HIST 4999: Seminar is the capstone course for the History major at UMD. The course is taught in the manner of a graduate seminar in History, which means that it is a reading, discussion, and writing intensive class that meets once a week for three hours. The end goal of the course is for each student to complete an original research paper on a topic of their own choosing that is related to the subject of the course. Students may also be required to make oral and/or poster presentations of their research.
The research paper that each student produces in HIST 4999 is often used by students who are applying to graduate school as a writing sample in their application. Students have also presented versions of their seminar papers at conferences like the Northern Great Plains History Conference, published them as articles in undergraduate research journals, and continued to develop their papers as part of programs like the McNair Scholars Program.
When should I take HIST 4999?
Every major, regardless of their specific subplan, is required to take HIST 4999 at least one time.
While the course is the capstone to the major, it is not necessary to take it during your final semester at UMD for a few reasons:
- Because the course meets for 3 hours once a week, it often conflicts with other required courses in a student’s final semester.
- The course rotates between History faculty, and the subject matter of each individual section varies depending on the research specialization of the instructor. It is recommended – but not required – that students take HIST 4999 with a professor with whom they have already taken a course.
- Two sections of HIST 4999 are typically offered each semester, so each individual History professor usually teaches it every other year. However, sabbaticals and other leaves mean that this is not always the case.
- Specialist History majors should take the course in their junior year, since they will need to take it a second time or complete HIST 3091: Independent Study after taking HIST 4999 as part of their final research project. It is not advised to take two sections of HIST 4999 in the same semester.
- Similarly, History and Social Science students who are also Teaching Social Studies majors should avoid taking seminar during their student teaching or blocks semesters, and so will want to consider enrolling in the course during their junior year as well.
In sum, we recommend that History majors start thinking about taking HIST 4999 during their junior year, after they have completed several 3xxx History courses. As you make your plans, please take the time to speak with your History advisor and with any History professors whose section of seminar you’d be interested in taking.
How do I enroll in Seminar?
HIST 4999: Seminar is capped at 10 students and is restricted to History majors. Email your Student ID to the instructor of the section you’d like to take and ask to be granted permission to enroll. So long as there are still seats available in the section, your professor will email you back once they have granted you permission to register.