy to advise you on course and career advising, study abroad, internship opportunities, and anything else you need to make your time in the history department more rewarding. 

We also work hard to make sure all our students are able to take the classes that are interesting to them. If a class is full, you can fill out our seat availability form and be notified if a spot opens. 

 

Undergraduate Bulletin

Looking for more specific information, like what classes you'll need to take to graduate, learning outcomes, and which classes we offer? The academic bulletin is the university's official document of record concerning undergraduate-level academic programs and regulations. 

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