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In today’s world, people who can research thoroughly, write effectively, speak eloquently, and think clearly are in great demand. Recent graduates of our programs are currently pursuing careers in a variety of professions, including law, business, journalism, academia, finance, government, the arts, science, education, and medicine. All have benefited as professionals, individuals, and citizens from their study of history. The study of history develops skills in research, writing, and critical thinking and provides a context for understanding the present world. History requires and develops flexible thinking as it normally employs inductive reasoning. Historians usually begin with a specific temporally and spatially defined issue and try to determine a pattern or cause for change over time. They move from the particular to the general and, as historians usually begin with an open-ended question, they often find themselves drawing on other disciplines to understand the problem.

The Department offers three kinds of undergraduate programs: Honours, Major Concentration, and Minor Concentration. Courses in History fall into one of the following FOUR areas: The Americas; Europe; Asia/Africa/Middle East; Global/Thematic. In each program, a specified number of credits may be selected from any single area. Each student’s program is worked out with an academic program adviser to suit the student’s specific needs within the general framework of the program.

Courses within each area are listed on the History Department’s website. Please refer to our website for a listing of courses being offered in 2014–2015 in each area.

Candidates entering the University as U0 or U1 students may, during their first year, take all courses at the 200 level, as well as courses at the 300 level for which they have prerequisites or permission from the instructor. First-Year Seminars are also available in History; see First-Year Seminar Courses.

Classical Studies offers an in-depth study of the languages, literature, history, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Students may complete one of the four standard undergraduate programs (Minor Concentration, Major Concentration, Honours, Joint Honours Component). The Minor Concentration and Major Concentration provide a useful complement for students in the arts and sciences. Two separate streams allow students to put emphasis either on the ancient languages or on the culture of the ancient Mediterranean. The Joint Honours and Honours degrees are designed to train students who wish to make Classics a basis for academic careers. They also offer students the prospect of favourable consideration for graduate and other professional schools.

All Classics degree options require students to choose courses from one or more of the following thematic areas:

• Classical Languages
• Classical Literature
• Ancient History
• Philosophy and Religion
• Modern Greek

The current list of courses within each thematic area is available on the Classical Studies website: www.mcgill.ca/classics/teaching/thematic-areas.