History

The Department of History offers a Standard Major, a Modified Major, an Honors Major, and a Minor. Most courses fall into one of four areas: (1) United States and Canada, (2) Europe, (3) Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, or (4) Interregional and Comparative. A Major or Minor in History focuses on a field of concentration. Students take the initiative to craft their own concentrations in consultation with their respective faculty advisers within the department. A concentration may be geographical (e.g. European History), chronological (e.g. the 20th Century), or thematic (e.g. Social History). Participants in the Department’s Honors Program then crown their field of concentration with a thesis written in the senior year.

Because planning is essential, it is critical that a student establish a relationship with a faculty member who can act as an adviser. Any member of the Department can serve as a major adviser, and it is best to pursue this relationship as early as possible. If you do not know whom to approach, the Department Chair or Vice Chair will be happy to suggest a possible adviser to suit your interests.

The Standard Major in History comprises the successful completion of at least ten History courses that meet the following requirements

1. Field of Concentration

• At least four History courses must relate to a field of concentration selected in consultation with a faculty adviser. Concentrations may be geographic, chronological or thematic.
• In addition, a culminating experience in the form of HIST 96 taken in the general area of the proposed geographic, chronological or thematic concentration.

      2. Geographic Distribution Your ten History courses must contain at least:

• one course in the history of the United States and Canada;
• one course in the history of Europe;
• two courses in the histories of Africa, Asia, Latin America & Caribbean;
• one Interregional or Comparative history course.

     3. Chronological Distribution

The Minor in History consists of the successful completion of seven History courses:

1. Field of Concentration

• At least two History courses must relate to a field of concentration selected in consultation with a faculty adviser. Concentrations may be geographic, chronological or thematic.
• A culminating experience in the form of an upperclass seminar or colloquium (HIST 96) taken in the general area of the proposed geographic, chronological or thematic concentration.

     2. Total of Seven History Courses Besides the courses in A, select four additional History courses to bring your total up to seven. These do not need to address your field of concentration, but can be used to fulfill the distributive requirements for the major mentioned below.

     3. Geographic Distribution Your seven History courses from A and B must contain at least one course from each of the following areas:

• United States and Canada;
• Europe;
• Africa, Asia, Latin America & Caribbean;
• Interregional.

     4. Chronological Distribution 

1.    SAT Reasoning or ACT (with Writing);
2.    2 SAT Subject Test Scores;
3.    The common application essay;
4.    Within the Common Application, Dartmouth’s writing supplement requires that applicants write a brief response to one of the following supplemental essay prompts. Candidates choose one topic and respond;
5.    A counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations. In addition, a peer recommendation is strongly encouraged;
6.    Resume;
7.    Brief abstract of an independent research project;
8.    IELTS or TOEFL (no minimum scores).

Dartmouth Scholarships are need-based and are given without expectation of repayment. Amounts range from $1,000 to over $50,000, depending on our determination of your eligibility. Some Dartmouth students will be selected as recipients of one or more of our over 750 endowed scholarship funds. These awards are not additional money, but indicate that the aid already awarded will come from a specific endowed fund. No separate application is required. Students who receive scholarships from external sources can use these funds to reduce the loan and/or job portions of their financial aid packages. Veteran's benefits are included as a resource in the determination of eligibility for Dartmouth scholarship awards. Dartmouth College currently participates at 100% in the Yellow Ribbon Program which supplements GI Bill benefits. For U.S. citizens or permanent residents, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the only form required to apply for Federal Financial Aid. The federal government provides Pell Grants to students who qualify on the basis of financial need as determined by their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are awarded by the College to the most needy students. They vary in amount but do not exceed $4,000 a year. When you apply for financial aid, your parents' country of residence will determine which documents you need to submit. Parents living outside U.S. and Canada should provide income/benefits statement from employer.