Total Semester Hours required for the Degree: 120 semester hours
Semester Hours required for the History Major: 45 semester hours
Major
The History major comprises the following courses and 24 hours in History electives, with at least 21 hours numbered above 3000 to include at least six semester hours in U.S. history and six hours in non-U.S. history, and six hours numbered above 4000. At least one of the upper-division elective courses must be chosen from the list of courses designated as Inclusive History.
HIS 1101
Introduction to Historical Studies. (3 credits)
HIS 2010
History of the United States to 1877. (3 credits)
or
HIS 2020
History of the United States Since 1877. (3 credits)
HIS 2500
Historical Research and Writing. (3 credits)
HIS 2560
Early Modern World History. (3 credits)
HIS 3555
Modern World History. (3 credits)
HIS 3600
The U.S. Constitution and the Nation. (3 credits)
HIS 4375
History Capstone Seminar. (3 credits)
(Note: History with Departmental Honors students must take HIS 4397 - Honors Professional Development Capstone for Departmental Honors Students. Credits: 1)
As part of the Upper-Division Electives, one course that carries the Inclusive History Designation:
HIS 3210
History of the Modern Middle East. (3 credits)
OR
HIS 3260
Modern Latin America. (3 credits)
OR
HIS 3320
History of Modern China. (3 credits)
OR
HIS 3405
Absolutist France and The Wider World. (3 credits)
OR
HIS 3450
Modern Germany. (3 credits)
OR
HIS 3560
The Transatlantic Slave Trade. (3 credits)
OR
HIS 3750
African-American History: A Survey. (3 credits)
OR
HIS 3900
Women in American History. (3 credits)
OR
HIS 3930
The Civil War Era. (3 credits)
OR
HIS 4845
Gender and Sexuality in Modern Europe. (3 credits)
OR
HIS 4870
The Two Koreas. (3 credits)
OR
HIS 4880
Modern Japan: From Samurai to Freeters. (3 credits)
Footnotes:
(Major GPA based on all history courses taken at EIU.)
History majors are strongly advised to take 2000-level courses before 4000-level courses.
HIS 4375 also satisfies the general education senior seminar requirement for majors; HIS 4644 satisfies the general education senior seminar requirement for majors in departmental honors.
Information sourced from the 2026-2027 EIU Undergraduate Catalog.
