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Department of History | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Summer 2025

History Honours

Bachelor of Arts

Admission Requirements

History honours is a competitive entry program that accepts a maximum of 15 students per year. Declared history majors with at least 75 units completed and a CGPA of at least 3.0 may apply after the Spring term for the following Fall. 

Program Requirements

Students complete 120 units, as specified below.

Honours Requirements

Honours student complete all of

History major requirements plus all of:

HIST 300 - Historiography (4)
HIST 400 - Methodology (4)
HIST 494 - Honours Seminar (4)
HIST 498 - Honours Essay (4)

Students are recommended to take HIST 494 and HIST 498 in the same term. All work must be completed within six terms of program admission.

An honours degree requires at least 60 upper division units so in addition to the history major and honours requirements, students must take at least 12 additional upper division elective units from any department. 

Lower Division Requirements

To enter, students must complete 18 units of 100 and 200 division history courses. 100 and 200 division courses introduce four groupings of history course offerings: Africa, Asia, Middle East; the Americas; Europe; Global/Comparative.

Students entering 400 division seminars should have an appropriate background in 100, 200 and/or 300 division history. Normally, students should complete 45 units (or equivalent) prior to enrollment in any upper division history course. Students must complete at least six lower division history units before enrolling in 300 division work and nine lower division history units before enrolling in 400 division work.

Students should plan lower division course work with upper division requirements in mind. The program offers a wide range of courses in four lower division groups, providing introduction to a broad curriculum. A careful selection of lower division courses lays the foundation for specialization in specific upper division areas. For this reason, students should complete at least one course from at least three of the four lower division groups.

History majors may count GSWS 201 toward the required 18 lower division history units.

Group 1 – Africa, Asia, Middle East

HIST 146 - Africa after the Transatlantic Slave Trade (3)
HIST 151 - The Modern Middle East (3)
HIST 206 - Imperial Japan (ca. 1868-1952) (3)
HIST 231 - History of Africa to the 19th Century: From Ancient Times to the Slave Trade (3)
HIST 236 - Japan from 1603 to 1867: Peasants, Merchants, Warriors (3)
HIST 243 - A Brief History of Modern India - from British Colony to Independent Republic (3)
HIST 244 - Colonialism and Nationalism in South Asia (3)
HIST 249 - Classical Islamic Civilization (3)
HIST 252 - Islamic India (3)
HIST 254 - China to 1800 (3)
HIST 255 - China since 1800 (3)
HIST 276 - History of the Modern Mediterranean World 1500 to the Present (3) or HUM 276 - Social, Economic, and Political History of the Mediterranean (3)

Group 2 – The Americas

HIST 101 - Canada to Confederation (3)
HIST 102W - Canada since Confederation (3)
HIST 104 - The Americas from Colonization to Independence (3)
HIST 204 - The Social History of Canada (3)
HIST 212 - The United States to 1877 (3)
HIST 213 - The United States Since 1877 (3)
HIST 214 - Quebec Society, Culture, and Politics (3)

Group 3 – Europe

HIST 106 - The Making of Modern Europe (3)
HIST 215 - The Making of the British Isles (3)
HIST 220 - Late Medieval and Renaissance Europe (3)
HIST 223 - Early Modern Europe, 1500-1789 (3)
HIST 224 - Europe from the French Revolution to the First World War (3)
HIST 225 - 20th Century Europe (3)
HIST 275 - From Alexander to the Caesars: The Hellenistic and Roman Worlds to the End of Antiquity (4) or HUM 275 - From Alexander to Muhammad: The Hellenic and Roman Worlds to the End of Antiquity (3)
HIST 276 - History of the Modern Mediterranean World 1500 to the Present (3) or HUM 276 - Social, Economic, and Political History of the Mediterranean (3)
HIST 277 - History of Greek Civilization (3) or HUM 277 - History of Greek Civilization (3)
HIST 279 - Greece in the 20th Century (3) or HUM 279 - Greece in the 20th Century (3)
HIST 288 - History of Christianity to 1500 (3)

Group 4 – Global/Comparative

HIST 104 - The Americas from Colonization to Independence (3)
HIST 111 - Histories of Technology (3)
HIST 115 - History of Sexuality (3)
HIST 130 - Introduction to Global History (3)
HIST 132 - Global Environmental History (3)
HIST 135 - Capitalism and the Making of the Modern World (3)
HIST 200 - Making History: Introduction to Historical Research (3)
HIST 249 - Classical Islamic Civilization (3)
HIST 265 - Global History from the Revolutionary Age to the Present (3)
HIST 276 - History of the Modern Mediterranean World 1500 to the Present (3) or HUM 276 - Social, Economic, and Political History of the Mediterranean (3)
HIST 288 - History of Christianity to 1500 (3)

Upper Division Requirements

Major students obtain credit in at least 32 units (eight courses) of 300 and 400 division work; 12 units (three courses) must be in 400 division courses. Students must complete at least one course from each group. Global/Comparative courses that are also included in another group may only be counted towards fulfilling the upper division course requirement for one group.

Group 1 – Africa, Asia, Middle East

HIST 344 - Themes in Modern East Africa (4)
HIST 348 - A History of Twentieth Century South Africa (4)
HIST 350 - The Ottoman Empire and Turkey (4)
HIST 352 - Religion and Politics in Modern Iran (4)
HIST 354 - Imperialism and Modernity in the Middle East (4)
HIST 355 - The Arab Middle East in the Twentieth Century (4)
HIST 366 - Social and Cultural History of Modern China (4)
HIST 367 - History of the People's Republic of China (4)
HIST 368W - Selected Topics in the History of the Wider World (4)
HIST 371 - The Asia-Pacific War in Modern Japanese History (4)
HIST 390 - Studies in History I (4) *
HIST 391 - Studies in History II (4) *
HIST 441 - Women and Law in the Mediterranean (4) or HUM 441 - Women, Property, and the Law in the Mediterranean (4)
HIST 456 - The Late Ottoman Empire: State, Culture and Social Transformation, 1750-1923 (4)
HIST 457 - The Turkish Republic: Politics, Society, and Culture, 1918-Present (4)
HIST 464 - Problems in Modern Asian History (4)
HIST 465 - The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict (4)
HIST 467 - Modern Egypt (4)
HIST 468W - Problems in the History of Religion (4)
HIST 469 - Islamic Social and Intellectual History (4)
HIST 471W - Women in Japanese History (1600-1952) (4)
HIST 472W - Problems in World History (4)
HIST 473W - Problems in Southern African History (4)
HIST 479W - Contentious Problems in Modern Chinese History (4)
HIST 485 - Studies in History I (4) *
HIST 486 - Studies in History II (4) *

* when topic is applicable

Group 2 – The Americas

HIST 323 - The Canadian Prairies (4)
HIST 325 - History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America to 1850 (4) or INDG 325 - History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America to 1850 (4)
HIST 326 - History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America Since 1850 (4) or INDG 326 - History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America Since 1850 (4)
HIST 327 - Canadian Labor and Working Class History (4)
HIST 330W - Controversies in Canadian History (4)
HIST 373 - Conquest in North America, 1500-1900 (4)
HIST 374W - Selected Topics in the History of the Americas (4)
HIST 376 - North American West (4)
HIST 377 - Environmental History (4)
HIST 382 - African-American History, since 1865 (4)
HIST 390 - Studies in History I (4) *
HIST 391 - Studies in History II (4) *
HIST 424 - Problems in the Cultural History of Canada (4)
HIST 425W - Gender and History (4)
HIST 427 - Topics in Indigenous Histories (4)
HIST 428 - Problems in the Social and Economic History of Canada (4)
HIST 430 - French Americas (4)
HIST 432 - Problems in Environmental History (4)
HIST 436 - British Columbia (4)
HIST 440 - Selected Topics in US History (4)
HIST 442W - America's Empires (4)
HIST 443W - Aboriginal Peoples, History and the Law (4) or INDG 443W - Aboriginal Peoples, History and the Law (4)
HIST 444W - Conceptualizing Atlantic Canada (4)
HIST 447W - The Nikkei Experience in North America (4)
HIST 454 - Problems in the History of Sexuality (4)
HIST 455W - Race in the Americas (4)
HIST 485 - Studies in History I (4) *
HIST 486 - Studies in History II (4) *

* when topic is applicable

Group 3 – Europe

HIST 304 - Alexander the Great and the Quest for World Empire (4) or HUM 304 - Alexander the Great and the Quest for World Empire (4)
HIST 307 - Selected Topics in Hellenic Studies (4)
HIST 315 - Politics and Society in England, 1500-1707 (4)
HIST 319 - Modern France (4)
HIST 320 - European Reformation (4)
HIST 332 - Politics and Culture in Modern Germany (4)
HIST 334 - The Making of Imperial Russia (4)
HIST 335 - The Soviet Project (4)
HIST 336 - Ideas and Society in Early Modern Europe (4)
HIST 338 - World War II (4)
HIST 341 - History of Women in Europe: Ideas and Debates from the Renaissance to the Present (4)
HIST 345W - Selected Topics in European History (4)
HIST 349 - Rome after Rome: The Byzantine Middle Ages from the end of Antiquity to the Crusades (4) or HUM 349 - Rome after Rome: The Byzantine Middle Ages from the end of Antiquity to the Crusades (4)
HIST 359 - Constructing the Nation State in the Balkans and the Mediterranean (4) or HUM 359 - Constructing the Nation State in the Balkans and the Mediterranean (4)
HIST 362 - Ireland from the Penal Era to Partition (4)
HIST 390 - Studies in History I (4) *
HIST 391 - Studies in History II (4) *
HIST 401 - Problems in Modern German History (4)
HIST 402 - Renaissance Italy (4)
HIST 404 - Problems in Early Modern English History (4)
HIST 407 - Problems in Modern British History (4)
HIST 415 - Victorian Britain (4)
HIST 416 - The French Revolution (4)
HIST 417W - Problems in Modern French History (4)
HIST 419W - Problems in Modern Russian History (4)
HIST 420 - Themes in Russian Imperial History (4)
HIST 422 - Greece, 1935-1944: Occupation and Resistance (4)
HIST 438W - Problems in the History of the British Empire (4)
HIST 441 - Women and Law in the Mediterranean (4) or HUM 441 - Women, Property, and the Law in the Mediterranean (4)
HIST 460 - Themes in Byzantine History (4) or HUM 460 - Themes in Byzantine History (4)
HIST 462W - Religion, Ethnicity, and Politics in Twentieth Century Northern Ireland (4)
HIST 476 - History of Modern Greece (4) or HUM 476 - History of Modern Greece (4)
HIST 485 - Studies in History I (4) *
HIST 486 - Studies in History II (4) *
HUM 333W - Italian Films, Italian Humanities (4)
HUM 335 - Modern Italian Culture (4)

* when topic is applicable

Group 4 – Global/Comparative

HIST 300 - Historiography (4)
HIST 334 - The Making of Imperial Russia (4)
HIST 335 - The Soviet Project (4)
HIST 338 - World War II (4)
HIST 341 - History of Women in Europe: Ideas and Debates from the Renaissance to the Present (4)
HIST 358 - Development, Aid and Difference in Historical Perspective (4) or IS 358 - Development, Aid and Difference in Historical Perspective (4)
HIST 372 - City Life (4)
HIST 373 - Conquest in North America, 1500-1900 (4)
HIST 376 - North American West (4)
HIST 390 - Studies in History I (4) *
HIST 391 - Studies in History II (4) *
HIST 420 - Themes in Russian Imperial History (4)
HIST 425W - Gender and History (4)
HIST 441 - Women and Law in the Mediterranean (4) or HUM 441 - Women, Property, and the Law in the Mediterranean (4)
HIST 442W - America's Empires (4)
HIST 447W - The Nikkei Experience in North America (4)
HIST 451 - Oral History: Theories and Practices (4)
HIST 454 - Problems in the History of Sexuality (4)
HIST 463W - Rebellion and Revolution: Topics in the Theory and Practice of Resistance (4)
HIST 468W - Problems in the History of Religion (4)
HIST 469 - Islamic Social and Intellectual History (4)
HIST 472W - Problems in World History (4)
HIST 485 - Studies in History I (4) *
HIST 486 - Studies in History II (4) *

* when topic is applicable

Students in the history honours program have the option of taking concentrations to enhance their programs.

Concentration in British History and Irish History

Students may qualify for this concentration by completing

HIST 215 - The Making of the British Isles (3)

and one of

HIST 315 - Politics and Society in England, 1500-1707 (4)
HIST 362 - Ireland from the Penal Era to Partition (4)

and four of

HIST 404 - Problems in Early Modern English History (4)
HIST 407 - Problems in Modern British History (4)
HIST 415 - Victorian Britain (4)
HIST 438W - Problems in the History of the British Empire (4)
HIST 462W - Religion, Ethnicity, and Politics in Twentieth Century Northern Ireland (4)

Concentration in Early Modern World History

Students qualify for this concentration by completing three of

HIST 101 - Canada to Confederation (3)
HIST 104 - The Americas from Colonization to Independence (3)
HIST 252 - Islamic India (3)
HIST 254 - China to 1800 (3)
HIST 325 - History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America to 1850 (4)
HIST 373 - Conquest in North America, 1500-1900 (4)
HIST 430 - French Americas (4)
HIST 442W - America's Empires (4)
HIST 472W - Problems in World History (4)

and three of

HIST 220 - Late Medieval and Renaissance Europe (3)
HIST 223 - Early Modern Europe, 1500-1789 (3)
HIST 315 - Politics and Society in England, 1500-1707 (4)
HIST 320 - European Reformation (4)
HIST 336 - Ideas and Society in Early Modern Europe (4)
HIST 402 - Renaissance Italy (4)
HIST 404 - Problems in Early Modern English History (4)
HIST 416 - The French Revolution (4)
HIST 472W - Problems in World History (4)

At least four of these six required courses must be at the upper division. Other courses with appropriate content can be used for credit upon prior application to the advisor.

Concentration in Middle Eastern and Islamic History

Students may qualify for this concentration by completing two of

HIST 151 - The Modern Middle East (3)
HIST 249 - Classical Islamic Civilization (3)
HIST 252 - Islamic India (3)

and four of

HIST 350 - The Ottoman Empire and Turkey (4)
HIST 352 - Religion and Politics in Modern Iran (4)
HIST 354 - Imperialism and Modernity in the Middle East (4)
HIST 355 - The Arab Middle East in the Twentieth Century (4)
HIST 456 - The Late Ottoman Empire: State, Culture and Social Transformation, 1750-1923 (4)
HIST 457 - The Turkish Republic: Politics, Society, and Culture, 1918-Present (4)
HIST 465 - The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict (4)
HIST 467 - Modern Egypt (4)
HIST 469 - Islamic Social and Intellectual History (4)

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Honours Degree Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) honours programs, students complete at least 120 units, which includes

  • at least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
  • satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
  • students complete at least 60 upper division units, which must include at least 48 units in upper division courses in a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences honours program; no more than 15 upper division units that have been transferred from another institution can be used toward this requirement
  • at least 60 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
  • students complete lower division requirements for at least one Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences honours program
  • students are required to achieve an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division CGPA of at least 3.0, and an honours program CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 3.0

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.

Languages Other Than English

Although not required for a history BA, it is useful to be acquainted with a language other than English for many history courses. Students, especially those who intend to pursue graduate courses, should consider including a second language in their programs.