history and literature:

American Studies or European and World Studies

Through the combined study of history and literature, students will explore one of two concentrated fields of study, one with an American focus and another with a European/World focus, as described below. The historical component within each track will foster an understanding of the social, cultural, and political transformations that have shaped our world and, as a consequence, ourselves as individuals. A guiding assumption of the major is that an appreciation of the past as a record of human experience, achievement and even folly can help us bring greater depth of understanding to our efforts to address problems of the contemporary world.

Language as a form of communication and expression is central to the evolution of human culture and self-awareness. Thus, the literature component of the major will serve to deepen and enrich its historical component. In literature courses, and in the seminars, students will be exposed to the study and close analysis of significant writers representing a diversity of traditions and genres.

Study in both disciplines will develop skills that are vital to successful careers, responsible citizenship and satisfying engagement with life, such as the ability to gather, weigh and sift evidence; to form hypotheses from complex data; to respond critically to the written word and to express oneself clearly in spoken and written communication.

Course work in history and literature will be augmented by two integrative seminars that will build on the methods, knowledge bases and insights acquired from the courses taken in the two disciplines, as well as provide opportunities for interdisciplinary inquiry and research both within and across the disciplines or areas of concentration. The Junior Seminar will serve both the History and the History and Literature majors and both seminars will be open to non-majors who wish to enroll in them as history or literature electives.

The History and Literature major is open to all students in all professional majors with the exception of Middle School and Secondary Education majors.

Requirements of the History and Literature Major