skip to content

Global Affairs and World History Track

Up one level:

Bachelor of Arts in History

The Global Affairs and World History track is designed to offer an empirically rich curriculum for Stanford students interested in international affairs. The goal is to impart an understanding of today's world through a historical examination of its evolution, from the early modern to the contemporary era. This track appeals to students who are aiming for a career in the international arena, and who seek to inform themselves about the complexities of cultural diversity and spatial differentiation on the ground. Deploying both connective and comparative modes of analysis, majors who choose this track will acquire a robust understanding of the relevance of the past to current events.

The Global Affairs and World History track features gateway courses in Global Human Geography, a recommended skills component, a geographical concentration, and a core cluster of global and comparative offerings. Students choosing this track also develop proficiency in a foreign language at the second-year level or above. Incorporating primary sources in a language other than English into the capstone seminar or honors thesis is strongly encouraged.

Gateway Courses (two courses)— All students in Global Affairs & World History will complete the two-quarter Global Human Geography sequence, HISTORY 106A (Asia/Africa) and 106B (Europe & the Americas).

Geographical Cluster (four courses)—Students select four History courses in one geographic area, such as Europe, Latin America, Asia, Middle East, or Africa. The faculty coordinator must pre-approve all courses in this cluster.

Global and Comparative Courses (Methodological Cluster) (six courses): Majors selecting this track will take at least 6 thematic history courses of global scope. Current offerings are listed below.

Proficiency in a foreign language—Students electing this track must acquire proficiency in a foreign language through two years of college-level course work (second-year, third-quarter) or by passing a proficiency exam. Language courses do not count toward the 13 required courses in the major; students may, however, find it appealing to pair this track in the History major with a foreign language minor.

Skills Training—Students in the Global Affairs & World History track are encouraged to acquire technical proficiencies relevant for geo-historical analysis and fieldwork abroad. The following courses, while not required, are highly recommended, and either may be counted toward the Methodological Cluster requirement.

Those planning to pursue research overseas are also advised to enroll in the one-credit workshop, HISTORY 299X, International Field Research (spring quarter).

Overseas Study Experience—Students electing this track are strongly encouraged to study abroad, with a Stanford BOSP program or another program approved by the Directors of the track. Course work taken overseas can be accepted for credit in the track on a case by case basis, in consultation with a faculty coordinator.

Writing in the Major (WIM)—History's Writing in the Major requirement is satisfied by completing History 209S, Research Seminar for Majors. This course may be taken in either the junior or senior year, but not before completing the sources and methods seminar requirement. Students write a 20-25 page research essay. Original research and revision are important parts of the research essay. Students conduct substantial research in the libraries and must submit at least two drafts (a rough draft and a final draft) of the essay. Any student wishing to write an honors thesis should consider taking History 209S, Research Seminar for Majors, in the junior year and use it to begin work on the thesis.

History 209S fulfills the WIM requirement only. It does not fulfill geographical requirements or small group course requirements. Students select their research topics based on the general theme of the course in which they enroll. For 2011-12, the offerings are:

General Requirements—Like all history majors, students in this track must complete two lecture courses (one Europe or US, and one Africa, Asia, Middle East or Latin America), two 200-level courses, a Sources & Methods seminar, and HISTORY 209S, Research Seminar for Majors.

Copyright ©2011 Stanford University | Office of the University Registrar | Academic Year 2011-12 | Terms of Use | Copyright Complaints | Report a Problem with this site.