Page 145 of Boston College 2005-2006 University Catalog by Boston College University

Contacts Administrative Secretary: Colleen OReilly, 21 Campanella Way, 412E, 617-552-3802, colleen.oreilly@bc.edu Undergraduate Program Assistant: Karen Potterton, 21 Campanella Way, 412D, 617-552-2265, karen.potterton@bc.edu Graduate Program Assistant: Kristen Adrien, 21 Campanella Way, 412F, 617-552-3781, adrien@bc.edu Website: http://www.bc.edu/history/ Undergraduate Program Description The Department of History offers the undergraduate student a variety of courses in Medieval European, Early Modern and Modern European, Russian, East European, American, Latin American, Asian, Middle Eastern, and African history. With careful planning and the advice of faculty members, students can develop a sequence of courses that will prepare them for the fields of law, government, foreign service, and careers in various international organizations, journalism, business, or teaching at the elementary, secondary, or college levels. Major Requirements In addition to the two-semester University Core sequence in modern history (selected from courses numbered HS 001 through HS 094), a History major is required to take a two-semester sequence in American Civilization (HS 181-182). Students planning to major in history are strongly encouraged to take the History Core in their freshman year and American Civilization in their sophomore year. Note that a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement test in European history fulfills the two-semester University Core requirement in history, and a similar score on the A.P. test in American history fulfills the two-semester American Civilization requirement. In addition to the prescribed courses listed above, the History major is required to complete eight additional courses, including the following: HS 300 The Study and Writing of History (preferably taken in the sophomore or junior year); four other upper-division electives (numbered 200-699); and two courses in non-Western history. Note that some upper-division electives also satisfy the non-Western requirement. At least three of the electives including two of the upper-division electives should be in a field approved by the students History Department advisor. For a list of possible fields, consult the Departments website at http://www.bc.edu/history/. Students may take a maximum of four foreign-study courses, no more than two of which may be upper-division courses, among the ten required major courses beyond the University Core. Likewise a maximum of two summer courses may be taken for major credit, but at least six courses, including HS 300 and two of the upper-division courses, must be taken at Boston College during the regular academic year. (Students should also note that the College of Arts and Sciences accepts summer courses for credit only to make up deficiencies, so that even a course accepted to fulfill a History major or minor requirement will not reduce the thirty-eight courses required for the degree.) In order to facilitate the introduction of research techniques, the Department offers a variety of Readings and Research opportunities. These projects must be arranged between the individual student and professor. No more than two courses completed in this fashion will count toward the History major requirements. Minor Requirements The History minor requires six courses. It begins with the two Core courses in history and concludes with two upper-division electives (numbered 200-699). In between, students can choose two other courses freely from among the Departments offerings. Because the Core courses emphasize Europe, students minoring in history are encouraged to take at least one course in non-Western history. For classes prior to 2006, no more than six of the eighteen required credits can be satisfied through advanced placement. For classes of 2006 and later, advanced placement credit cannot be used to satisfy minor requirements. A maximum of two independent study courses (HS 699 Readings and Research) can count toward minor requirements. Information for First Year Majors and Non-Majors The University Core requirement is a two-semester sequence in modern history covering the period between the late Middle Ages and the present. All history courses numbered between HS 001-002 and HS 093-094 fulfill this requirement, but students must take one course on the first half of the modern period (late Middle Ages to the French Revolution) and one on the second (French Revolution to the present). All History Core courses cover a broad sweep of time. Because so much of modern history has been dominated by Europe and because Europe pioneered the crucial historical processes that the entire world has since experienced, courses focus particular attention on Europe. Nonetheless, each course also traces the changing patterns of interaction and domination that have characterized the relationship between Europe and the non-European world. As a result, the European history taught in the Core necessarily covers the startling economic, intellectual, political, and social changes that have come to shape not only the West but also the world as a whole. Each History Core course, although covering common themes and a common period of time, emphasizes the special interests and expertise of the professor. Since specialists in European, American, Latin American, African, and South and East Asian history teach in the Core, courses vary considerably in the material they cover. Students are urged to read the descriptions of each of the Departments Core offerings and predicate their choice based on the particular emphasis of each class. The following shared topics are covered in each History Core course: First semester: The Italian and Northern Renaissances; the Reformation and Counter-Reformation; exploration, trade, and slavery; the development of the bureaucratic state; international relations and warfare; the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment; the development of capitalism; political revolutions; and social structures and gender. Second semester: The legacy of the French Revolution; modern political ideologies; nationalism; modern thought and culture; the development of modern industry; imperialism, colonialism, and racism; the Russian Revolution and the World Wars; the Depression and Fascism; the Cold War and Decolonization; and social structures and gender. Because all of these courses are designed as thematic units, students should continue in the same class for the entire year, but upon completion of the first half of one course, students may enroll in another second-half course. In no case, however, will students be permitted to take the courses out of order. The first half must be completed before enrolling in the second. Students are strongly urged to fulfill the History Core requirement in their freshman year, or at the latest, during their 142 The Boston College Catalog 2005-2006 ARTS AND SCIENCES

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