These are the history major requirements for students who officially declared their major before September 1, 2006. Students must have gone through the entire declaration process, with a history major on their transcript (not simply on a Penn InTouch workheet), by that date.
Students who did not have a history major on their transcript as of September 1, 2006 will complete the current major requirements.
Please read this entire page because it contains important information regarding requirements to graduate as a History Major from the University of Pennsylvania.
Core Requirements (must be fulfilled in the Penn Department of History)
To graduate with a Penn B.A. in History you must take 12 courses, including the following core requirements.
A. 1 must be in World History; 1 in European; 1 in American (see concentration links below)
B. 2 must deal with the period pre-1800 (may be taken abroad)
C. 2 must be History 200 seminars (all 200-level courses, and upper-level SEM courses)
Eight (8) courses (including requirements A, B, and C) must be selected from the offerings of the Penn Department of History.
All students must also have a concentration in the major consisting of at least 6 courses: 4 of these courses, including at least one seminar, must be at the 200 level or above.
Regional Concentrations
Thematic Concentrations
Students in the regional concentrations may take up to 2 major-related courses; in the thematic concentrations, up to 4. All major-related courses must be approved in writing by your faculty advisor. You may petition the department for an individualized major.
You may change your concentration at any time. E-mail the Undergraduate Advisor, saying what you would like your concentration to be and who your current faculty advisor is. You may need to change advisors. If you need help finding a new advisor for your new concentration, please see the Undergraduate Advisor during walk-in hours.
Occasionally, students fulfill the requirements in two concentrations. However, only one concentration will appear on your diploma.
See also: Past courses organized by concentration.
Additional Considerations
Only four (4) courses may be taken outside the Penn Department of History.
These may include:
- One AP credit
- Courses of significant historical content above the introductory level from other departments at Penn (the major-related courses)
- Transfer credits from other institutions (including study abroad)
Major-related courses must be approved by your faculty advisor and should be documented (i.e. noted by the advisor on your worksheet).
'Writing About' Courses (HIST 009) may not satisfy any requirements in the major; they may only serve as electives.
Double Majors
It is up to each department to decide how many courses it will accept from outside its own offerings. In History, the limit is four (4) courses, no matter what their origin. So a student can double count NO MORE than four courses, and those courses MUST meet the other criteria for acceptability for the major.
Study abroad courses and transfer credits are not approved for the core requirements for a history major. The College Office provides general information on majoring in the School of Arts and Sciences, including deadlines and double majors.
Independent Studies
Students may arrange independent studies for course credit with the sponsorship of a faculty member. The major advisor and/or the Undergraduate Chair has discretion to limit the number of independent studies undertaken. Under no circumstances may an independent study substitute for a seminar required for the major.
Fill out your own worksheet using Penn InTouch.
Special Notes
Ancient History: All courses taken in the Ancient History Department (ANCH) at Penn will be considered equivalent to history courses taken "within the Department."
College of General Studies (CGS): All CGS history courses are considered equivalent to College History courses and counted as courses taken "within the Department."
