Program Requirements

The History program at SFU recognizes the importance of a broad base of knowledge about the History of the world. As such, students in the Major and Honours programs are required to take courses with subject matter concerning Europe, the Americas, and the Wider World (Africa, Asia, and the Middle East).

Most students completing a History credential are enrolled a Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences but History can be included as part of a program in any faculty.

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) requires the completion of either a major, two extended minors or two minors.  Full BA degree requirements can be found here.

See the SFU Calendar for further details.

Program Overview

The History Department is organized around four streams. Students are encouraged to study broadly across these streams:

  • Europe (Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Russia, Byzantium)
  • The Americas
  • Africa/Middle East/Asia
  • Global/Comparative

To obtain any History credential you must have:

  • A History Grade Point Average of at least 2.0
  • A History Upper Division Grade Point Average of at least 2.0

You can find these grade point averages on your Advising Transcript, sorted by Subject.

History Major

Lower Division Requirements:  18 units at 100/200 level. 

100 level courses are ideal for students with no History background, but all students may register for any 100 or 200 level History course as they have no prerequisites.  All lower division History courses are worth 3 units. 

Students planning to major in History should look ahead at the 300 and 400 level course offerings and make sure that they are prepared to take the courses they are most interested in and prepared to take courses in all four groups.  

Upper Division Requirements:        32 units at upper division
At least 12 of which at 400 level
At least one course in each of the 4 Groups
300 level courses are run as lectures and tutorials while 400 level courses are seminars (smaller groups based on reading and discussion rather than just lecture).   All history upper division courses are worth 4 units. 300 level history courses have the following prerequisite as a minimum: 45 units including 6 hours of lower division history credit. 400 level history courses have the following prerequisite as a minimum: 45 units including 9 hours of lower division history credit. Some courses may have additional course requirements as well.

Major Requirements Checklist
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements Checklist

History Minor

Lower Division Requirements:        9 units at 100/200 level
Upper Division Requirements:        15 or 16 units at Upper Division
At least 4 of which at 300 level
At least 4 of which at 400 level
The minor program is ideal for students who enjoy taking History but do not wish to focus on it as a major. The minor program can also serve as an alternative to a major when combined with a minor or extended minor in another department.  More information on this option can be found here.  

History Extended Minor

Lower Division Requirements:        18 units at 100/200 level
Upper Division Requirements:        15 or 16 units at Upper Division
At least 4 of which at 300 level
At least 4 of which at 400 level
The extended minor program is ideal for students who have taken a number of lower division History courses but do not intend to complete a History major.  The extended minor program can also serve as an alternative to a major when combined with a minor or extended minor in another department.  More information on this option can be found here.

History Honours

History’s Honours program is a competitive entry program that accepts a maximum of 15 students per year.  The students work in a cohort through 4 classes worth a total of 16 units, 12 of which must be taken over a Fall and Spring semester.  The remaining 4 credits come from the Honours Essay, an 8,000 - 10,000 word Directed Reading course. Admission to the program is based on grade point average (upper division History grade point is the most important) and a writing sample.  Applications are sent out in May and admission decisions are made in June in time for Fall registration.  The department sends letters to recruit likely students, but any students with at least 75 units completed and a GPA of at least 3.0 may apply.   The admission GPA varies each year depending on the number and caliber of applicants.

For more information on whether the program would be suitable for you and how to apply, speak to the History Advisor.

Honours Major Checklist
Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree Requirements Checklist

Joint Major

History has a joint major program with the following departments:

English
Humanities
Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies
World Literature

The History component of these programs has the same requirements as the History major with the exception that students complete only 24 instead of 32 upper division units.

Joint Major Checklist (History portion)

We also offer a triple Joint Major in French, History, and Political Science. Please consult the Department of French for more information on this program.

Optional Concentration

The Department offers three formal concentrations for students with an interest in Middle East and Islamic History, British and Irish History or Early Modern History. Concentrations are optional and only offered in these three fields.

Students completing a Major, Minor, Extended Minor, Joint Major or Honours may complete a concentration by taking the courses listed on these checklists.  

Middle East and Islamic Concentration
British and Irish Concentration
Early Modern Concentration

If you have questions about the applicability of a “Studies in History” course or (for majors only!) a course in another department that seems to fit the concentration, please contact the department advisor.

WQB

All students admitted to SFU in the 1067 (Fall 2006) semester or later must complete the Writing/Quantitative/Breadth requirements to fulfill their degree program (students admitted before 1067 have different requirements and can consult the History Advisor if they require more information).

More information about courses that will fulfill your WQB requirements can be found here.

Please note, this is a list of all courses offered and the courses listed will not be offered in every semester.   Consult departmental websites for information on future course offerings.

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Undergraduate Advisor

Erin Norman
AQ 6025
histadv@sfu.ca

Drop-In Advising Hours:

TUESDAY - THURSDAY
10:00AM - 12:00PM

Book an Appointment:
AdvisorLink