History
College of Arts & Sciences
The Department of History cultivates in undergraduates a lasting curiosity about the world and imparts useful tools for understanding and participating in it responsibly. With an emphasis on critical reading and writing, discriminating research skills and persuasive communication, the history major prepares students for a variety of occupations in the fields of business, government, nonprofit, education and many more. Our courses frequently focus on themes such as the history of Gender, Race and Power; War and Society; Empire and Colonialism; and Religion and Society, and students may choose history majors or minors focusing on any of these themes or choose general history. Students are guided in their path by a diverse faculty that includes fourteen recipients of the UW Distinguished Teaching Award — more than any other unit on campus. Our faculty’s expertise covers nearly every continent on earth, throughout the chronological span of written history.
Major category:
Minor available
Curricular options: General History, History of War and Society, History of Religion and Society, History of Empire and Civilization, History of Race, Gender and Power
Area(s) of interest: Social sciences
websiteDegree requirements
Applicant type
First-year students can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)
An application for general admission to the UW is required for all transfer students. UW accepts general applications for Autumn and Winter with some select majors allowing applications in Spring. Review your intended major’s website for information about which quarters it is open for admission.
Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.
Use the information below to help you prepare for this major. Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.
- Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
- Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
- UW college and school graduation requirements
Department admission information
Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.
Courses REQUIRED for admission:
- 10 credits of History coursework with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50
- 10 credits of composition/writing courses with a minimum grade of 2.0 for each course
Entering transfer information:
Total undergraduates: 180
Total from Washington community colleges: 35
Entering transfer GPA (from WA community colleges):
3.75 – 4.00: 7
3.50 – 3.74: 14
3.25 – 3.49: 5
3.00 – 3.24: 5
2.75 – 2.99: <5
2.50 – 2.74: <5
2.49 and below: <5