Major

Bachelor of Arts in History

Stanford undergraduates must fulfill two major requirements for a B.A. in History: 

1. Complete 13 eligible courses (for a minimum of 63 units), including:
   • 1 Sources & Methods (HISTORY 1S-99S)
   • 1 “Doing History” (HISTORY 200x)   
   • 1 Writing in the Major (HISTORY 209S)
   • 2  200-level Colloquia (HISTORY 201-298)
   • 2 pre-1700 History courses
   • 4 courses in 1 geographic, chronological, or thematic concentration.  Thematic concentrations include
     • Global Affairs and International Relations
     • Law and Public Policy Environment, Science, Medicine and Technology
     • Economics and Political Economy
     • Religion and Intellectual History
     • Activism, Public History and Public Service
     • Gender and Sexuality
     • Race and Ethnicity
     • Self-designed thematic concentration in close consultation with major advisor
2. Complete an Honor’s Thesis or a Capstone Project
   1. Honor's Thesis
      • Take HISTORY 299H Junior Honors Colloquium in your Junior year.
      • Take HISTORY 299A/B/C Senior Research in your Senior Year.
      • Complete a thesis with a B+ or higher
   2. Capstone Project
      • Take HISTORY 299CAP Capstone Course in Autumn or Winter quarter of your Senior year.
      • Take HISTORY 299CAP101 Creative Capstone Workshop in Spring Quarter of your Senior year
      • Complete and present your project at Capstone Showcase in Spring Quarter of your Senior year. 

Please review  the detailed major requirements, the formal steps to declare your major, and reach out to kdowding [at] stanford.edu (Kai Dowding) (Undergraduate Student Services Officer) with any questions. 

Stanford Bulletin provides the most detailed information about pursuing a B.A. Major in History at Stanford. 

The History Department has revised the degree requirements for new majors declaring after September 1, 2022. Current majors who declared prior to September 1, 2022, may choose whether to complete the major in the track system, or in the revised system detailed below. Current majors who declared prior to September 1, 2022, and who have chosen to complete the major according to the track system, should consult the archived AY 2021-22 Bulletin for degree requirement information. Please reach out to kdowding [at] stanford.edu (Kai Dowding) with any questions.