History students graduate as powerful thinkers, capable of synthesizing information and presenting compelling narratives and persuasive arguments. Whether examining archival records or collaborating on public history projects, students learn to connect historical insights to broader societal questions. 

The program emphasizes both intellectual depth and practical application. Experiential learning opportunities, such as contributing to our undergraduate research journal, holding internships, writing a senior thesis, and studying abroad, foster personal and intellectual growth. The History program builds skills that not only deepen historical analysis but also prepare students for an astonishing range of rewarding careers.   

The history major focuses on the development of three related skill sets critical to personal and professional success in today’s complex world:

WRITING

History is a writing-intensive discipline. Although assignments vary by course, faculty teach a set of critical skills and research techniques that will help them gather and analyze sources and then marshal the evidence in the presentation of coherent historical arguments.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Students learn to evaluate and synthesize course materials and bring critical engagement to both the classroom and written work. 

ORAL COMMUNICATION

The major places significant emphasis on effective oral communication and developing the ability to make cogent arguments and deploy evidence fairly and effectively. Students contribute actively in the classroom and hone their oral communication abilities through discussions, debates, role playing, and presentations. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR

All history majors must complete a minimum of 36 credits in history with minimum grades of C. History majors may enroll in a maximum of three history courses per semester.

Majors must take a minimum of 21 credits of history at UF.

Required Major Coursework 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
History Core Coursework
HIS 3942	History Practicum	3
AMH 4930 / AFH 4930 / ASH 4930 / EUH 4930 / HIS 4930 / LAH 4930 / WOH 4930	History Research Seminar 1	3
History Major Electives
3000/4000-level History courses		21
1000 to 4000-level History courses 2		9
Total Credits		36

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AMH 4930 / AFH 4930 / ASH 4930 / EUH 4930 / HIS 4930 / LAH 4930 / WOH 4930 is the capstone course of the major and normally taken in the senior year, although students who plan to write an honors thesis are encouraged to take the course as juniors. In this seminar, students produce a substantial research paper based on primary source research. Enrollment in the research seminar is restricted to majors. The History Research Seminar must be taken at UF.

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Within the major electives, students must meet the following regional distribution requirements:

• at least 9 credits (three courses) in American history (AMH) and European history (EUH), with at least one course in AMH, one course in EUH, and one course in AMH or EUH
• at least 9 credits (three courses) in AFH, ASH, LAH, or WOH, with a maximum of two courses under any one prefix.
• The history research seminar may count toward the regional distribution, depending on the prefix of the course taken (AFH, AMH, ASH, EUH, LAH, or WOH).

Only exam (AICE, AP, CLEP, or IB) credits with course equivalencies for UF courses count toward the requirements for the major and then only at the 2000 level. AMH L000, EUH L000, and WOH L000 do not count toward the major.

COMBINATION DEGREE PROGRAM

Majors who are interested in advanced training are encouraged to consider the 4/1 combination degree program.
More Info

RESEARCH

Majors are encouraged to consider advanced research opportunities in history. The department places special emphasis on participation in the History Honors Program.
More Info

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Students are advised to take HIS 3942 in their first year as a history major, and it must be taken no later than Semester 5.

Semester 1

• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

• Complete 1 history course at the 2000 level or above
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

• Complete 1 additional history course at the 2000 level or above with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

• Complete 1 additional history course at the 3000 level or above (recommended) with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

• By the end of semester 5, students must have completed 4 history courses: HIS 3942, two history courses at the 2000 level or above and one history course at the 3000 level or above
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 6

• Complete 1 distribution course (prefix of LAH, AFH, WOH, or ASH)
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 7

• Complete 1 distribution course (prefix of AMH or EUH)
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 8

• Complete XXX 4930 research seminar
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Students are expected to complete the Writing, Civic Literacy, summer enrollment, and Quest requirements while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S) as part of the CLAS Basic Distribution requirements. One of the two general education mathematics courses must be a pure math course.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences allows students additional flexibility in its Distribution Requirements. Students may count a maximum of 6 credits TOTAL from the CLAS Distribution course lists towards Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, or Biological and Physical Sciences, with no more than 3 credits of Humanities, 3 credits of Social and Behavioral Sciences, or 6 credits of Biological or Physical Sciences.

The full list of major-specific requirements for this major can be found on the Overview tab. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree requirements can be found on the College’s degree requirements page.

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester One		Credits
HIS 3942	History Practicum (Critical Tracking; recommended in the first year)	3
State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement		3
State Core Gen Ed Humanities		3
State Core Gen Ed Mathematics		3
CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 1		4-5
	Credits	16-17
Semester Two
History course (Critical Tracking; 2000 level or above)		3
Quest 1		3
State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences		3
Natural Science Laboratory 3		1
CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 1		3-5
	Credits	13-15
Semester Three
History course (Critical Tracking; 2000 level or above)		3
Quest 2		3
Gen Ed Physical Sciences		3
Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences; area not taken in semester two		3
Elective (or CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement if 4-3-3 language option) 1		3
	Credits	15
Semester Four
History course (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above)		3
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences		3
Gen Ed Mathematics		3
Electives		3
Gen Ed Humanities		3
	Credits	15
Semester Five
History courses (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above)		6
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences		3
Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement		3
Gen Ed Humanities		3
	Credits	15
Semester Six
History courses (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above)		6
Gen Ed Biological Sciences		3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		6
	Credits	15
Semester Seven
Select one:		3
AMH 4930	History Research Seminar: US (Critical Tracking)
AFH 4930	History Research Seminar: Africa (Critical Tracking)
ASH 4930	History Research Seminar: Asia (Critical Tracking)
EUH 4930	History Research Seminar: Europe (Critical Tracking)
HIS 4930	History Research Seminar (Critical Tracking)
LAH 4930	History Research Seminar: Latin America (Critical Tracking)
WOH 4930	History Research Seminar: World History (Critical Tracking)
HIS 4970	Senior Thesis (if honors candidate)	2
History course (3000 level or above; Critical Tracking)		3
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences		3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		6
	Credits	17
Semester Eight
HIS 4970	Senior Thesis (if honors candidate)	2
History courses (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above)		6
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		6
	Credits	14
	Total Credits	120

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CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement

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Degree Requirements

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The History major exposes students to key issues in the history of the United States, Europe and areas of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Students will develop the critical interpretative skills needed to assess both primary and secondary sources in the complex task of thinking about the past. Students will master a set of research skills that help them develop their own historical arguments. Significant emphasis is laid on effective written communication reflected in the cogency of arguments and use of evidence.

Before Graduating Students Must

• Complete the distribution requirements of the major (6 credits in AMH, 6 credits EUH, 6 credits in AFH, ASH or LAH) with minimum grades of C, as graded by department rubric.
• Complete HIS 3942 and HIS 4930 with minimum grades of C, as graded by department rubric.
• Complete 35 credits in history, including at least 26 at the 3000/4000 level, and all with minimum grades of C, as graded by department rubric.
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

1. Acquire and apply basic research skills learned through use of print and electronic resources of the library and web.

Critical Thinking

2. Critically assess and interpret primary and secondary sources.
3. Identify a historical research topic related to the focus of the research seminar, develop knowledge of the topic through research, and create historical arguments using evidence effectively with clear purpose.

Communication

4. Produce an effectively written analytical research paper based in research of primary sources, framed within the secondary literature and offering a coherent historical argument supported by evidence.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Academic Learning Compact 4

Courses	SLO 1	SLO 2	SLO 3	SLO 4
AFH, ASH, LAH 3000-4000 level (6 credits)	R	R	R	R
AMH 3000-4000 level (6 credits)	R	R	R	R
AFH, AMH, ASH, EUH, HIS, LAH, WOH 3000-4000 level (15 credits)	R	R	R	R
AFH 4930, AMH 4930, ASH 4930, EUH 4930, HIS 4930, LAH 4930: Senior Seminar	A	A	A	A
EUH 3000-4000 level (6 credits)	R	R	R	R
HIS 3942 History Practicum	I, A	I, A	I	I

Assessment Types

• Skills-set exam
• Capstone statement for final project

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