We know, we know. Your first love is history, but your parents want you to major in econ (or financial accounting or computer science or biology) in the name of guaranteed employment and financial security. Of course, YOU know that the skills you’ll develop as a history major will make you extremely competitive in the job market – critical reading, effective writing, the ability to make an argument and support it with evidence from well-interrogated sources, and the ability to identify connections and patterns across seemingly disparate phenomena – but… econ (etc) it is.
(OK, yes, we also concede that it’s possible that you might love another subject just a teensy bit more than history whilst also continuing to really love history, that too is possible…)
Here’s the good news: You can still feed your passion for history with a HISTORY MINOR.
Here’s how it works for the class of 2021, 2022, and 2023: think CORE PLUS FOUR. Once you have completed the History Core you need to take 4 more history classes:
- History Core I + History Core II
- 2 electives (2000- or 4000-level)
- 2 upper-division electives (4000-level)
A couple of things to note:
- If you have fulfilled the History core requirement by scoring a 4 or 5 on the AP Euro or AP World History exams, you may substitute any 2 history electives at any level (2000- or 4000-level).
- We strongly encourage students to take at least one LAMA elective.
But wait! We are rolling out a new History minor!
Beginning with the Class of 2024, minors will complete 5 courses (15 credits):
- TWO 2000-level electives
- TWO 4000-level electives
- ONE LAMA (Latin American, Asian, Middle Eastern, African) elective, 2000- or 4000-level — OR, for those with a majority of LAMA courses, an elective in US or European history, 2000- or 4000-level
Things to note about the new minor:
- Core courses will no longer satisfy minor requirements.
- Study abroad credit will not change: 1 or 2 courses taken abroad can be accepted toward minor requirements pending consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. At least 3 of the 5 courses, worth at least 9 credits, must be taken at Boston College during the regular academic year.
Interested in minoring in History?
Fill out the History Minor Declaration Form and we will get back to you!
(Can’t access the form? Be sure you are logged into your BC email first).
BCHistory News 