The History and Social Science Major is our most interdisciplinary subplan. Students who select this track will complement their historical focus with a firm background in the social sciences, including anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology. This well-rounded training is excellent preparation for careers in public service, business, law, and especially education.
Graduates of this program are well-positioned to teach Social Studies in middle and high schools at private and parochial schools, while those who wish to teach in Minnesota public schools must also earn their Social Studies teaching licensure. We strongly recommend that current UMD undergraduates concurrently enroll in the Education Department’s Teaching Social Studies History Subplan (find out more at the bottom of this page). Graduates of this subplan can also earn their licensure by completing a post-baccalaureate teaching licensure program at UMD, at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, or at another Minnesota-based institution.
History and Social Science majors are eligible for thousands of dollars in student scholarships to support their studies, and have access to a number of exciting, life-changing opportunities: mentorship from UMD history alumni, fellowship with other History majors in History Club, the financial support to attend and even present their own research at regional History conferences, and the chance to study abroad with History faculty in places like Ireland, Poland, Panama, and Jamaica.
If you are already at Teaching Social Studies major, complete this form instead to declare your History and Social Science dual-degree major.
Otherwise, complete this form to declare a History and Social Science major.
History and Social Science majors should also consider adding a minor in African and African American Studies or the Museum Studies Certificate.
History and Social Science Major Subplan Requirements
The History and Social Science Major subplan is 60 credits and consists of the following components:
- Three History survey courses in US, European, and Minnesota history.
- Eight Social Science Core courses in Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.
- Four History elective courses covering US, Europe, and World history.
- HIST 4999: Seminar, the capstone course for the History major.
Check out the History Major listing in the UMD Catalog for a full list of the History and Social Science major requirements and elective courses.
History and Social Science and Teaching Social Studies
The History and Social Science Major subplan is great preparation for students interested in many different kinds of civic-oriented careers, but it is especially designed for students in the Teaching Social Studies (TSS) History subplan and vice-versa.
Students in this program already take 90% of the credits in the History major. They can complete the History and Social Science Major subplan by taking one additional course: HIST 4999: Seminar. Even more, TSS students who add the History and Social Science Subplan can use HIST 4999 to fulfill their HIST 31xx: Advanced Writing requirement, which means that ultimately they take the same number of courses.
In short, TSS History subplan majors can add a History and Social Science major by swapping HIST 31xx: Advanced Writing for HIST 4999: Seminar. Students who do so:
- Receive a History faculty advisor in addition to their Teaching Social Studies faculty advisor.
- Become eligible for scholarships that are available to History majors and for scholarships available to all majors in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and are also eligible for financial support to attend and present their own research at History conferences.
- Take HIST 4999: Seminar, which is taught as a graduate-level history course and culminates in an original research project. This course prepares students with the experience and research training needed for admission to graduate school in History and related fields .
- Earn a History BA in addition to their Teaching Social Studies BAA, which can be an advantage on the job market for teaching jobs and especially for jobs outside of education.
Teaching Social Studies majors can complete this form to declare your History and Social Science dual-degree major.
History and Social Science majors who wish to teach at the middle and high school level are strongly encouraged to complete the same form in order to declare a Teaching Social Studies major, which provides the educational and professional courses needed to earn a teaching license in Minnesota and Wisconsin.