History is an ideal minor at UWM in that it pairs well with an especially wide array of majors. Every field, whether it be business, politics, the law, the arts, architecture, engineering, or the sciences, has its own history. Being able to draw on and learn from those histories is an indispensable advantage for those looking to build fulfilling careers and develop into active leaders in their communities. 

Like the department’s majors, History minors also enjoy the opportunity to work on research projects such as the Encyclopedia of Milwaukee. This is a distinct advantage for UWM students. At most large, research universities, research opportunities for undergraduates are limited. Participating in undergraduate research is an excellent way to enhance your resume for graduate school or employment.

History is also available at UWM as on online minor - all of the classes for the minor can be competed online if desired, or students can mix-and-match assorted online and traditional-format classes.

Requirements

History minors are required to take a minimum of 18 credits of coursework distributed as follows:

Select at least 3 credits in European history3
Select at least 3 credits in U.S. history3
Select at least 3 credits in non-Western or global history3
Select at least 9 credits in courses numbered 300 or above taken in residence at UWM9
Total Credits18

History minors must maintain a 2.0 GPA in all history courses attempted at UWM and a 2.0 GPA in all history credits attempted at all institutions attended, collectively. No more than 3 of the 18 credits applied to the minor may be earned in independent study courses (HIST 199 or HIST 699). Note that in all courses taken in the minor on a credit/no credit basis (whether applied to the requirements of the minor or not), regular letter grades are recorded on your transcript and are used in the calculation of your GPA.

Note: Specific courses may count toward the fulfillment of more than one requirement. For example, HIST 307 counts toward the European history requirement and toward credits 300 or above taken in residence.

Course lists delineating approved European, U.S., and non-Western or global history courses offered at UWM are below.

Categorization of Courses by Geographic Area

The following lists indicate the geographic areas towards which courses count in the fulfillment of the major and minor requirements. (Note that some courses do not satisfy any of the geographic area distribution requirements and that for variable-topic courses, the geographic area is determined by the specific topic).   

European History

HIST 101Western Civilization: Ancient World to 15003
HIST 102Western Civilization: 1500 to the Present3
HIST 201The Ancient World: The Near East and Greece3
HIST 202The Ancient World: The Roman Republic and Empire3
HIST 203The History of Medieval Europe: The Early Middle Ages3
HIST 204The History of Medieval Europe: The High Middle Ages3
HIST 206Europe and the Modern World: 1815 to the Present3
HIST 235English History to 16883
HIST 236Britain Since 1688: Rise and Decline of a Great Power3
HIST 239Poland and its Neighbors, 1795-19143
HIST 241Women and Gender in Europe: 1350 to 17503
HIST 242Women and Gender in Europe: 1750 to the Present3
HIST 248The First World War3
HIST 249The Second World War in Europe3
HIST 303A History of Greek Civilization: The Greek City-State3
HIST 304A History of Greek Civilization: The Age of Alexander the Great3
HIST 307A History of Rome: The Republic3
HIST 308A History of Rome: The Empire3
HIST 318Medieval Civilization: The High Middle Ages3
HIST 319The Era of the Crusades3
HIST 320History of Medieval Warfare3
HIST 329The Roman Catholic Church, 1500 to the Present3
HIST 330The Papacy in History3
HIST 341Imperial Russia3
HIST 343Russia Since 19173
HIST 346Poland and Its Neighbors, 1914-19453
HIST 348Poland and Its Neighbors, 1945 to the Present3
HIST 355Modern and Contemporary France3
HIST 358The Jews of Modern Europe: History and Culture3
HIST 363Germany: Hitler and the Nazi Dictatorship3
HIST 364The Holocaust: Anti-Semitism & the Fate of Jewish People in Europe, 1933-453
HIST 371Topics in European History:3
HIST 375Contemporary European History, 1945 to the Present3

U.S. History

HIST 150Multicultural America3
HIST 151American History: 1607 to 18773
HIST 152American History: 1877 to the Present3
HIST 215History of Capitalism3
HIST 229History of Race, Science, and Medicine in the United States3
HIST 243History of Women in American Society3
HIST 262North American Indian History to 18873
HIST 263North American Indian History Since 18873
HIST 267The History of Latinos in the United States3
HIST 268History of the American West3
HIST 269Asian Americans in Historical Perspective3
HIST 270Topics in American History:3
HIST 271The 1960s in the United States: A Cultural History3
HIST 404Topics in American History:3
HIST 405The Age of the American Revolution, 1750-17893
HIST 409Causes of the Civil War, 1828-18613
HIST 410Civil War and Reconstruction: The United States, 1861-18773
HIST 418America in Prosperity, Depression and War, 1921-19453
HIST 419America Since 19453
HIST 432North American Environmental History3
HIST 434The United States as a World Power in the 20th Century3
HIST 435Ethnic America: To 18803
HIST 436Immigrant America Since 18803
HIST 440History of the American Working Classes3
HIST 442Beer and Brewing in America3
HIST 445African Americans from Slavery to Freedom3
HIST 446African Americans Since the Civil War3
HIST 448Baseball in American History3
HIST 449Popular Culture in America, 1800 to the Present3
HIST 450The History of Milwaukee3
HIST 451History of Wisconsin3
HIST 452History of Religion in American Life to 18703
HIST 453History of Religion in American Life Since 18703
HIST 460The History of Poverty in America3
HIST 463History of the American City3
HIST 468The American Feminist Movement3
HIST 473History of Wisconsin Indians3
HIST 474Topics in North American Indian History:3
HIST 475American Indian History, Law, and Government3
HIST 597Fields and Methods in Public History3

Non-Western or Global History

HIST 131World History to 15003
HIST 132World History Since 15003
HIST 141Global History of the Family, Gender, and Sexuality3
HIST 175East Asian Civilization to 16003
HIST 176East Asian Civilization Since 16003
HIST 180Latin American Society and Culture3
HIST 210The Twentieth Century: A Global History3
HIST 274Ancient Egyptian Civilization3
HIST 280Islamic Civilization: The Formative Period, ca. 500-12583
HIST 282The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries3
HIST 284Buddhism Across Asia3
HIST 286The Korean War3
HIST 287The Vietnam War3
HIST 290Topics in Global History:3
HIST 295Historical Encounters:3
HIST 372Topics in Global History:3
HIST 376Premodern China3
HIST 377Modern China3
HIST 378Revolution in China3
HIST 379Introduction to Jewish History3
HIST 380Buddhism: A Cultural History3
HIST 386Africans in World History: Communities, Cultures, and Ideas3
HIST 387Colonization in Africa: A History of Resistance and Adaptation3
HIST 392The History of Southern Africa3
HIST 393History of Mexico3
HIST 394History of Japan to 16003
HIST 395History of Japan Since 16003
HIST 400Topics in Latin American and Caribbean History:3
HIST 401Topics in Middle Eastern History:3
HIST 402Topics in Asian History:3
HIST 596Maps as Historical Sources3
HIST 396Decolonization, Revolution, and Independence in African History3
PORTUGS 360Luso-Brazilian Culture: (Topic: "History of Brazil") 13
WGS 501Advanced Humanities Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: (Topic: "Women, Gender, & Global Revolutions") 13
1

These courses in other subjects may be used to fulfill requirements of the undergraduate major or minor in history.

Geographic Area Determined by Specific Topic

HIST 192First-Year Seminar:3
HIST 193First-Year Seminar:3
HIST 199Independent Study1-3
HIST 200Historical Roots of Contemporary Issues:3
HIST 296UROP Apprenticeship1-3
HIST 297Study Abroad:1-12
HIST 299Ad Hoc:1-6
HIST 370Topics in the History of Religious Thought:3
HIST 373Topics in Gender and History:3
HIST 398Honors Seminar:3
HIST 399Honors Seminar:3
HIST 497Study Abroad:1-12
HIST 499Ad Hoc:1-6
HIST 594Methods and Theory in the Historical Study of Religion:3
HIST 600Seminar in History:3
HIST 681Senior Thesis I3
HIST 682Senior Thesis II3
HIST 699Independent Reading:1-6

The geographic area of concentration in sections of HIST 600, where the area is not obvious in the title, by default is designated in accordance with the primary teaching and research interests of the instructor. In such cases, and with the instructor's approval, HIST 600 can count toward different areas for different students, as determined by the predominant focus of their individual work in the course. Note that a variable topic course cannot be considered "Non-Western or Global" unless at least a substantial part of the course's focus includes the study of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Latin American history.

No Geographic Area

HIST 289Internship in History, Lower Division1-6
HIST 294Seminar on Historical Method: Research Techniques3
HIST 296UROP Apprenticeship1-3
HIST 489Internship in History, Upper Division1-6
HIST 593Seminar on Historical Method: Theory and Approach3
HIST 595The Quantitative Analysis of Historical Data3

Letters & Science Minor Advising

Advising for the minor takes place within the department by a faculty member or staff member. Follow the steps using the "Declare a Minor" button on the department’s website which may include instructions on how to select a faculty advisor if there is more than one to choose from.

Students who already have an L&S college advisor because their degree plan is in L&S can discuss the minor with them as well since they will be familiar with any minor in L&S. Students who are working on a degree from a UWM college other than the College of Letters & Science will not need an L&S college advisor for just a minor and one will not be assigned. These students should work with the faculty or staff advisor they receive as part of the minor declaration process or contact the department directly for assistance.

Applicants who have not started classes at UWM yet who wish to declare a minor should wait until they are registered for their first UWM classes and then can declare the minor using the “Declare a Minor” button on the program’s website. If you have questions about the minor before then, contact let-sci@uwm.edu.