Overview

Faculty

Douglas Ambrose

Mackenzie Cooley

John Eldevik

Kevin Grant

Maurice Isserman

Shoshana Keller

Celeste Day Moore

Ty Seidule

Lisa Trivedi, chair

Rebecca Wall

Thomas Wilson

Special Appointments

Christian Goodwillie

Peter Simons

The goal of Hamilton's History Department is to introduce students to the histories of a broad range of cultures, peoples, places and times while honing their skills in writing, speaking, and research.

Beginning with the class of 2021, a concentration in history consists of 9 courses. Each concentrator must take a writing-intensive, 100-level history course. No more than two 100-level courses may be counted toward the concentration. Course selection must include one course in US history and one course that covers the pre-modern era (pre-1800). It must also include at least one course in three of the following regional categories: Europe and the Mediterranean; Eurasia and Russia; the Middle East; Latin America and the Caribbean; Africa and African diaspora; Asia; transnational. A concentrator must complete one 300-level course devoted to the study of historiography and one 300-level course devoted to research skills. A concentrator must finally complete the senior thesis project (HIST-401 or HIST-550) The department strongly recommends that each concentrator complete both of the required 300-level courses before undertaking the senior thesis.

Beginning with the class of 2020, concentrators shall fulfill the Social, Structural, and Institutional Hierarchies requirement by taking two History courses that consider structural and institutional hierarchies. These courses are designated in the catalog’s list of History courses with the label “(Social, Structural, and Institutional Hierarchies).” These and all other courses fulfilling concentration requirements are listed on the department’s Blackboard site.

Beginning with the class of 2021, students shall meet with their advisers in the semester that they declare the concentration to discuss and assemble a set of at least four courses which they have taken, or plan to take, including one at the 300 level, that fall within one of the thematic areas designated below. After consulting with the adviser, students shall submit a brief explanation of their thematic selection of courses for approval by both the adviser and the chair. Students may petition to include one course from outside the history department toward their thematic focus. That course will not count toward the nine courses required for the concentration. Students may petition to define their own thematic areas. The Department strongly encourages students to write a senior thesis that draws upon coursework and research done in the chosen thematic area.

Environment

Ideas, Science, Knowledge

Property, Labor, Exchange

Race, Gender, Identity

Rebellion, Revolution, War

Religion, Ritual, Belief

Sovereignty, Empires, Nations

The Department strongly encourages concentrators to develop competence in a foreign language and to use that competence in their historical reading and research.

Research Seminar (HIST-401). Concentrators may fulfill the Senior Program requirement through satisfactory completion (a grade of at least C-) of the research seminar. This course emphasizes the critical evaluation of scholarship in a specific field, culminating in either a historiographical essay or an original essay based upon primary sources and informed by relevant scholarship.

Independent Senior Thesis (HIST-550). Concentrators may pursue an individual project under the direct supervision of a member of the department upon achieving a grade point average in the concentration that is normally 3.5 or higher and with the approval of the department chair and the faculty member supervising the project.

Departmental Honors.

To earn departmental honors, concentrators must complete at least three 300-level courses, including one devoted to historiography and one devoted to research skills. They must earn a grade of A- or higher for the independent senior thesis and make a public presentation of the thesis. They must have a grade point average in the concentration that is 3.5 or higher upon graduation, and they must have completed at least one year of college-level study in a foreign language.

A minor in history consists of five courses. One of these five courses must be a writing-intensive 100-level course. Only one 100-level course will count toward a minor. At least one course must be at the 300 level or higher.

A student wishing to be certified to teach social studies in grades 7-12 should contact the Education Studies Program as early as possible.