Frequently Asked Questions for Future Undergraduate Students

What degree can I get in History?
How do I become a History major?
How will I get advised as a History major?
Will I have to meet with my advisor every semester?
How many History classes will I have to take for a major?
How many History classes will I be allowed to take?
How can I earn Honors in History?
I plan to major in another subject but I'm interested in History. What will I have to do to get a minor in History?
If I plan to have a double major in History and another subject, will I have two sets of General Education requirements to meet?
I am a non-degree student. May I take History courses anyway?
May I audit a History class instead of taking it for credit?
I took an Advanced Placement class in History in high school. Can I get credit for it, or will I have to take a similar class here?
I think I have already mastered the content of a particular course. Can I get credit by examination instead of taking the course?
If I already have credit hours in History from another school, can I apply them toward your B.A. degree?
I can't take classes on your campus. Do you offer any alternatives?
May I take Regents Online Degree Programs (TN eCampus (formerly RODP)) courses?
I have already been admitted to the university and am trying to enroll in a History class, but the system tells me it is closed. Is there any way I can enroll in the class?
What do I need to do to get certification to teach History in Tennessee schools?
What are your faculty members like?
What student organizations do you have?
I have lots of questions that aren't in this FAQ. Where can I find answers?

What degree can I get in History?

At the undergraduate level we offer the Bachelor of Arts degree (get a brochure about this program (pdf)), which you may earn in on-campus classes or in our Bachelor of Arts Online Program (get a brochure about this program (pdf)), or by a combination of both. Part of your work may be done through the Regents Online Degree Programs and Study Abroad. Our honors program is one of the oldest such programs in the university, and if you qualify you may participate in the university's honors program as well. Completion of these programs will not give you a degree as such, but there will be a statement on your diploma that you graduated with University Honors or Honors in History, or both.

How do I become a History major?

If you declare History as your major upon admission to the university, you will be a History major. Later in your career, if you are advised by the Academic Advising Center, you may transfer from it. In other cases, you must go to the office of the College of Arts and Sciences in 107 Scates Hall to declare the History major.

How will I get advised as a History major?

Dr Chrystal Goudsouzian, 143 Mitchell Hall, 901.678.5339, is the Undergraduate Advising Coordinator. All new History majors, or those students interested in the possibility of pursing the History major or minor, may e-mail her to set up an advising appointment. Amanda Lee Savage, 145 Mitchell Hall, 901.678.1677, advises students who primarily take online courses.

Will I have to meet with my advisor every semester?

You must consult with the advisor, but not necessarily in person. Advising can be done by e-mail if you are confident in your course planning and only need registration clearance. For help in planning your courses, please make an appointment.

How many History classes will I have to take for a major?

You must complete 33 semester hours in History courses, including HIST 1110, 1120, 2010, 2020, and 21 additional upper-division semester hours. Of the 21 upper division hours required for the major, a maximum of 12 may be taken in any one field (African, Ancient Asian, European, Latin American, Middle Eastern, United States). At least 3 of the 21 upper-division hours must be taken outside of the European and United States fields.

How many History classes will I be allowed to take?

You may take as many History classes as you wish, but if you were admitted to the university before Fall 2012 only 42 hours of HIST courses will count toward the 120 hours required for graduation. If you were admitted for Fall 2012 or later there is no limit on the number of HIST courses.

How can I earn Honors in History?

It is difficult to answer this question in a few words. You can find full details on our page on the Honors Program in History.

I plan to major in another subject but I'm interested in History. What will I have to do to get a minor in History?

The minor in History requires completion of 21 semester hours in history courses, including HIST 1110, 1120, 2010, 2020, and 9 additional upper-division semester hours.

If I plan to have a double major in History and another subject, will I have two sets of General Education requirements to meet?

No. General Education requirements apply to all degrees. But over and beyond the General Education requirements, colleges and departments have additional specific requirements for each degree and each major. Especially if your second major is in another college, these requirements may involve considerably more course work. You should consult with advisors in both majors for information about these specific requirements.

I am a non-degree student. May I take History courses anyway?

Yes. If you aren't going for a degree, there is no limit at all to the number of courses you may take in any subject.

May I audit a History class instead of taking it for credit?

Yes, if you are a registered student at The University of Memphis and you have the prior approval of the instructor and the department chair. Fees for audits will be assessed on the same basis as fees for credit courses.

If you are not enrolled for credit courses you may register for audit courses with the approval of the Office of Admissions and the appropriate department chair. You must have the equivalent of high school graduation or be at least 18 years of age. Clearance will be for one term only; subsequent enrollment will require an application for readmission. As with registered students, fees for audits are assessed on the same basis as fees for credit courses.

If you are a totally and permanently disabled Tennessee resident, incapacitated from working at an income-producing occupation, or a Tennessee resident 60 years or older, you may audit courses on a space-available basis without paying tuition charges.

I took an Advanced Placement class in History in high school. Can I get credit for it, or will I have to take a similar class here?

The University of Memphis participates in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. To be eligible for credit, students must score a 3, 4, or 5 on the CEEB Advanced Placement Tests. To see what credit you may be granted, refer to the Advanced Placement Table of the Admissions Office.

I think I have already mastered the content of a particular course. Can I get credit by examination instead of taking the course?

We offer credit by examination for History 2010 (U.S. before 1877) and History 2020 (U.S. since 1877) through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). See the departmental policy about CLEP (pdf).

You must make arrangements for taking CLEP examinations through the University of Memphis Testing Center.

If I already have credit hours in History from another school, can I apply them toward your B.A. degree?

Yes. But regardless of how many hours you transfer, you must earn at least 6 hours in History credits here, as well as satisfying other degree requirements.

You should be aware that there are certain restrictions on how many credit hours from other educational institutions can be transferred for degree purposes. The restrictions are too complicated to be explained here; consult the sections in the undergraduate catalog that deal with residence requirements and transfer credits.

I can't take classes on your campus. Do you offer any alternatives?

Yes. Many of our undergraduate courses are taught at satellite campuses. Search for off-campus classes in the Registrar's schedule of classes for the current or upcoming semesters.

Our Online Bachelor of Arts in History Program is ideal for you (get a brochure about this program (pdf)). You will be able to get your degree without necessarily setting foot on campus (of course, you may combine its offerings with on-campus classes, too).

Some of your courses may be available, depending on current schedules, through the Regents Online Degree Programs.

You may even take some courses through Study Abroad. For many years, Dr Dennis Laumann has taken a group of students to Ghana in the Ghana Study Abroad Program, which gives academic credit as well as cultural experience. From time to time, other courses are arranged, such as the one that Dr Laumann and Dr Daniel Unowsky conducted during the summer of 2009 in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic in connection with a study of genocide.

May I take Regents Online Degree Programs (TN eCampus (formerly RODP)) courses?

Although Regents courses are designed for students in the Regents Online Degree Programs, students at The University of Memphis are allowed to take them, and many can be used to satisfy the University's General Education requirements and College of Arts and Sciences requirements. You should consult with your advisor before enrolling in any Regents courses.

I have already been admitted to the university and am trying to enroll in a History class, but the system tells me it is closed. Is there any way I can enroll in the class?

Perhaps. If the class is closed because of heavy enrollment, the instructor may or may not be willing to accept more students. Some classes may be closed to students who do not meet the prerequisites for them and you may have to show that you do meet the requirements. You will find full instructions in a PDF form for requesting enrollment in a closed class.

What do I need to do to get certification to teach History in Tennessee schools?

The College of Education, Health and Human Sciences has programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Consult the information about licensure requirements and the Teacher Education Program and/or the Master of Arts in Teaching.

What are your faculty members like?

The Department of History at The University of Memphis can give you good training. We have more than two dozen well-trained scholars with expertise in most time periods, regions of the world, and subject matter. All our full-time faculty members hold a doctorate degree. Some of your classes may be taught by teaching assistants or part-time instructors. All of our teaching assistants and part-time instructors are required to hold a master's degree; many of our part-time instructors hold a doctorate degree. Read about our faculty.

What student organizations do you have?

You will be associated with fine students. Both undergraduates and graduate students may join the Epsilon Nu chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honorary organization for history. Undergraduates may become members upon achieving a GPA of at least 3.1 for at least 12 hours of history (you need not be a History major, therefore) and an overall GPA of at least 3.0. Anyone is welcome to attend its pizza lunches, which are held several times a semester to hear presentations on historical subjects.

I have lots of questions that aren't in this FAQ. Where can I find answers?

The links on our page for undergraduate students may be all you need. Be sure to look at our brochure about the B.A. program (pdf) and our brochure about the Online B.A. program (pdf). If you still have questions, send an e-mail message to Dr Dennis Laumann, the Director of Undergraduate Studies — he will be glad to help you.