Undergraduate Program
Director of Undergraduate Studies
With over 700 majors and minors, the undergraduate program in History forms the heart and soul of our department. Our faculty consistently win some of the university’s top teaching awards for their creativity in the classroom, ranging from large lectures to small, intensive seminars. A cornerstone of the liberal arts education, the study of History explores the diversity of human experiences in the past. By doing so, it promotes an understanding of the historical circumstances that shape the opportunities and challenges of the present. Students in History develop invaluable skills: how to analyze different kinds of evidence, evaluate conflicting arguments, and communicate what they have learned to their peers and the wider public. Last but not least, studying History prepares students for diverse careers after graduation and a life of informed citizenship, locally and globally.
- Ancient/Medieval History
- African, Asian, and Middle Eastern History
- Gender and Women’s History
- Global History
- Latin American History
- Modern European History
- Russian, Eurasian, and East European History
- United States History
Undergraduate students in History do not just learn about the past from our faculty: they carry out their own research, producing original historical knowledge. Every major writes a 398 seminar essay, a substantial piece of historical scholarship. For students who want to pursue further research, there are plenty of exciting opportunities in History, including the Senior Honors Thesis program.
For more information you can go to the Undergraduate Research page
Have a question about the requirements for the major or minor? About transferring credits from another institution? About independent studies or internships? Or something else related to your academic life or plans after graduation? Our Undergraduate Adviser Dr. Matthew Andrews has you covered.
For more information, email andrewsm@email.unc.edu or you can go to the advising page.
Each year, a select group of undergraduate students enrolls in the History Senior Honors Thesis program that culminates in the writing of a substantial, original, and polished piece of historical research. If you plan to go to graduate school in history, to attend law school, to work in public history or if you simply cannot get enough of historical research and writing, this might be the program for you.
For more information you can go to the Senior Honors Thesis Program page
Undergraduate Program News
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Max Conley Awarded Frank Ryan Chancellor’s Prize
Max Conley, Class of 2019 History major, was recently awarded the Frank Ryan Chancellor’s Prize in History for best Senior Honors Thesis. Read more about the Frank Ryan Prize here. Congratulations, Max!
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Congratulations to the Class of 2019!
On May 11, 2019, the Department of History held its annual graduation ceremony in Hamilton Hall. The faculty commencement address was by William Sturkey (Assistant Professor) and the guest speaker was Bailey White, a class of 2016 History major graduate … Continued
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History Major Perspective Article Published In Washington Post
History major Denton Ong, writing his 2018-2019 Senior Honors Thesis with Professor Ben Waterhouse as adviser, published a ‘Made by History’ perspective piece on national emergencies in the Washington Post. The article can be found here.