Your history professors are always happy to help you with your course of study.
Advising and careful academic planning are essential to a successful undergraduate experience. Students may enter the History Department as incoming freshmen or transfer students. Current WVU students studying other majors can enter the department if their cumulative GPA is 2.2 or higher.
You should plan to meet with your advisor at least once a semester during WVU pre-registration for the next semester. If you have any problems, please schedule an appointment at other times during the semester. During pre-registration, your advisor will work with you in selecting appropriate courses and discussing other academic opportunities like internships and study abroad. Your advisor will also lift the advising hold on your account, which will enable you to register beginning with your priority date.
At the same time, it is very important that you come prepared to your scheduled advising appointment. Each History major is expected to understand the departmental and college requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in History.
The Department will maintain a record of your progress with a checklist for both the General Education Foundation requirements and the History major. You should keep your own copy of your checklist to track your progress or consult DegreeWorks. To enhance the quality of your pre-registration advising appointment prior to your advising meeting, please review the online course schedule and make a list of potential classes
Pre-Registration Schedule
Pre-registration for the spring semester occurs from early October to mid-November, and from early March to mid-April for the summer and fall semesters. Priority is based on whether you are an Honors College student as well as your class year. Schedules are circulated prior to each pre-registration season.
Please consult the Department of History staff or your advisor if you have any questions.
Capstone Seminar (HIST 484)
All History majors must take HIST 484, Introduction to Historical Research. Topics vary each semester. Students must take the Lead-in course (listed next to the capstone) to enroll in the seminar. Please note that these are small classes with 18 students, and that if your preferred section is full, you might have to enroll in another. Students are encouraged to take the prerequisites for HIST 484 in preceding semesters. Please consult your advisor with any questions.
During pre-registration, the Department of History produces a handout listing upcoming capstones and prerequisite courses. Recent capstone topics include:
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U.S. Foreign Relations in the 20th Century
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Globalization
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Imperialism in the Ancient Mediterranean
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Europe in Crisis, 1890-1945
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U.S. Women’s History
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West Virginia History
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The End of British Empire
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Social and Cultural History in 19th Century America
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Gender in Pre-modern Europe
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Civil Rights