Director of Undergraduate Studies
Undergraduate Courses
Interested in taking a history class, but don't know where to start? This page provides general information about how classes are structured within the department. For information on current offerings, go to 'Current Courses' or contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies for more information. If you're looking for a syllabus, Auburn provides a syllabus bank, available here - AUthenticate is required. Search for specific courses by their HIST # (e.g. HIST 1010), or for all History courses by simply inputting HIST with no modifiers. Note that these are often generic or historic syllabi, and so should NOT be used in lieu of a specific section's syllabus.
1000-Level Courses
These are normally large courses (up to 350 students) designed to provide students with a basic knowledge of key global historical developments and to introduce them to issues of historical analysis. In HIST 1210 and HIST 1220 (and in special sections of HIST 1010 and HIST 1020), lectures are complemented by in-class discussions facilitated in smaller break-out class sections.
2000-Level Courses
These are medium-sized courses (up to 35 students) designed to deepen students’ knowledge of historical developments in broad geographic regions and increase their understanding of the key events, issues and concepts that shaped particular historical periods.
3000-Level Courses
These are medium-sized courses (up to 35 students) designed to familiarize students with thematic historical questions and issues that are not primarily defined by place and time. These courses allow students to develop a detailed understanding of a particular historical context, theme or issue in order to articulate their own interpretations and analyses of history and/or historiographical debates.
Historian's Craft (HIST 3800)
This is a special class for history majors which introduces the process of researching, writing and presenting an original historical research project.
5000-Level Courses
These are small-sized courses (up to 15 students) designed to give students opportunities to master historical research, writing and oral communication. These courses focus on closely defined periods /geographic areas or key historical developments, and encourage students to identify and pursue their own original research interests within this framework. They are taught in conjunction with parallel graduate courses at the 6000 level.
Senior Thesis (HIST 4950)
This is the capstone course of the history major. In HIST 4950, students conduct independent and original historical research. Toward the end of the semester, students will give a public presentation of their work and submit a research paper.