Group of students gathered on the steps of Voorhees Hall

Course Requirements


 Studying History at Coe

The history department allows students the opportunity to study history broadly, while also focusing on specific interests. Students learn how to express themselves, both orally and in writing, and, in the liberal arts tradition, are taught to learn quickly, communicate clearly, and build a rewarding career and life in their chosen field.

  • The History Major and Minor at Coe
  • Paths to the History Major

The History Major and Minor at Coe

History Major
1. Four courses in one of these two combinations:
HIS-115 The History of Western Civilization to 1500
HIS-125 The History of Western Civilization Since 1500
 HIS-145 History of the United States to 1865 or HIS-155 History of the United States Since 1865

One additional U.S. History course
or
HIS-145 History of the United States to 1865
HIS-155 History of the United States Since 1865
HIS-115 The History of Western Civilization to 1500 or HIS-125 The History of Western Civ. Since   1500
One additional European History course
2. HIS-205 The Historian’s Craft
3. One of the following:
HIS-136 East Asian Civilization
HIS-246 History of Modern China
HIS-256 History of Modern Japan
4. One of the following:
HIS-472 Seminar in American History I
HIS-473 Seminar in American History II
5. One of the following:
HIS-465 Seminar in Ancient History
HIS-466 Seminar in Modern East Asian History
HIS-474 Seminar in Modern European History
6. Three additional history courses

NOTE: With departmental approval, successful completion of the ACM Newberry Seminar: Research in the Humanities Program off-campus study experience may be used to satisfy either #4 or #5 above.

History Minor
One of the following combinations:
HIS-115 The History of Western Civilization to 1500
HIS-125 The History of Western Civilization Since 1500
One course in United States history
One course in Asian history
Two additional history courses approved by the department
or
HIS-145 History of the United States to 1865
HIS-155 History of the United States Since 1865
One course in European history
One course in Asian history
Two additional history courses approved by the department


Paths to the History Major

Click on the links below to view some examples of the paths a Coe student may take to graduate with a major in History.


Completing the Major: The "I Know I Want to Major in History" Plan

There are many ways to complete the history major at Coe efficiently and in four years. Here is one sample path of a typical student who arrives at Coe knowing that he or she wants to major in history. Students, of course, should always work closely with their advisers and members of the department to make the best course choices for their situation.

First Year:

  • History of Western Civilization to 1500 (Fall)
  • History of Western Civilization since 1500 (Spring)
  • An interesting elective of his or her choice (Fall or Spring)

Note: One could just as easily take the U.S. history survey courses in the first year and then take the Western Civilization surveys in the second. Students majoring in history are required to take three of the four Western Civilization and U.S. History surveys. If a student takes only one Western Civilization course, he or she takes an additional European history course; if a student takes only one U.S. history survey, he or she takes an additional U.S. history course. Please see the catalog or a department member, if you have any questions.

Second Year:

  • The Historian's Craft (Fall)
  • History of the United States to 1865 (Fall)
  • History of the United States since 1865 (Spring)
  • An Asian history course (Spring)

Third Year:

  • Seminar in American History or Seminar in European or Asian History (Fall or Spring)
  • An interesting elective course (Fall or Spring)

Note: The third, or junior, year is typically the year that students study off-campus and that can certainly be done while pursuing a history major at Coe. Even a full year of off-campus study is possible; the courses listed here would simply be moved to the fourth year.

Fourth Year:

  • A third interesting elective course (Fall or Spring)

Completing the Major: The "I Might Want to Major in History" Plan

There are many ways to complete the history major at Coe efficiently and in four years.  Here is one sample path of a typical student who arrives at Coe considering a major in history, but is not certain about it. In that case, sampling courses to try out the major is the best course of action. Students, of course, should always work closely with their advisers and members of the department to make the best course choices for their situation.

First Year:

  • History of Western Civilization to 1500 (Fall)
  • An interesting elective of his or her choice (Fall or Spring)
  • History of the United States since 1865 (Spring)

Note: Students majoring in history are required to take three of the four Western Civilization and U.S. History surveys. If a student takes only one Western Civilization course, he or she takes an additional European history course; if a student takes only one U.S. history survey, he or she takes an additional U.S. history course. Please see the catalog or a department member, if you have any questions.

Second Year:

  • The Historian's Craft (Fall)  
  • Note: Taking The Historian's Craft indicates that a student is quite sure that they wish to major in history. If the student is not certain, it can be delayed to the fall of the third year.
  • History of the United States to 1865 (Fall)
  • History of Western Civilization since 1500 (Spring)
  • An Asian history course (Spring)

Third Year:

  • Seminar in American History or Seminar in European or Asian History (Fall or Spring)  
  • Note: This course should be taken after completing The Historian's Craft.
  • An interesting elective course (Fall or Spring)

Note: The third, or junior, year is typically the year that students study off-campus and that can certainly be done while pursuing a history major at Coe. Even a full year of off-campus study is possible; the courses listed here would simply be moved to the fourth year.

Fourth Year:

  • A third interesting elective course (Fall or Spring)

Completing the Major: The "I Want to Major in History, but I Decided Late" Plan

There are many ways to complete the history major at Coe efficiently and in four years. Here is one sample path of a typical student who arrives at Coe not knowing that he or she wants to major in history, but then figures that out late in his or her sophomore year. In that case, courses are taken in a more compact schedule, but it is still entirely possible to complete the history major by the end of the fourth year. Students, of course, should always work closely with their advisers and members of the department to make the best course choices for their situation.

First Year:

  • I didn’t take any.

Second Year:

  • Again, I didn't take any.
  • Is it still possible to major in history in four years? YES!

Third Year:

  • The Historian's Craft (Fall)
  • History of Western Civilization to 1500 (Fall)
  • History of the United States to 1865 (Fall)
  • History of Western Civilization since 1500 (Spring)
  • History of the United States since 1865 (Spring)
  • An Asian history course (Spring)

Note: Students majoring in history are required to take three of the four Western Civilization and U.S. History surveys. If a student takes only one Western Civilization course, he or she takes an additional European history course; if a student takes only one U.S. history survey, he or she takes an additional U.S. history course. Please see the catalog or a department member, if you have any questions.

Note: The third, or junior, year is typically the year that students study off-campus and that can certainly be done while pursuing a history major at Coe. Even on this “late decision” plan, a student, working closely with his or her adviser, can figure out how to study off-campus and complete the major in four years.

Fourth Year:

  • Seminar in American History or Seminar in European or Asian History (Fall)
  • An interesting elective course (Fall)
  • A second interesting elective course (Fall)
  • A third interesting elective course (Spring)