History is the study of past societies through the critical examination of available evidence including texts, words and objects. The Department of History offers students the opportunity to study both the distant and recent past by exploring a variety of different topics and themes. The analytical skills integral to studying history - essentially how people interacted with one another and their built and natural environments - provide students with opportunities to develop critical thinking and writing proficiencies in addition to an appreciation of past cultures and societies.

History course descriptions are found at the end of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences section under Course Descriptions, History and are designated by HIST.

The following programs are offered in the Department of History:

1. Major in History

2. Minor in History

3. Joint Major in History

4. Honours in History

The Bachelor of Arts requires the successful completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours. A student must meet the requirements for a departmental Major, Minor, or Honours program and also meet the Program Regulations – General and Honours Degrees for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. A student is therefore advised to consult with the Admission to the Bachelor of Arts General Degree Programs regulations, the Program Regulations - General and Honours Degrees which also includes the Bachelor of Arts General Degree Components, The Major Program, and The Minor Program regulations. Information regarding honours programs is available at Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree Regulations as well as under each department’s regulations.

A student is strongly encouraged to consult with an academic advisor to discuss available programs and requirements in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences including the Core Requirements, The Major Program, The Minor Program, and the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree Regulations. A student is advised to declare a program of study, including a Major and a Minor, before completing the first 45 credit hours of study. Information about declaring a Major and Minor in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is available at www.mun.ca/hss/programs/undergraduate/ideclare.php. Information regarding advisors for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is available at www.mun.ca/hss/about/contact/liaisons.php.

1. Students should consult the Regulations for the General Degree of Bachelor of Arts in addition to the regulations listed below.

2. Any one of History 1005, 1009-1015 forms the introduction to the practice of history. Third and fourth-year students taking History courses as electives or to satisfy Regulations for the General Degree of Bachelor of Arts are encouraged to enrol in the Department’s second-year courses.

3. All students who major in History will be assisted by a faculty advisor who will help them in planning their academic programs. It is essential that students register with the Department at an early stage of their studies.

Students who undertake a Major in History must complete 36 credit hours in History, including:

1. 3 credit hours in a course beginning with the initial digit ‘1’. Only one first-year course may be used to meet the Major requirements in History. However, a Major may use subsequent first-year History courses as Humanities and Social Sciences electives for the B.A.;

2. at least 12 credit hours in courses with the initial digit ‘2’ including either History 2200 or 2210;

3. at least 9 credit hours in courses with the initial digit ‘2’ should be completed before registering in a course with the initial digit ‘3’. Students should pay particular attention to necessary prerequisites when scheduling courses. In addition, students should obtain advice on the appropriate courses from their faculty advisor;

4. at least 9 credit hours in courses with the initial digit ‘3’ including History 3840;

5. History 3840 for which there is a prerequisite of 12 credit hours in History;

6. at least 3 credit hours in courses with the initial digit ‘3’ should be completed before registering in a course with the initial digit ‘4’;

7. at least 6 credit hours in courses with the initial digit ‘4’. Some fourth-year courses may require successful completion of courses in the same topic/subject area. Prerequisites may be waived at the discretion of the instructor; and

8. 6 additional credit hours in courses with an initial digit beyond ‘1’.

No more than 15 transfer credit hours in History may be used to fulfill the requirements for a Major in History.

Students who undertake a Minor in History must complete 24 credit hours in History, including:

1. 3 credit hours in a course beginning with the initial digit ‘1’. Only one first-year course may be used to meet the Minor requirements in History. However, a Minor may use subsequent first-year History courses as Humanities and Social Sciences electives for the B.A.;

2. at least 9 credit hours in courses with the initial digit '2';

3. at least 6 credit hours in courses with the initial digit '2' should be completed before registering in a course with the initial digit '3';

4. at least 6 credit hours in courses with the initial digit '3';

5. at least 3 credit hours in courses with the initial digit ‘4’. Some fourth-year courses may require successful completion of courses in the same topic/subject area. Prerequisites may be waived at the discretion of the instructor; and

6. 3 additional credit hours in courses with an initial digit beyond ‘1’.

No more than 9 transfer credit hours in History may be used to fulfil the requirements for a Minor in History.

As an alternative to a minor, a student may choose to complete a major in History and a major in another eligible program in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Joint Major Program requires 3 fewer credit hours in each participating major as prescribed in each program’s Calendar entry. For the Joint Major in History, 3 fewer credit hours shall be required in courses at the 2000-level or 3000-level. Normal requirements to successfully complete History 2200 or 2210 and 3840 shall continue to apply.

The Honours Degree in History is a rigorous and rewarding program of study for History Majors interested in developing a piece of independent research and writing. Honours students in History develop many of the necessary skills and preparation for graduate school, law school, or work in the heritage sector.

1. Students intending to take an Honours Degree with a Major in History must comply with the Regulations for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Arts.

2. Students are required to complete at least 60 credit hours in History according to the following pattern, of which there must be a minimum of 36 credit hours at the 3000-level or above:

   1. 36 credit hours chosen in accordance with the pattern set out under the Major in History above; and

   2. 12 additional credit hours in History electives beyond the first-year level and 12 credit hours in Honours courses: History 4800, 4821, 4822, and 4999.

3. Applicants must apply by June 30th for the Fall semester and by November 1st for the Winter semester in order to be considered for admission. Applications received after June 30th will be considered for the Winter semester and applications received after November 1st will be considered for the next Fall semester. Students intending to complete an Honours degree in History will be assisted by a faculty advisor in planning their academic programs. The academic programs for Honours students must be approved by the Head of the Department or delegate.

4. Students electing Joint Honours are required to complete at least 51 credit hours in History according to the following pattern:

   1. 36 chosen in accordance with the pattern set out under the Major in History above;

   2. History 4800 and 4821;

   3. 3 additional credit hours in History electives beyond the first-year level; and

   4. if the student chooses to write the Honours Essay in History, the student must successfully complete History 4822 and History 4999; or

   5. if the student chooses to write the Honours Essay in another Department, the student does not need to complete History 4822 and History 4999. However, these courses must be replaced with 6 additional credit hours in History electives at the third-year level or above.

5. The minimum grades required are (see Graduation Requirements):

   1. 70% on each of the prescribed courses beyond the first-year level or an average of 75% on those courses;

   2. 70% or higher in History 4999; and

   3. an average of at least 2.75 points on the total number of credit hours in the courses required for the degree.
      
      Note: A student may, with the written approval of the Head of the Department and the Faculty's Undergraduate Waivers and Appeals Committee, repeat or substitute up to three courses in order to meet the requirements of Clause 5. above. In counting repeats, each attempt at the same course will count as one course towards the maximum. That is, the same course, repeated three times, would place a student at the maximum and no additional repeats or substitutions would be allowed. The Honours essay may not be repeated or substituted.
      
      

6. No more than 27 transfer credit hours may be included in the minimum 60 credit hours required for the Honours degree in History.

In addition to completing the normal requirements for a Bachelor of Arts and one of an Honours, Major or Minor in History, students may elect to complete requirements for the International Bachelor of Arts (iBA). As part of the minimum 120 credit hours, a student may use eligible credit hours in History to jointly satisfy other requirements of the iBA degree. When selecting courses, a student is encouraged to consult with an academic advisor early in the program, to consider Possible Course Sequencing for the International Bachelor of Arts (iBA) (First 60 Credit Hours), and to consider History courses listed in International Studies (IS) Designated Courses. Up to 12 credit hours in History IS courses may be used towards the International Studies (IS) Courses Requirement.

The Departments of Classics, History, and Philosophy jointly administer the Certificate in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. Credit hours in History may be eligible to jointly fulfill requirements of a degree and a certificate. For further information about this program, see Certificate in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, or contact the Program Director.