What you need to know about the History major as a transfer student

• The History major requires ten (10) classes total, five at the 200 level or above and five at the 300 level or above.
• Included in the ten classes are History 202 Doing History and a Junior/Senior Colloquium (HISTORY 491, 496, 497, or 499).
• Within the ten classes, students complete a two-course survey sequence that focuses on a particular geographic region, time period, or thematic topic; at least four regional distribution categories out of seven available (Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East/Central Asia, Latin America, United States/Canada, and Transregional/Global); and a pre-1800 requirement.
• Students can transfer in a maximum of five (5) History classes from outside institutions.
• Students who wish to transfer in classes will need to meet with a History Department advisor and present syllabi for review to determine transferability to the major and assess level unless previous classes have a direct equivalency listed on the Transfer Credit Equivalency guide. 
• There are no prerequisites for the History major.

Recommended Transfer Pathway

Take history courses that are of interest to you at your transfer institution. We strongly encourage transfer students to meet with a department advisor early on in their time at U-M to discuss their individual circumstances and goals. The department advisor will outline the major, review syllabi, clarify how previous courses will count toward course totals and requirements, and ultimately apply transfer credit to the major, as well as introduce students to features of the department, potential faculty mentors, and research opportunities.

If a student is interested in earning a teaching credential in history in the State of Michigan, they should plan to take both halves of the US and world history surveys (the equivalent of U-M HISTORY 260 and 261 and HISTORY 239 and 240), and those courses are frequently offered at community colleges.

Courses you will have to take after you transfer to complete the History major

Remaining requirements depend on individual circumstances, but at a minimum transfer students will need to complete five (5) History classes in residence, including courses taken through CGIS-sponsored study abroad programs.

We ask new majors to take HISTORY 202 Doing History the semester after they declare. By the end of the program, students will need to take a Junior/Senior Colloquium (HISTORY 491, 496, 497, or 499), which are research courses.

Completing General Degree Requirements as a History Major

Courses that transfer with the U-M subject HISTORY cannot be used for LSA Area Distribution for History majors. You will have to take courses outside History to fulfill Area Distribution for the Humanities, Social Sciences, and ID categories.

For more information

• For a requirements checklist for the History major, click here.
• For a list of approved survey sequences, click here.   In addition, a department advisor can approve alternative sequences in cases where a student takes two courses that are conceptually related.
• For more information about the structure of the History major, click here.
• To schedule an appointment with a department advisor, click here.