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Plan of Study Form. In the fall of both the junior and senior years, majors and concentrators alike (with the exception of those studying abroad in the Fall term) must fill out a Plan of Study Form, available in the Department office (611 Fayerweather) and on the Department's web site. Through the Plan of Study Form, students declare or confirm their specialization, plan their courses for the year (though these may change), and ensure that they have met the requirements of their program. Students must meet with a member of the UNDED to review these forms. After receiving UNDED approval, the student must bring the Plan of Study Form to the Undergraduate Administrator. The deadline for completion of these forms is typically in the end of September.
Independent Study. Students may arrange independent reading courses with individual members of the faculty. In the semester before enrolling in a course, the student must find a faculty sponsor and submit a two-page proposal to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) along with evidence of the sponsor's consent. The proposal is due by August 1 for the Fall term or December 1 for the Spring term. After receiving the DUS's approval, please contact the Undergraduate Administrator regarding registration. Such an independent study is distinct from an independent senior thesis course.
Seminar Applications. Seminars are the key to the undergraduate major in history. In these courses, students can develop research and writing skills under the close supervision of a faculty member. To maintain the small size of the courses (they are normally capped around 15), admission to seminars is by advance application. The History Department, in conjunction with the Barnard History Department and other departments at the University (particularly East Asian Languages and Cultures), offers around twenty-five seminars each term that majors may use to meet their seminar requirements (see: "What Counts as a History Course"). There are more than enough slots available in these seminars to meet the needs of our majors seeking to fulfill the two-seminar requirement, but students may not always be able to get into a particular seminar.
Students should discuss with UNDED their various options for completing the seminar requirement. The History Department has developed a web-based application system. Applications are due in March for Fall semester seminars and in October for Spring semester seminars. Note that applications for the Senior Thesis Seminar follow a distinct procedure for which a different due date exists. The History Department regularly notifies declared majors and concentrators of changes in the application procedure. Students majoring in other fields, or students who have not yet declared a major, must inform themselves of current procedures by checking the seminar section of the Department website or contacting the office.
Credits from Other Universities (Transfer Credits/Study-Abroad Credits). Transfer credits are credits students have earned at an accredited college in the United States. Study abroad credits are credits earned at approved programs outside the United States. The Department has a single set of procedures and requirements for both types of credit. Credit toward the major/concentration is given only for transfer or study-abroad courses taken for a letter grade. Majors may apply a maximum of 12 credits toward the major, no more than 6 of which may be applied toward the specialization. One exception this rule exists: students may receive up to 15 credits for a full year of study abroad reading History at Oxford or Cambridge University. Concentrators may apply a maximum of 9 transfer or study-abroad credits toward the concentration, no more than 3 of which may be applied toward the specialization. Transfer or study-abroad courses worth at least 2 points may be used to fulfill the breadth requirements. Majors should keep in mind, though, that seminar requirements must be fulfilled in the History Departments of Columbia or Barnard.
Students wishing to have transfer or study-abroad credits applied to the major or concentration must first receive approval from the College. Credits that do not have College approval will not be reviewed by the Department. The number of credits granted by the College for an outside course is not necessarily the number of credits toward the major or concentration that will be granted by the History Department. Generally, one course that is equivalent in workload to a Columbia course will receive 3 points; 4 points are rarely given. Decisions about credit are made by the DUS based on the amount of reading, written assignments, and other requirements. Once College approval has been obtained, students should bring the material listed below to the Undergraduate Administrator. The DUS will review the material and make a determination about credit. Please be sure to provide the following:
- A copy of your Columbia transcript showing that you have received College credit
- A copy of your transcript from the other institution
- A copy of the syllabus for any course you wish to have considered for History credit.
- A new Plan of Study Form including courses transferred
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