Area of Concentration
Beginning with the fall semester of the
sophomore year, the student must select
at least one area of concentration and
work closely with the faculty expert in
the area. As a result of working within
a concentration, the student will also
be introduced to the major schools of thought
related to the area, the most recent research
in the area, and the most influential scholarship
in the area.
This goal is to be accomplished by taking
three courses in the area of concentration
with the distribution as follows:
- Two (2) Survey Courses (1 200 level,
two-semester sequence)
- One (1) Advanced Course
The possible areas of concentration are:
- Africa
- African America and U.S.
- Asia
- Caribbean
- Europe Latin America
Within these areas of concentration,
the following themes are explored: social
relations, cultural development, women
and gender, colonialism, imperialism, urbanization,
philosophy and thought, and religion.
The student must select both the area
of concentration and specific courses after
a consultative conference with the area
expert, who may suggest additional cognate
or complementary courses in other disciplines
that would enhance the students’ preparation.
A student may choose to take more than
three courses in the area of concentration.
However, these courses must be taken in
addition to the eleven courses that comprise
the major.
A student may elect to pursue an independent concentration.
The following steps must be taken in order
to pursue an independent concentration:
1. The student must submit a petition
to the department of history, defining
the independent area of concentration.
The petition must also explain why she
seeks the independent concentration and
why her objectives cannot be achieved via
existing concentration areas.
2. Utilizing existing courses, the student
must submit a proposed program of study.
3. Both the petition and the proposed
program of study must be accompanied by
the signatures of two full-time history
faculty. Their signatures will signify
their acceptance of the petition and proposal
and their agreement to supervise the individual’s
work.
4. All materials listed in items 1-3
must be submitted to the department of
history for approval by April of the sophomore
year.
