History, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor or Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in History
Studying History at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign will prepare you for informed participation in public life and wide array of career paths, including in law, government, public policy, business, film-making, teaching, advertising, public relations, social work, the media, publishing, diplomacy, and military intelligence. The requirement that every Illinois History major successfully complete a work of original historical research means that our graduates have a demonstrated capacity to think contextually, locate and analyze evidence, evaluate competing viewpoints, assess causation, offer new interpretations, and solve complex problems.
for the degree of Bachelor or Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in History
Departmental distinction: To be eligible for distinction, a student must be admitted to the Honors Program in History and complete its required coursework. Those admitted (ideally before the beginning of the junior year) must have earned at least a 3.5 GPA in History and a 3.25 GPA overall. They will then pursue a sequence consisting of HIST 498 , HIST 492 and successful completion of either:
- HIST 493 and HIST 499 in two consecutive semesters (in which case, the level of distinction awarded to student will be decided by the examining committee) OR
- The completion of two approved independent research projects under the supervision of two different advisors (HIST 490). (in which case, students will be eligible for an award of distinction only, but not high or highest distinction).
General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements including the campus general education language requirement.
Minimum required major course work: 36 hours of History courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum of 36 hours of History courses including: | ||
| Two introductory History courses at the 100 level (preliminary coursework) | 6 | |
| African, Asian, Global, Latin American, Middle Eastern History courses at the 200-level or above, at least 3 hours at the 300 level or above 1 | 6 | |
| European History courses at the 200-level or above, at least 3 hours at the 300 level or above 1 | 6 | |
| U.S. History courses at the 200-level or above, at least 3 hours at the 300 level or above. 3 hours must be in U.S. Minority History. 1 | 6 | |
| Hours of history electives (at the 200-level or above). NOTE: HIST 200 and HIST 498 are required. HIST 200 and HIST 498 may count toward any of the area requirements or the 12 hours of History electives. For those students in the Honors Program, HIST 490 or HIST 493 may count toward any of the area requirements or the 12 hours of History electives. HIST 492 and HIST 499 must be taken as part of the 12 hours of required History electives. | 12 | |
| Of the 36 hours of History courses, students must take 6 hours in a pre-modern period, one defined as before 1600 and one defined as before 1800 (HIST 100 and HIST 142 may not be used to fulfill this requirement). 1 | ||
| Total Hours required for graduation 2 | 120 | |
- 1
Chosen from the list maintained in the Department of History
- 2
Eighteen advanced hours (300- and 400-level) of History courses are required in the major. 12 of those 18 advanced hours must be taken on this campus.
for the degree of Bachelor or Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in History
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree General and Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Free elective course | 1 | HIST 100-level coursework | 3 |
| HIST 100-level coursework | 3 | AAGLAME 200-400 level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | HIST 200 | 3 |
| Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Language Other than English (4th level) | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| European History 200-400 level course | 3 | History elective 200-400 level course | 3 |
| U.S. History or U.S. Minority History 200-400 level course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| European History 300-400 level course | 3 | U.S. History or U.S. Minority History 300-400 level course | 3 |
| HIST 498 | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| AAGLAME 300-400 level course | 3 | History elective 200-400 level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor or Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in History
- Historical interpretation:
- Students will be able to connect past and present, demonstrating an understanding of ways that the past has shaped the world we live in today
- Students will be able to grasp the complexity of historical causation
- Students will have a broad and empathetic understanding of the commonalities and differences of the human experience, as influenced by factors such as culture, race, ethnicity, gender, and class in a matrix of time and place
- Students will be able to critically assess different sources of information and points of view
- Historical research:
- Students will be able to formulate historical questions
- Students will be able to locate, organize, analyze, and synthesize data to answer these questions
- Students will be able to craft original historical arguments
- Students will be able to position these arguments contextually
- Historical communication:
- Students will be able to express their ideas clearly, logically, and in evidence-based ways
- Students will be able to convey their ideas to different audiences
- Students will be able to evaluate, review, and edit historical writing and other forms of historical communication
for the degree of Bachelor or Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in History
History
History website
History faculty
History advising
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Overview of College Admissions & Requirements
College website