<p>Is it considered a strong department? History is what I want to major in (I think)...I know a lot of people who think a history major is kinda pointless. Anyone by chance majoring in history and have anything to say about that? What are you plans for after graduation?</p>
<p>Any info, critiques, etc. on the department would be great.</p>
<p>laxguy,</p>
<p>i am a 3rd year history major at UVa. I can give you a pretty decent idea of what you're getting into. The department is one of the larger (150 majors i think), and i think one of the better at the school.</p>
<p>you need to take 11 classes to complete the major, 5 of which are 300 level or above. There are a various slew of required areas to take (1 has to be US history, 1 pre 1750 europe, 1 post 1750 europe, 2 non western)</p>
<p>most intro history courses are 200 level - which includes a lecture (about 100-200 students) 2x a week and a discussion (10-20 students) once a week with either a T.A. or the professor. 100 level classes are 12 person seminars reserved for 1st and 2nd years (i never took one). 300 level classes are generally 30-60 students with a discussion (if the class is on the 60 end) or just meets 2/3x a week if its 30ish.</p>
<p>every history major must write a thesis (20-30 page paper), which is taken basicly 1 on 1 with a professor generally during your 4th year. This class will meet your 2nd writing requirement so you never really have to do it.</p>
<p>In a lot of the intro classes, you'll have a text book - and every intro history class i've taken the professor has at least been one of the authors on the text books. if you go to lecture you'll never have to open the text book. if you don't you should at least skim it. 300 level classes are lacking in the text book area, so you really need to go to lecture or else you're screwed. all the class from 100-400 are primary source heavy.</p>
<p>My biggest gripe about the department is that for the 200 level classes with T.A.s, your experience is extremely dependant on the quality of the T.A. If you get a crappy T.A., then the class will stink. this isn't a problem with 200 level classes where the professor leads the discussion sections. other than that, i think the department is pretty good.</p>
<p>Thanks jags--this is all really helpful!</p>
<p>What specifically are you studying? any idea what you want to do after graduation?</p>
<p>what specifically am i studying...hehe another short coming (or strength?) of the UVa history department. Theres no concentration at UVa - u just studying history - i guess my concentration will be whatever i write my thesis on.</p>
<p>after graduation i have might want to go to law school - or maybe teach a little - maybe both - havn't really given it much thought.</p>
<p>jags, in the 300 courses how is your grade determined (essays, tests, etc)</p>
<p>basicly the same as 200 level courses although you may write more.</p>
<p>in 1 of my classes i have to do 2 out of 3 papers 5-6 page papers, midterm, final, and a "participation grade"</p>
<p>in another one there are 4 quizzes (you can drop one), a 10 page paper, a final, and "participation"</p>
<p>in another i had 2 4 page papers, 1 7 page paper, 2 10 page papers, and "participation"</p>
<p>Participation grade? How is this determined in an impersonal class setting?</p>
<p>andrw313,</p>
<p>there are 2 ways. I'm in one history class that has about 45 people, and instead of having like 3 15 people discussions, the professor just has a discussion with 45 people on friday. He sends an attendence sheet around for everyone to sign. There are regular people who speak up, so those people i'm sure when grading comes around get a "boost" but i'm sure if you sign in every friday you'll get some credit.</p>
<p>Or like i said, all large history classes (60+) are broken down into discussion sections with under 20 students. these classes meet once a week. basicly you just talk about the source readings. A lot of professors have a rubrick (0-4) where 0 is cutting hte class to 4 being the godchild of information for that days discussion.</p>
<p>the 10% rule is a curse and a blessing. If you are disciplined enough to go to class, and contribute to discussion on an almost weekly basis, its free points. if you arn't that great about attending (a lot of these discussions are late thursday, early friday although some are conviently timed), and don't really prepare for them (a lot of the reading doesn't really need to be done to do well on tests/papers, depending on the professor) then its like an automatic drop in letter grade.</p>
<p>Love all the info Jags....don't know what I'm gonna do when I get deferred.</p>