General Information

Welcome to the Undergraduate Program

If you are interested in people, in how they interact with and shape their social and natural worlds, then you are probably interested in history. Whether you are looking for courses, seek to complete a minor or are interested in a history major, here are a few things you should know.

Course Numbering

The levels of history courses are not tied to a particular point in your studies and they don't build on each other in ways courses do in other departments. Rather, the course numbering indicates the workload associated with each class. Courses at the 100 level target the broadest possible audiences and serve as general introductions to the discipline with a manageable workload and no major research assignments. Courses at the 200 level serve introductory courses for majors and electives for non-majors. Most survey broad topics and geographical regions. There is no difference between 300 and 400 level courses. The topics covered vary widely as do individual formats, but reading and writing assignments tend to be more challenging.

History 202, “Doing History”

This course is the foundation of the history major, required of all students who declare a history major as of Fall 2012, and restricted to history majors. Students take History 202 in the semester following their declaration.
History 202 introduces students to the discipline of history and the skill set used by historians to prepare students for work in more advanced courses. You will engage with a wide range of sources and learn how historians analyze and interpret them. Moreover, you will become familiar with the kinds of questions historians ask and how they go about answering them by learning about key debates in the field.

The Department conducts special registration process for History 202. Multiple sections will be offered starting in the Winter 2013. To request an override to a section of History 202 contact the academic coordinator at sheilaw@umich.edu.

Overrides and Waitlists

Some courses require an override before a student can enroll. Pick up a form in the department Main Office, obtain a signature approving your registration from the instructor and return the form to the department. Instructors may request overrides on behalf of their students via email by contacting the history service staff at umhistory@umich.edu.

Some history classes are filled to capacity before the term starts. Students may continue to registers for the waitlist of such courses. As enrollment shifts during the first weeks of classes overrides are issued automatically in waitlist order up to the first day of class as space becomes available. Overrides are issued by email and students have two days to register before the override expires. At this point the space in the class will be offered to another student on the waitlist. After the first day of classes, no override will issued automatically. Students must attend the first two classes and obtain permission to register from the instructor.

Independent Study

For the most self-motivated, well-organized and ambitious students, History 395 can be used to explore topics otherwise not covered by our course offerings. It can also be used to work on a special research project or complete intensive reading of secondary scholarship in a given field. Students must obtain the consent of the faculty member with whom they wish to study. Generally, faculty are reluctant to accept independent study projects, unless they already know the student well from previous classes.

Grade Grievances

Instructors in the History Department are expected to set fair and consistent grading procedures for their courses. Students can inquire about a grade and initiate an appeal when if they think that a grade was unfairly. First the student needs to consult with the instructor. If, after this inquiry, the student is not satisfied, s/he may communicate an appeal in writing, explaining the basis for the complaint and providing evidence in support of the complaint to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUGS). The DUGS will determine wether there is sufficient cause to convene a grievance board. Once a grievance board is convened, its decision is considered final. Familiarize yourself with the department’s step by step grievance procedure.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious offense and a grave violation of academic conduct. The History Department considers plagiarism to be one of the very worst forms of cheating. Students caught plagiarizing are subject to penalties ranging from a failing grade to formal disciplinary proceedings and academic probation administered by the Dean of Students. Learn more about plagiarism

NOTE: Whenever you pass off someone else’s work as your own, you are committing an act of plagiarism. Historians rely on the ideas, thoughts and writings of others but they ALWAYS acknowledge the original source of a quote, an idea or a reference in their writing. There are a number of ways to properly cite your sources, the most common can be found here.