Undergraduate Program

The Undergraduate Program

UNDED Advising

The Undergraduate Education Committee (UNDED) is a group of six to ten faculty members, elected each year, who serve as advisors to undergraduates with a major or concentration in History.  Members of the committee assist students on a range of topics. 

UNDED Members:

  • Approve plan of study forms (all Plan of Study Forms must be signed by a member of UNDED)
  • Determine if a course will count towards the specialization or elective requirements
  • Assist students with choosing a specialization
  • Provide general guidance on the major and concentration (for both prospective and current majors)
  • Note: While UNDED members approve Plan of Study Forms, ONLY the Director of Undergraduate Studies can approve Transfer Credit Forms. 

Membership of UNDED changes from year to year. Because of the large number of students, the History Department does not assign individual advisors. Students may see any member of UNDED for advising. Students are also welcome to seek informal advising from any faculty member; however a student working with a non-UNDED advisor must still consult with UNDED regarding the yearly Plan of Study form. Please see the Undergraduate Handbook for more information.

Please consult the list below for the most current roster (The list is updated by the beginning of each Fall Term and each Spring Term.  UNDED does not serve during Summer Term).  

For any administrative issues concerning the major or concentration (such as submitting the signed Plan of Study form or transfer of credit application materials), please contact the Undergraduate Administrator, Kimberly Solomon.  For additional information see the Undergraduate Handbook, list of courses, profiles of our faculty, and the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Plan of Study Form

The department requires that all students with a major and concentration complete Plan of Study Forms throughout their undergraduate career.  On the form, students declare their specialization, plan their courses for the year (though these may change), and ensure that they are meeting the requirements of their program.

History majors and concentrators are required to complete a Plan of Study Form at least twice – once in Spring of their Junior Year, and once in the Fall of their Senior Year.  (If students make any changes to their Plan of Study Form after Fall of Senior Year, they must submit an updated Plan of Study in the Spring of their Senior Year.)  

These forms, which are required for graduation certification, should be signed by a member of the Undergraduate Education Committee (UNDED) and returned to the Undergraduate Administrator in 413 Fayerweather Hall.

Plan of Study deadlines vary from year to year, but are generally in March for Juniors and October for Seniors. Exact deadlines will be sent to the Undergraduate Listserv.  Please see the Undergraduate Handbook for more information.  

SPRING 2020 UNDED Office Hours

Students are not assigned to individual advisors.  Please visit any of the Professors listed below during their office hours listed below.  Advising is not done over email.  

The below list is current as of 1/23/20

Professor Field/Specialty Office Office Hours
Neslihan Senocak (DUS) Medieval  324 FAY Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:20-1:20 PM
Richard Billows Ancient Greek and Roman Society 322M FAY Tuesday 12-1 PM, Thursday 1-2 PM 

Elizabeth Blackmar

 United States History 524 FAY Wednesdays 2:45-4:45 PM & by appointment
Paul Thomas Chamberlin  International History  516 FAY Tuesdays 2:30-4:30 PM
Matthew Connelly International History 403 FAY Thursdays 3-5 PM & by appointment
Matthew Jones History of Science   514 FAY By appointment
Rebecca Kobrin Jewish History 323 FAY Wednesdays 10:30 AM-noon
Marc Van De Mieroop Ancient History 424 FAY Tuesdays 2:10-4 PM
Mae Ngai United States History 520 FAY Mondays 1-3 PM
Degree Requirements

A member of UNDED must review and approve the specialization and breadth courses for both majors and concentrators by the junior year. In the senior year, a new form should be approved by UNDED if any changes have been made. Please see the Undergraduate Handbook for a more detailed explanation on selecting courses. 

REQUIREMENTS MAJORS CONCENTRATORS
Courses in History 9 courses (total) 6 courses (total)
Specialization 4 courses 3 courses
Breadth Requirement 3 courses outside specialization: 1 removed in time and 2 removed in space 2 courses outside specialization: 1 removed in time and 1 removed in space
Seminar Requirement 2 seminars, at least 1 in specialization None

 

  • Majors are required to complete 9 courses in history, 4 of which must be in a specialization defined in consultation with a member of UNDED. Majors must also fulfill a breadth requirement by taking 3 courses far removed from their specialization (one removed in time and two removed in space). Finally, majors must complete at least two seminars, one of which must be in the specialization.
  • Effective February 2018, concentrators must take 6 history courses, including 3 in their specialization. Concentrators must also take two breadth courses: one removed in time and one removed in space. There is no seminar requirement for concentrators.
Course Information

Undergraduates are welcome to choose from a variety of courses offered each term by both the Columbia and Barnard History Departments. Each term, some courses are also cross-listed with History, meaning they originate from other departments but are approved to count towards the major or concentration.

Please note some cross-listed courses have sections which are not taught by History faculty or affiliates; these individual sections do not count towards the History degree, even if they appear listed in the Columbia College Bulletin. For example: some sections of AFCV CC1020, ASCE UN1359, ASCE UN1361, or LACV CC1020 have sections every term which are not taught by History or affiliated faculty members; therefore, those sections cannot be applied to the major or concentration. Please check the faculty page for a full list of core and affiliated faculty members.

 

Career Exploration

We care deeply about our students’ career prospects and are proud of their success on the job market while at and after Columbia. We have partnered with the Center for Career Education (CCE) to provide tailored advising for both jobs and internships:

Career Exploration and Preparation
•Academic major exploration resources, such as the “What can you do with a degree in History?” tipsheet
• Individual career counseling, workshops, speaker events, and online resources to help with career planning and internship/job applications, interviewing, networking, negotiations, and the decision to pursue graduate school
• Industry-specific resources covering career paths, employers, professional associations, internship/job sites, and research opportunities

Employer Connections/Jobs and Internships
• LionSHARE internship/jobs database – Set up a job agent to be notified daily of internship and full time opportunities
• CCE Internship Programs – Gain experience through CCE’s domestic and international internship programs
• Career Events – Participate in Fall, Spring and Start-up Career Fairs, Industry Showcases, employer site visits, and Professionals in Residence to meet employers and alumni

Alumni Connections
• Alumni Connections – including alumni dinner and discussion series, Columbia Career Connections on LinkedIn and networking events

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