 |  |  |  |  |  |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Undergraduate History
Major |
UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES IN HISTORY History is one of the most popular and respected departments in Harpur College. The History Department offers a wide variety of courses taught by some of Binghamton University's top faculty, attracting thousands of students every year. Global Curriculum The History Department curriculum explores human societies over time and across the globe. History courses provide training in the methods of historical research; students hone skills in thinking critically, interpreting evidence, and writing effectively. About one-fourth of our course offerings are in U.S. history, one-fourth in European history, one-fourth in the history of the "non-Western" world, and the remainder in topics that cut across geographical boundaries such as women's history, imperialism, environmental history, the history of science and technology, world history, and comparative history. History courses fulfill a range of Harpur College and General Education distribution requirements. The History Department offers courses at the 100, 200, 300, and 400 level, as well as graduate seminars. 100-level courses are broad introductory surveys, primarily for freshmen, sophomores, and non-majors. 200-level courses are intermediate courses that are generally suitable for students at all levels. 300-level courses are more specialized and advanced. 400-level courses are intensive research seminars for juniors and seniors, usually limited to fifteen students. Classes can range in size from less than fifteen in an intimate seminar to around 30-40 in a lecture/discussion class to over two hundred in a large introductory lecture. The lecture courses usually have discussion sections of about twenty students, which meet separately and are led by graduate teaching assistants. The teaching assistants are chosen from among the most qualified graduate students in our M.A./Ph.D. program; they lead discussion sessions and assist with grading. Many of our graduate students, like our faculty, have won teaching awards. Award-Winning Faculty The history faculty has been recognized for excellence. Professors Melvyn Dubofsky, Kathryn Kish Sklar, and Richard Trexler are among the university's Distinguished Professors. Professors Howard Brown, Thomas Dublin, Melvyn Dubofsky, Sarah Elbert, Gerald Kadish, Robin Oggins, and Jean Quataert have received Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Professor Herbert Bix (who also teaches in the Sociology Department) won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize. Members of the faculty have garnered grants and fellowships from the American Philosophical Society, U.S. Department of Education, Ford Foundation, Freeman Foundation, Fulbright, Guggenheim Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Social Science Research Council, to name a few. The department faculty, moreover, has consistently rated well above the university average in student polls to evaluate teaching. Flexible Major and Minor The major requires a minimum of ten courses. For those who entered Binghamton University between the Fall 1995 semester and the Spring 2000 semester, the courses must include: (a) one European, one U.S., one in a third area, and one global or interregionally comparative; and (b) at least three 300- or 400-level courses, one of which must be taken at the 400-level. Students who entered Binghamton University from Fall 2000 to Spring 2002 must take (a) one European, one U.S., one in a third area, and one global or interregionally comparative; and (b) at least four 300- or 400-level courses, one of which must be taken at the 400-level. Students entering in Fall 2002 and thereafter have to take (a) one European, one U.S., one in a third area, and one global or interregionally comparative; and (b) at least five 300- or 400-level courses, one of which must be taken at the 400-level. All majors must choose additional courses to bring the total up to ten history courses. Undergraduate history majors serve as voting members on several departmental committees, including the Student Advisory Committee and the Undergraduate Committee. The two representatives elected by their peers to membership on the Undergraduate Committee also attend the meetings of the full department and have the same voting rights as faculty members. The Department also offers a minor, which requires six courses. The only distribution requirement for the minor is that one course must be taken at the 400-level and a second at the 300- or 400-level. Rigorous Honors Degree In order to earn an Honors degree in history, students usually write a substantial honors thesis, normally in the senior year, and fulfill certain other requirements. Another, less common option for Honors involves a comprehensive written examination in one selected field of historical study. Students with outstanding academic records are also invited to join our chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor society for students of history. Individualized Advising The Undergraduate
Advising Office of the History Department holds regular advising hours
throughout the academic year, and advisers are available for consultation
by declared and prospective majors and minors. Check the door of LT 712
for the current advising schedule. Notices for undergraduate students
are also posted on the two bulletin boards across from LT 710 and LT 712.
The telephone number for Undergraduate Advising is (607) 777-6716. Normally
no appointment is necessary during office hours. |
||
