History

The Princeton University History program offers students an exceptional educational experience that combines rigorous academic coursework, innovative research opportunities, and a rich exploration of diverse historical periods and geographical regions. Designed to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and a nuanced understanding of the past, this program prepares students for a wide range of careers in academia, public service, journalism, education, and beyond. Students engage with primary sources, develop strong research methodologies, and participate in lively discussions that challenge assumptions and deepen historical insight. The curriculum encompasses a broad array of topics, including ancient civilizations, medieval history, early modern periods, and contemporary history, allowing students to tailor their studies according to their interests and career goals. Distinguished faculty members, recognized for their expertise and contributions to the field, mentor students through seminars, individual research projects, and fieldwork. The program also offers interdisciplinary opportunities, connecting history with other fields such as politics, economics, literature, and anthropology, fostering a comprehensive understanding of historical contexts. Students are encouraged to participate in independent research, internships, and study abroad programs that enhance experiential learning and global perspective. With access to extensive university archives, libraries, and digital resources, Princeton provides an ideal environment for historical inquiry. Additionally, the program emphasizes skills development in critical analysis, writing, and presentation, equipping graduates with the competencies necessary for success in various professional paths. Graduates of the Princeton History program emerge as well-informed, articulate, and culturally aware individuals capable of contributing thoughtfully to the academic, civic, and professional communities.

On joining the history department, each student elects to concentrate in one of the following fields: Africa; Ancient Greece and Rome; Asia; Europe since 1700; Gender and Sexuality; Intellectual and Cultural History; Latin America; Middle Ages; Modern Imperialism and Colonialism; Near East; Russia; Science and Technology; United Kingdom; United States; and War, Revolution, and the State. The senior thesis will ordinarily be written in the field of concentration, and the senior departmental examination will always be written in the field of concentration. Students should select courses so as to create a coherent program in their field.

Course Advising. Before preregistration each term, each history student must consult with one of the department's designated undergraduate advisers.

Departmental Distribution Requirements. University regulations stipulate that undergraduates may not take more than 12 departmental courses. Departmental regulations stipulate that undergraduates must pass at least 10 courses, including HIS 400, in order to receive the A.B. degree. History courses taken in the freshman and sophomore years are numbered among the 10 to 12 required for graduation. Of the departmental courses, one must be a course in European history (including Russia); one a course in United States history; one a course in non-Western history; and one a course in premodern history. No one course may satisfy more than one of these distribution requirements. In addition, concentrators in the history of the U.S. are required to take at least two courses in pre-20th-century U.S. history. Courses fulfilling the European, non-Western, premodern, and pre-20th-century U.S. history requirements are listed on the department's website (link is external)under "Distribution Requirements(link is external)."

Cognates. The history department encourages students to take courses in other departments when they add depth and variety to their selected program of concentration. For example, a student concentrating in Russian history might identify an appropriate course in politics to take as a cognate; a student concentrating in intellectual history might take an appropriate course in philosophy as a cognate. Two such courses may be taken during the junior and senior years and counted as departmental courses provided they contribute significantly to the student's plan of study. Cognates cannot be used to fulfill departmental distribution requirements. Cognates can only be approved by the departmental representative during the course enrollment period and prior to attending the class. Courses may not be designated as cognates retroactively. Cross-listed courses (for example, CLA 217, also listed as HIS 217) are automatically considered departmental courses, not cognates.

History of Science(link is external). History majors wishing to concentrate in the history of science need not meet the departmental prerequisites or distribution requirements. But they must take 10 courses that satisfy the following pattern of requirements (note: an asterisk indicates a one-time-only topic or course):

1. Two courses in science, engineering, or mathematics in addition to those used to fill the University's science distribution requirement.

2. Four of the following courses:

• *277 Technology and Society (see EGR 277)
• 290 The Scientific Worldview of Antiquity and the Middle Ages
• 291 The Scientific Revolution and European Order, 1500-1750
• 292 Science in the Modern World
• 293 Science in a Global Context: 15th to 20th Century
• *294 What is the Scientific Revolution?
• *295 Making America: A Technological History of the United States
• *391 History of Contemporary Science
• *392 History of Evolution
•  393 Race, Drugs, and Drug Policy in America
• *395 History of Medicine and the Body
•  396 History of Biology
• *397 Translation in the History of Science
• 398 Technologies and Their Societies: Historical Perspectives
• *399 In the Groove: Technology and Music in American History, from Edison to the iPod (see AMS 399)
• *489 Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities (see HUM 470)
• 490 Perspectives on the Nature and Development of Science
• *491 History of Ecology and Environmentalism
• 492 Problems in the Development of the Life Sciences
• *493 Science and Religion: Historical Approaches
• *494 Broken Brains, Shattered Minds: Disease and Experience in the History of Neuroscience
• *495 The Soviet Science System
• *498 History of Pseudoscience
• *499 Things

With the permission of the departmental representative, one of these courses may be replaced by a cognate course from another department, for example, in philosophy or sociology of science.

3. Four other history courses.

4. The independent work and comprehensive examination requirements are the same as for all other departmental majors.

Independent Work

Junior Year. In the fall term of the junior year students are required to enroll in HIS 400 Junior Seminars. Work in the junior seminars involves exercises in defining a topic for historical research and in identifying and evaluating a body of historical literature. Each student may expect to gain experience in the use of the library and bibliographical sources, to learn the correct technical form for presenting evidence clearly, and to develop a historical presentation convincingly. Students in HIS 400 will have the opportunity to choose from a number of seminars devoted to historical events or themes of wide importance, such as "Origins of World War I," "Comparative Revolutions," "The United States and Latin America," and "Marxist Social Analysis and Historical Interpretation."

In the spring term of the junior year, in consultation with his or her adviser, the student selects a topic and writes a research paper on an independent basis. Written work equivalent to that submitted in the first term is required. The two semesters of junior independent work must be focused in two different geographical fields and in two different time periods. Students should consult their advisers about this requirement.

Senior Year. The independent work consists of writing a thesis on an approved subject of the student's choice. The thesis usually relies on research in original source materials, but it may also involve reinterpretation of familiar materials.

Senior Departmental Examination

The senior comprehensive examination is given during the University examination period (after submission of the senior thesis). The exam is a set of take-home essays in the field of concentration designated by the student.

1. Submit
   • A Completed Application. You must submit your application online through either the Common Application, Coalition Application or the Universal College Application. 
   • Princeton's Supplement. In addition to the application provided by the Common Application, Coalition Application or Universal College Application, all applicants must submit the Princeton Supplement. You should submit the Princeton Supplement online through the Common Application, Coalition Application or Universal College Application website. 
   • Application Fee or Fee Waiver. You may submit a fee waiver one of two ways: 1) Select the fee waiver option on the Common Application, Coalition Application or Universal College Application. Your college or guidance counselor must approve your fee waiver request online or submit your fee waiver form by mail or fax. 2) Select one of the following fee waiver options on the Princeton Supplement: Princeton-specific, ACT, College Board, NACAC or Realize Your College Potential. All low-income students are eligible for the Princeton-specific fee waiver. Students named QuestBridge Finalists should select the QuestBridge fee waiver. If you use the Princeton-specific fee waiver, you do not need to get approval from your college counselor. Learn more about fee waivers on the How to Apply page.
2. Request
   • Transcript. An official transcript must be sent by a guidance counselor or school official.
   • School Report (SR). The SR form is available from the Common Application and Universal College Application websites. Please ask your guidance counselor or other school official to complete and submit the SR form. If you are using the Coalition Application, the SR and counselor recommendation are uploaded as one item.
   • Counselor Recommendation. If you are using the Common Application online, please note that the SR and the Counselor Recommendation are separate items. Be sure to 'invite' your guidance counselor or academic adviser to complete both items. If you are using the Coalition Application, please invite your counselor to upload the counselor recommendation and school report.
   • Two (2) Teacher Recommendations. Please ask two of your teachers from different academic areas of study to complete and send the teacher recommendation forms, available on the Common Application, Coalition Application and Universal College Application websites. Choose teachers who have taught you in higher-level courses.
   • Mid-year School Report. Please ask your guidance counselor or other school official to complete and submit this form when your mid-year grades are available. The form may be found on the Common Application, Coalition Application and Universal Application websites.
3. Report
   • SAT with Essay or ACT with Writing. Early action applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their SAT with Essay or ACT with Writing test before the Nov. 1 deadline. Regular decision applicants should take the SAT with Essay test by the January test date or take the ACT with Writing by the December date. When registering for the SAT or ACT, use the following codes to ensure your scores are sent to Princeton: SAT: 2672 and ACT: 2588. Learn more about standardized testing for admission.
   • SAT Subject Tests. We recommend, but do not require, the submission of two SAT Subject Tests, which often assist us in the evaluation process. We have no preference for the specific SAT Subject Tests applicants might choose to take. However, if you apply for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree, we recommend that you take mathematics Level I or II, and either physics or chemistry. If you decide to submit Subject Tests, early action applicants should take them by the November test date, and regular decision applicants should take them by the January test date. Learn more about standardized testing for admission.
   • TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic scores. If English is not your native language and you are attending a school where English is not the language of instruction, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS Academic) or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), in addition to the SAT with Essay or ACT with Writing. You are not required to take the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic if English is your native language or if you have spent at least three years at a secondary school where English is the primary language of instruction. Please have your scores sent directly to Princeton: TOEFL: 2672

Optional Application Components

• Arts Form, if applicable. If you've excelled in architecture, creative writing, dance, music, theater or visual arts, and would like us to consider your talent, consult Princeton's online Optional Arts Form. Early action applicants must submit digital arts materials by Nov. 7; regular decision applicants must submit digital arts materials by Jan. 6. You can only submit your online Optional Arts Form after we have received the Common Application, Coalition Application or Universal College Application. If you are unable to submit online, please use the paper Optional Arts Form. For a list of acceptable file formats and submission types, review our Optional Arts Form page. For more information on the optional arts supplement, please visit our FAQs page.
• Interview. Depending on availability, once you have applied, you may be invited to interview with a member of one of our Princeton Alumni Schools Committees. If so, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Interviews take place after the Admission Office has received your application. Many Princeton Alumni Schools Committees have enough volunteers to offer every applicant an interview. As the interview is not a required element of the application, you will not be at a disadvantage if an interview is not available in your area. We do not offer on-campus interviews. Please visit our FAQs page for more information.

The full need of all admitted international students is met the same as it is for students from the United States. Your family’s ability to pay for your university education is not a factor in our admission decision. Students who qualify for financial aid will receive a grant, rather than a loan that has to be repaid, and a term-time job (8-9 hours per week) to meet their need as determined by the Financial Aid Office.

Our financial aid program is entirely based on need. Princeton does not offer academic or athletic merit scholarships. Financial aid awards cover the difference between Princeton’s costs and the amount your parents are expected to contribute to your education. The parental contribution is based on our evaluation of your financial aid application.

The Princeton University Department of History offers a comprehensive program designed to provide students with a deep understanding of historical events, processes, and interpretations across various periods and regions. The program emphasizes critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to engage with primary and secondary sources. Students have the opportunity to explore history through diverse lenses, including political, social, cultural, and economic perspectives, fostering a nuanced understanding of the past's influence on contemporary society.

Undergraduates can pursue a Bachelor of Arts in History, with coursework that includes mandatory core seminars and a wide array of electives covering different geographic areas and chronological periods. The curriculum encourages independent research and scholarly writing, culminating in a senior thesis that allows students to develop specialized expertise. The department also offers seminars led by distinguished faculty members who are experts in fields ranging from American history and European history to Asian and Middle Eastern studies.

Princeton's history program is notable for its interdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from archaeology, anthropology, literature, and political science. The department supports students through various resources, including research libraries, archives, and digital collections. Faculty members actively engage in scholarly research, contributing to the development of historical knowledge and providing mentorship to students.

The program also emphasizes experiential learning, offering students opportunities to participate in internships, study abroad programs, and collaborative projects. These experiences allow students to apply historical skills in real-world contexts, enhance their understanding of global history, and prepare for careers in academia, public history, journalism, government, or international organizations.

Princeton's history department fosters a vibrant intellectual community, encouraging debate, discussion, and the sharing of ideas. Graduates of the program have gone on to distinguished careers in academia, public service, law, business, and other fields where analytical and research skills are highly valued. Overall, Princeton’s history program aims to cultivate thoughtful, informed, and engaged citizens equipped to analyze complex historical issues and contribute meaningfully to society.