Modified Major

The Modified Major in History consists of the successful completion of twelve courses, eight of them in history, and four from one or more modifying departments/programs. The four modifying courses must count towards the major in the modifying department. Prerequisite courses that do not count towards the major in the modifying department cannot be used to modify the history major. The modified major should have a clear purpose and intellectual coherence.

Students planning a modified major should contact the Vice Chair, Leslie Butler (Leslie.A.Butler@dartmouth.edu) to discuss their plans. In order to have the modified major approved, they should submit two documents to the Vice Chair via email (Leslie.A.Butler@dartmouth.edu): the modified major worksheet and a short statement articulating the intellectual coherence of their modified major. This statement should be 2 – 3 paragraphs and offer a clear rationale for the modification. This paragraph must cover three key topics: 1. What are you hoping to achieve by modifying the major and bringing these courses together? What are the intellectual goals of this modification? 2. How are these courses in conversation with each other? Here you should make specific references to the courses that you plan to take/have taken across the different departments involved in the modification. 3. How does your seminar (HIST 96) fit into your modification? How does it serve as the culmination of your intellectual goals? Once the Vice Chair has reviewed and approved these documents, students can enter their modified major plan into Dartworks for departmental and registrar approval.

Modification works best early in major planning. Generally, modifications will NOT be approved in the last two terms of a student's enrollment.

Class of 2024 and Beyond Modified Major Worksheet

Class of 2023 and Before Modified Major Worksheet

Refer to the Class of 2024 and Beyond Modified Major Worksheet for the successful completion of at least twelve courses meeting the requirements.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

For the purposes of the major requirements applicable to the class of 2024 and later, most courses fall into one of six areas: (1) Africa (AFR), (2) Asia, (3) Europe (EUR) (4) Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), (5) Middle East (ME), (6) United States (US). Your eight history courses must include one course from at least three of these six areas.

CHRONOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION

Your eight history courses must include, at a minimum, two premodern courses and two modern courses.

SEMINARS AND COLLOQUIA

All modified majors in the department must complete at least one course (HIST 96) on campus involving advanced historical practice, which will represent the culminating experience. Careful advanced planning regarding enrollment in 96 is necessary for two reasons. First, the capped enrollment means that several 96s will have more students who wish to take the course than there are available spots. In these cases, the department and the instructor will prioritize enrollment. Second, work at the advanced level is most rewarding when it builds upon previous exposure to a field. Students should work with their advisors to select a number of classes related to a geographic, chronological, or thematic area that will prepare them for their advanced coursework. Students should then consider which seminars can best build on this previous coursework.

LIMITS AND EXCLUSIONS

1. At least five history courses must be taken in residence at Dartmouth College, one of them being HIST 96.
2. HIST 7 (First-Year Seminar), HIST 98 (Honors Seminar) and History 99 (Honors Thesis) may not be counted toward the modified major.
3. Students may not use more than two independent study courses (HIST 97) in satisfying the requirements of the modified major.
4. Modified major GPA is figured on all history courses taken.
5. Only those major courses passed with a letter grade may be counted in satisfaction of the major. Courses taken under the Non-Recording Option (NRO) may not be used toward completion of the modified major.
6. The Department will consider approving transfer credits for history majors and non-majors only for history courses taken at institutions with which Dartmouth College has institutional exchange programs.
7. Only transfer students may receive credit for courses taken at other colleges or universities prior to matriculation at Dartmouth.