Advising FAQ

While the degree audit and the undergraduate catalog have the full list of requirements, the History Department has created a useful advising packet with a checklist. A PDF version of the packet is located on the advising page!

The History Department never counts more than 4 lower-level (2000-level) history courses for the major. With permission, however, we will allow you to take fewer than 4 lower-level courses. In other words, rather than taking 4 lower- and 8 upper-level courses, a student may take 3 and 9 or 2 and 10.

The History Department does not provide overrides into full classes. If you wish to get into a full class, you must use the waitlist.

No. Because the History major requires only 12 classes, we do not allow substitutions from other disciplines regardless of the course title. These courses can, of course, serve as electives outside of the major.

All undergraduate History majors are required to enroll in HIS 4959 in the semester they intend to graduate. This zero-credit hour course guidesstudents with turning in the required portfolio for graduation. This portfolio should contain 8-12 examples (the originals not copies) of graded, written work (research papers, book reviews, essay exams, etc.)from History classes. The portfolios will be used by the HistoryDepartment in order to assess our program. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, contact [email protected]

The History degree is a Bachelor of Arts degree. At UCF, all B.A. students are required to have a foreign language proficiency equivalent to two semesters of a language. The most common way students meet this requirement is to take two semesters of a foreign language. The College of Arts and Humanities does not allow American Sign Language to count for this requirement. For more information on this university requirement, please contact the College of Arts and Humanities Student Advising (CAHSA) at [email protected] or 407-823-3312.

If you are seeking advising for the History MA then contact Dr. Amy Foster ([email protected]).

If you are seeking advising for the History MA then contact Dr. Scot French ([email protected]).

First of all, teaching young adults either in college or in community schools requires a graduate degree. In some fields, a graduate degree isa basic standard. The standard requirement for managerial positions in museums, historical associations and archives is a graduate degree in history or other relevant fields. Many organizations provide a better salary to an employee who has a graduate degree. If you are considering continuing towards a doctorate, the master’s program will prepare you to meet the standards of major research universities.

History provides you with all the benefits of a liberal arts degree. Liberal arts education emphasizes critical thinking and builds skills which can be applied to a multitude of careers. First, a degree in history will show to a potential employer that you have the confidence, skills, and maturity to earn a graduate college degree. It will suggest that you have studied and adapted to a variety of topics rather than focusing on a narrow skills area. It will also show that you are able to think more globally than many other job applicants.

You can enhance the applicability of history for your career preparation if you take advantage of many opportunities offered at UCF. Building on your graduate teaching and research assistantship, you may gain experience in formal and non-classroom education. Talking to your teachers about your areas of interest can help you focus on topics relevant to your future career. Depending on your concentration, you can obtain knowledge in areas such as women’s studies, Russian studies, and public presentation. You will develop awareness on issues of ethics, copyright laws and freedom of information. Having completed your degree will show that you can:

• Work independently
• Research, evaluate, and synthesize large amounts of information
• Write convincing reports
• Make oral presentations

You will also have knowledge of a second language. History is about making connections. It requires analysis, perceptiveness, and accuracy. All of these skills are appreciated in the professional job market.

Most history graduates are teachers in public and private schools, in universities, and in training programs. Other historians work as interpreters or educators in museums, libraries, national parks and historical sites. These roles require an understanding of history and culture, making public presentations, and a strong ability to communicate academic knowledge in an engaging way. Teachers also need to adapt material to different levels of student ability. They need to be able to assist others in developing critical thinking skills. Other opportunities exist as interviewers, surveyors, and research assistants in businesses, documentary projects, film and TV productions, education and public policy programs. Some historians might work for not-for-profit organizations in advocacy roles. Historians are a majority among curators, collection managers and archivists. They collect, study, and interpret unpublished documents, photographs and three-dimensional objects. This occupation requires an understanding of the historical context in which the records were created, the uses for which they were intended, their relationships to other sources, and their possible research use. They work in museums, archives, libraries and historical associations.