Historical Studies

This campus offers an especially rich array of paths and courses—nearly 400 courses—in historical studies. Students interested in traditional “political” history, history of ideas and cultural achievement, social history, comparative history, history of science and technology, history of women, and historical theory will all find scope at UCSC for their interests. Many of the world’s major areas are studied in depth in regularly taught courses. Especially impressive is the large number of courses in industrialization and modernization.

Although there is no interdisciplinary “historical studies” major, the campus offers three formal programs in historical studies: history, history of art and visual culture, and history of consciousness (graduate-level only).

Several interdisciplinary majors, including American studies and Latin American and Latino studies, have historical concerns at their center. In addition, students can pursue historically oriented concentrations in anthropology, economics, literature, philosophy, politics, sociology, and women’s studies.