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The University of Montana | Department of History | Liberal Arts Room 256 | Missoula, MT 59812-0864

Undergraduate Program Requirements

The following requirements were last revised in Fall 2010. Please note that students may graduate fulfilling University and departmental requirements in any University of Montana-Missoula catalog under which he or she has been enrolled during the six years prior to graduation. University or departmental requirements may change, however, to comply with accreditation requirements, professional certification and licensing requirements, etc. The student may meet major and minor requirements under different catalogs than the catalog under which she or he is meeting University requirements. Students should consult the course catalog for more information.

For useful forms to guide your course of study, refer to our Important Forms page.

Requirements for a History Major

Students selecting a major in history must complete the following requirements:


  1. Courses and Credits
    1. A minimum of 40 credits in history, maximum of 60. Of the 40-credit total, 9 credits must be in European history, 9 in American history, and 9 in world history (Asian, Islamic, African, Latin American, or International). History majors must complete at least 21 upper-division credits.
    2. All history majors must take at least 2 of the following 8 courses: HSTR 101H, 102H, 103H, 104H (HIST 104, 105, 107, 108), HSTA 101H, 102H, 103H, 104H (HIST 151-154).
      • AP Policy: AP Policy: Those majors scoring a "5" on either the American history or European history AP exam are excused from the above requirement. Nevertheless, the department urges all history majors to gain a solid foundation for upper-division coursework by taking some or all of the above "survey" courses.

        NOTE: Students scoring a "5" on the American history and/or European history AP exams earn credit toward graduation but do not earn credit toward the history major.
    3. History majors must complete HSTR 200, Introduction to Historical Methods. Students are advised to complete this course within 2 semesters of declaring the history major.
    4. History majors must complete a 400-level approved history Upper-Division Writing (UDW) course.
  2. Languages

    The History Department requires competency in English and proficiency in one foreign language. These requirements include:
    1. WRIT 101 (ENEX 101) or its equivalent.
    2. Foreign language requirements may be satisfied by completing any one of the following options:
      1. The 101-102 active skills sequence in any foreign language.
      2. Any single course at or above the 102 or 112 level in any foreign language.
      3. An equivalency test for (2) offered by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures.
      The Department of History does not allow credit for foreign languages taken in high school but students with high school backgrounds in a foreign language may wish to pursue options (2) or (3) above.
  3. Upper-Division Writing Expectation

    The Upper-Division Writing Expectation must be met by successfully completing an upper-division history writing course from the approved list in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of the course catalog.

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Requirements for a History Minor

Students selecting a minor in history must complete the following requirements:


  1. A minimum of 20 credits in history of which 6 credits must be in American history, 6 must be in European history, and 6 in world history (Asian, Islamic, African, Latin American, or International). History minors must complete at least 9 upper-division credits.
  2. All history minors must take at least 2 of the following 8 courses: HSTR 101H, 102H, 103H, 104H (HIST 104, 105, 107, 108), HSTA 101H, 102H, 103H, 104H (HIST 151-154).
    • AP Policy: Those minors scoring a "5" on either the American history or European history AP exam are excused from the above requirement. Nevertheless, the department urges all history minors to gain a solid foundation for upper-division coursework by taking some or all of the above "survey" courses.

      NOTE: Students scoring a "5" on the American history and/or European history AP exams earn credit toward graduation but do not earn credit toward the history minor.
  3. WRIT 101 (ENEX 101) or its equivalent.

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Teacher Preparation in History

Students who want to be licensed to teach history at the middle and high school level must complete the B.A. degree requirements in history. They also must complete a teaching minor in a second field of their choice and the professional licensure program in the College of Education and Human Sciences. Students may also earn a teaching minor in history. See the Department of Curriculum & Instruction for information about admission to the Teacher Education Program and completion of these licensure programs.

Teacher Preparation in History and Government (Comprehensive Social Science)

Students who want to be licensed to teach history, government, and one additional social science at the middle and high school level must complete the B.A. degree requirements for the combined academic major in history and political science. In completing this combined degree, students simultaneously satisfy the Comprehensive Social Science teaching major and the professional licensure program in the College of Education and Human Sciences. See the Department of Curriculum & Instruction for information about admission to the Teacher Education Program and completion of this licensure program.