The History Department at Trinity is one of the oldest departments at the College and is a cornerstone of liberal arts education. On October 25th 2023, the History Department announced its new requirements for those in the class of 2025 and beyond. The new History requirements aim to be more flexible, allowing students to fully explore the wide range of classes offered within the Department. Furthermore, the new major offers a new route of self-designed concentration and encourages students to develop connections and themes across their classes in the Department. The themes will then be compiled into a Thematic Concentration, completed in the spring of the student’s junior year. The aim of the Thematic Concentration will be an opportunity for those in the major to write a short piece detailing a common theme they have encountered in the History major, while also building a focus on what the student is passionate about.
Also new to the History Major are two routes for students to be able to obtain Honors. Both pathways require completion of 12 approved history courses, and a cumulative GPA of A- or above. The traditional option of writing a senior thesis remains, with the newly introduced portfolio pathway offering more flexibility for students. The thesis route has the student take the ten credits required for the major, plus two classes in their senior year (HIST-498, HIST-499). The final project will be a 60-80-page work, accompanied by a public presentation in the spring of their senior year. The portfolio path also has the student take the ten credits required, plus another section of HIST-300 and an additional 300-level seminar in the History Department. The student will then submit a portfolio of three papers, including one primary source-based research paper or public-facing project due in the spring semester of the student’s senior year. The papers will also be accompanied by a “portfolio statement”, highlighting how the portfolio reflects the department’s goals and follows the thematic concentration the student shaped in their junior year. Also, instead of a traditional presentation, students will be engaged in a “portfolio interview” with a group of faculty members in the Department.
The skills learned in the History major build skills in a variety of ways including analysis, research, and writing. Being able to learn and understand History also helps provide knowledge of the contemporary world around us. With the announcement of the new major requirements, the department hopes to broaden the knowledge students can expect to receive in the department. “The Department spent over a year working on these new major requirements. We think the new major makes the most of our deep expertise, and also offers students an exciting range of flexible options,” said Professor Jennifer Regan-Lefebvre, Chair of the Department. Attached is a layout of the major requirements and a few other commonly asked questions. For further questions reach out to Professor Regan-Lefebvre at [email protected].
