The Undergraduate Experience
History majors at UIC enjoy a small-school experience in a large, urban, research university. With only a few exceptions, all of our undergraduate courses are taught by UIC faculty. Large introductory courses almost always include a smaller weekly discussion component led by teaching assistants. Advanced courses for majors can be as small as 10 – 12 students.
At the same time, our undergraduates have the freedom to explore a variety of interests while remaining grounded in the mainstream of the discipline. Majors are actively involved in creating their own regional, chronological, or thematic concentration in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, with whom they are required to meet once a year. While majors are required to take 33 hours in history, distributed among introductory and upper level courses, the only required course is History 300, which trains students in historical methodology and writing in the discipline (see the complete major requirements and the four-year model). We also offer a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching (BAT) for those interested in teaching history at the secondary-school level.
The department also offers its top majors departmental distinctions and/or a variety of awards.
It also encourages participation in the UIC's Undergraduate History Club.
And many history students also choose to study abroad.