On this page:

• I think I want to major in history, what courses should I take? 
• Which courses can I take to help me decide if I want to major in History?
• Which courses can I take in the department if I have chosen another major?
• What kinds of jobs do graduates who majored in history have?
• What are the volunteer or service learning opportunities in this department?
• Does this department sponsor any special programs or internships?
• Can I major in history and still study abroad?
• How could I decide if I might like history?
• Do I need any special computer equipment for courses in this department?
• What are the major requirements?
• How can I major in history and complete a minor in education?
• What are the minor requirements in history? 

Q. I think I want to major in history, what courses should I take?
A. Suggested first year schedule:

• First-year Seminar (FYS) in any topic that interests you
• History 1105 or a 2000-level history course (especially valuable if you don’t take a FYS in history)
• English Composition
• Foreign Language and/or another elective   

Back to Top

Q. Which courses can I take to help me decide if I want to major in History?
A. Take a 1000-or 2000-level course in an area of history that interests you—U.S., European, Asian, or ancient. Look over the course descriptions carefully—some courses are period surveys, others focus on special topics or issues within a specific period. Also, the Department of History tries every semester to offer special topics courses that are not listed in the regular catalog. Check the new course descriptions listed by the registrar and on the Department of History web page and, if you are still uncertain about a course, get in touch with the instructor of the course, or another member of the department.

Any course that you choose will introduce you to how historians study evidence. Courses at the 2000 level (or higher) will also offer you more opportunity to read critically and to improve your writing skills—important for any major that you choose. Some students have found that courses listed at the 2000 level or the unique field and approach of a particular instructor have been influential in their decision to major in history.

Back to Top

Q. Which courses can I take in the department if I have chosen another major?
A. Except for HIS 4492, all history courses are open to non-majors and have no prerequisites. Find a topic that interests you. The 1000-and 2000-level courses are good first choices. Some first-year students have been successful in the 3000-level seminar courses, but they are not usually taken until the sophomore year. All History courses fulfill a Humanities BLAR, and some also fulfill the Global Perspectives requirement. 

Back to Top

Q. What kinds of jobs do graduates who majored in history have?
A. History majors can be found in all walks of life, as educators, writers, lawyers, politicians, journalists, military officers, consultants, entrepreneurs, financial analysts, sales representatives, actors, musicians, archivists, museum directors, librarians, and activists.

Historians are trained to read critically, to analyze a wide variety of evidence from different perspectives and using different methodologies, and to speak and write clearly and persuasively. Perhaps most importantly, history majors engage in independent research. They can move into any job or training program that values initiative, communication skills, and the ability to work independently.


Back to Top


Q. What are the volunteer or service learning opportunities in this department?
A. While the department does not have its own list of service opportunities, history majors are encouraged to explore their own interests in these areas. 


Back to Top


Q. Does this department sponsor any special programs or internships?
A. History majors have held internships at the Carroll County Historical Society, which houses a museum and an archive in Westminster, at the Maryland Historical Society in Annapolis, at the Smithsonian in D.C., at the Walter’s Art Gallery in Baltimore, and elsewhere. Other internships are available in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas. Some majors have interned at the local archives closest to their home. Internships sometimes introduce students to an area of research for their senior colloquium project. 


Back to Top


Q. Can I major in history and still study abroad?
A. The history department encourages study abroad for its majors. Going abroad is an invaluable experience for every student of the twenty-first century. Students who focus on American history learn that a foreign perspective will help them to better understand their nation’s past, while students who focus on European or Asian history find it enriching to spend time in the places they have studied. 


Back to Top


Q. How could I decide if I might like history?
A. If you are curious about the past and the present, like to read, can think critically, like to be independent in your studies, and you are not afraid of a challenge, you might make a good history major. 


Back to Top


Q. Do I need any special computer equipment for courses in this department?
A. Bringing your own computer to campus gives you an advantage in all your college classes. A standard word processing program is a necessity for history papers. As a McDaniel student, you will be introduced to Blackboard and other tools for accessing class assignments, engaging in online class discussions, etc. In addition, you will be using computers for online searches in the Hoover Library and on the web. 


Back to Top


Q. What are the major requirements?
A. 12 courses in History above the 1000 level, including:


One course each in:

• The Ancient World or Europe (before 1789): 2205, 2206, 2207, 2208, 2213, 2214, 2215, 3305, 3315, 3316
• Modern Europe (since 1789): 2219, 2220
• America: 2222, 2223, 2224, 2225, 2226, 2227, 2229, 3202, 3324, 3328
• Asia: 2221, 2231, 2232, 3330, 3331
• Or, a Special Topics course (2265 or 3365) that falls in any of the four above areas.
• One seminar designated as writing-intensive, to be taken before the Capstone (writing-intensive courses will be designated each semester)
• Two advanced seminars (3000 or 4000 level): 3305, 3315, 3316, 3328, 3330, 3365
• The Capstone (The History Colloquium): 4492 

Back to Top

Q. How can I major in history and complete a minor in education?
A. The best advice for anyone thinking about a career in primary or secondary education is to consult with your History advisor as soon as you arrive on campus. The best preparation for a teaching career is to acquire a solid major in History and related fields. In many cases, it might be best to complete a History major and then take McDaniel's BEST program for certification in Social Studies. 

Back to Top

Q. What are the minor requirements in history?
A. The department offers several minors in history: European History, American History, and Classical Civilization.

A minor in history makes a good fit with any major.

Each minor consists of six courses—the descriptions are in the College Catalog. The Minor in History, for example, consists of six courses in History, five of which must be at the 2000 level or above. Three of these courses must be taken at McDaniel College.  

Back to Top