3 answers
Ella
Student
1
Question
Asked
552 views
What kind of college courses should I take to become a historian?
I love #history very much and it's what I would like to do when I graduate from High School and College. What kind of classes should I take?
Login to comment
3 answers
geny heywood
22
Answers
Updated
geny’s Answer
Your HS counselor can direct you Ella, meanwhile I hope you read Van Loon History of the World and all of Will and Ariel Durant's books...there are soooo many others. History is a wonderful subject too often neglected yet it directs people's future. Good luck. geny h
Thank you very much!
Ella
Angie G.
Former Admissions Counselor
4
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Angie’s Answer
Hi, Ella!
I agree with Geny's answer - definitely talk to your high school counselor for guidance right now in your high school time period.
Once you are getting ready to begin college, I would definitely get in contact with a professor from the university history department you are interested in attending. Or, you can also speak with an academic advisor from the university so you can set up a degree plan (you will most likely have to meet with an advisor at some point). For sure you will take basic survey (introductory) courses such as the first and second part of American history. Also, you are likely to take a world history class(es) and a preparatory research class which you will learn how to differentiate between primary and secondary sources (these are extremely important in historical research) and conduct historical writing - studying history in academia will require you to learn how to write and cite sources using the Chicago/Turabian citation format. You might also take an historiography course, but depending on the university, this might be more heavily emphasized in graduate school rather than in undergraduate studies (historiography is basically the history or study of the historical writings of a subject...it probably sounds confusing right now but you will learn to get comfortable with it in due time).
Hope the above helps! It's probably a lot of information overload, but if you have any more questions, just feel free to ask!
I agree with Geny's answer - definitely talk to your high school counselor for guidance right now in your high school time period.
Once you are getting ready to begin college, I would definitely get in contact with a professor from the university history department you are interested in attending. Or, you can also speak with an academic advisor from the university so you can set up a degree plan (you will most likely have to meet with an advisor at some point). For sure you will take basic survey (introductory) courses such as the first and second part of American history. Also, you are likely to take a world history class(es) and a preparatory research class which you will learn how to differentiate between primary and secondary sources (these are extremely important in historical research) and conduct historical writing - studying history in academia will require you to learn how to write and cite sources using the Chicago/Turabian citation format. You might also take an historiography course, but depending on the university, this might be more heavily emphasized in graduate school rather than in undergraduate studies (historiography is basically the history or study of the historical writings of a subject...it probably sounds confusing right now but you will learn to get comfortable with it in due time).
Hope the above helps! It's probably a lot of information overload, but if you have any more questions, just feel free to ask!
Kaylee Satterwhite
32
Answers
Stockbridge, Georgia
Updated
Kaylee’s Answer
once you get in college and tell them what field you are interested in they will give you a list of all the classes you will need to take!