Majoring and Minoring in History

Professor Shokr advises a student during office hours.

Admission to the Department as a course major or minor normally requires a B average in at least two history courses taken at Swarthmore and a satisfactory standard of work in all courses. Courses in Ancient History (ANCH) offered by the Classics Department count toward the two-history-courses prerequisite. The Department reserves the right to withhold evaluation of applications submitted after the deadline. If after applying a student is deferred, the Department will review their application at the end of each semester until the student is either accepted into the major or withdraws their application.

In addition, admission to double-credit seminars and the Honors Program as either a major or minor requires a B+ average in at least two Swarthmore history courses, a record of active and informed participation in class discussions, and recommendations from History Department faculty members.

Course Majors

All majors in history must take at least nine credits in history that fulfill the following requirements:

Class of 2025 and Following Classes

All majors must take at least nine credits—six of which must be taken at Swarthmore—in History that fulfill the following requirements.  No more than two Ancient History courses can count toward the major. AP/IB credit does not satisfy any department major or minor requirements

  • One introductory course (001-010; first-year seminar, survey)
  • One course in historical methodology and theory preferably taken before the senior year
  • Four courses in one Concentration that cannot focus exclusively on only one geographical area or time period. Please note that not all concentrations may be met over a two- or three-year cycle. It is crucial that majors consult closely with the chair of the department to identify courses that satisfy a concentration. None of the four courses can be done outside the Department of History (this includes Ancient History courses, Tri-Co courses, and study abroad courses).
    • Concentrations: Capitalism; Culture and Identity; Domination and Resistance; Empire and Nations; Gender and Sexuality; Migration, Diaspora and Space; and Science, Medicine, and Environment
  • Three or more courses, one of which must be HIST 091 Senior Research Seminar, are also required for the major.
  • HIST 091 Senior Research Seminar must be taken in the Fall semester of the senior year. Students cannot take this course CR/NC.

Course Minors

Class of 2025 and Following Classes

All minors must take at least five credits at Swarthmore (AP, IB, transfer credits, and foreign study courses do not count). At least two credits must be taken as upper-division courses or double-credit seminars. Only one can be an Ancient History course.