History 0150s are thematic courses on topics that cut across time and space and are open to all Brown undergraduates. They introduce students to methods of historical analysis, interpretation, and argument. Gateway courses are designed to offer students an introduction to problems and questions within a particular geography and generally across a shorter time period.

History Department first-year seminars (FYS) and second-year seminars (SYS) (restricted to first-years and sophomores) provide first-years and sophomores an introduction to a topic and to historical methods in a small class setting. 

First Year Seminars

Second-Year Seminars

History lecture courses address topics of broad interest chronologically, geographically and thematically defined. These courses are designed for History concentrators and non-concentrators alike. Our courses over 1000 are organized geographically as follows:

• 1000-1099 courses on Africa
• 1100-1199 courses on East Asia
• 1200-1299 courses on Europe
• 1300-1399 courses on Latin America
• 1400-1499 courses on Middle East
• 1500-1599 courses on North America
• 1600-1699 courses on South Asia
• 1700-1799 Global courses
• 1800-1899 Thematic courses

All concentrators must complete at least one capstone seminar (HIST 1960s & HIST 1970s series courses and selected HIST 1980 courses). These seminars are designed to serve as an intellectual culmination of the concentration. They provide students with an opportunity to delve deeply into a historical problem and to write a major research and/or analytical paper which serves as a capstone experience. Ideally, they will be taken in the field of focus and during the student’s junior or senior year. Students considering writing a senior honors thesis are advised to take a capstone in their junior year. These seminars are designed to serve as an intellectual culmination of the concentration. First-Year students are not advised to take these courses and only rarely are sophomores allowed to enroll.

Honors courses are a three-part series. They are all offered each semester annually.

Learn more about the honors programs

HIST 1992 | History Honors Workshop for Prospective Thesis Writers

Recommended for all those thinking about researching and writing a senior thesis. Must have an A- average in history courses to be considered for the History Honors Program. Completion of a thesis prospectus that receives an A or A- is admitted into the History Honors Program.

HIST 1993 | History Honors Workshop for Thesis Writers

Limited to seniors and juniors who have been admitted to the History Honors Program. First semester of writing the honors thesis.

HIST 1994 | History Honors Workshop for Thesis Writers

Limited to seniors and juniors who have been admitted to the History Honors Program. Second semester of writing the honors thesis.