History

Overview

The History Area of Concentration (AOC) includes in-depth attention to particular historical moments as well as geographical and chronological breadth, helping students to understand the past on its own terms as well as how past events have formed the world today. Students learn to recognize multiple perspectives, to analyze historical patterns such as continuity and change, and to accept that all historical understanding is provisional. They pursue independent research and archival work in areas as diverse as Miami, Alabama, California, New York, Iceland, Germany, Italy, and China; many present and/or publish their work publicly. History students also take advantage of a variety of academic and professional internships in fields like archival preservation, digital mapping, teaching, heritage studies, and non-profit fundraising.
    
As a core part of a liberal arts curriculum, the History program embraces the interdisciplinarity of historical study: students frequently combine History with AOCs like Gender Studies, International and Area Studies, Political Science, and Urban Studies. The skills developed studying history—such as critical thinking, information literacy, global perspectives, written and oral communication—prepare students for a wide variety of professional careers and lives of global citizenship.

Faculty in History

Carrie Beneš, Professor of History
David Harvey, Professor of History
T. J. H. McCarthy, Professor of Medieval History
William Hustwit, Visiting Associate Professor of History
Xia Shi, Associate Professor of History and International and Area Studies/Marian Hoppin Chair of Asian Studies

Affiliated Faculty

Requirements for the AOC in History

A minimum of twelve (12) academic units plus language requirement.

¹

Premodern history is required, as is one non-Western field. At least one course in each field must be upper-level (3000- or 4000-level).

²

For a student beginning a language at New College, that might consist of Beginning French I, Beginning French II, and Intermediate French I. For a student arriving at New College with some background in a language, that might consist of one intermediate Spanish class, or transfer credit for three semesters of college German.

Requirements for the Joint AOC in History

A minimum of seven (7) academic units plus language requirement.

¹

One course in each field must be upper-level (3000- or 4000-level).

²

Alternatively, the six courses can be divided 2–2–1–1 across four fields.

³

For a student beginning a language at New College, that might consist of Beginning French I, Beginning French II, and Intermediate French I. For a student arriving at New College with some background in a language, that might consist of one intermediate Spanish class, or transfer credit for three semesters of college German.

Requirements for a Secondary Field in History

Students whose primary concentration is in another discipline or interdisciplinary program may complete a secondary field in History by completing five courses or tutorials in History. These courses should be in three or more fields, and at least two should be upper-level. Students opting for a secondary field are not required to complete the language requirement, nor are they required to enroll in Historical Methods though they may do so if they wish. Transfer credit may not be applied toward a secondary field in History, and course substitution will be considered only in exceptional circumstances.

A minimum of five (5) academic units.

¹

At least two of the five courses must be upper-level (3000- or 4000-level).

Sample Four-Year Pathway

Sample Two-Year Transfer Pathway

(For students completing an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in the Florida College System)

1. Courses to be completed in the Florida College System:
   1. Four of the following courses:

      NCF History Equivalent

      Course Code	Course Name	NCF History Equivalent
      AMH 1010, AMH 1020	U.S. History to 1877, US History 1877 to Present	Lower-level American history
      EUH 1000	Western Civilization to 1600	Lower-level premodern European history
      EUH 1001	Western Civilization from 1600 to Present	Lower-level modern European history
      WOH 1012, WOH 1022	World History to 1500, World History Since 1500	Lower-level transnational history

   2. Two-semester introductory sequence of a foreign language taught at New College (Ancient Greek, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Latin, Russian, or Spanish), or three semesters of another foreign language.
   3. All general education requirements for the AA degree.​
2. Suggested plan of study at New College
   
   Note:  With the exception of Historical Methods, which is offered every spring semester, the precise courses offered will vary from year to year. Transfer students with AA degrees are expected to take Historical Methods in the spring of their first year at New College (Third Year shown here), and to take thesis tutorials in their final year to facilitate completion of the senior thesis. The other courses listed below may be taken in any order.

   Third Year
   Fall Term	ISP	Spring Term
   Upper-level American history course	ISP1	Historical Methods
   Upper-level medieval history course		Upper-level history course (modern Europe, Asia, or transnational)
   Intermediate foreign language course		Elective
   Elective		Elective
   Fourth Year
   Fall Term	ISP	Spring Term
   Thesis Tutorial	ISP2	Thesis Tutorial
   Upper-level history course (modern Europe, Asia, or transnational)		History course (field open, unless field requirements have not been met)
   Elective		Elective
   Elective		Elective

   ¹

   It is strongly recommended that transfer students use this ISP to explore an area of interest of their choice to begin narrowing in on a topic for the senior thesis.

   ²

   Students may organize their final ISP around their thesis work or may choose an unrelated topic of interest.

Transfer students who enroll at New College without having completed the path of prior study described above are welcome to pursue a degree in History, but may find it more difficult to complete the program within two years of matriculation.

Additional Information

• History AOC Overview
• History AOC Requirements Worksheet
• History Style Guide
• History AOC Thesis Rubric

Representative Senior Theses in History

• A Costly Place in a Scorching Sun: The German Colonial Empire in Africa
• The Role of Law in Edward I's Conquests of Wales and Scotland, 1277-1307
• The Methodology of Discrimination: Development and Theory of Scientific Racism in the 18th and 19th Centuries
• Norsemen Without a King: An Analysis of Executive Authority in the Icelandic Commonwealth
• Soldiers of Ink and Paper: American Intellectual Interpretations of the Spanish Civil War