Within the History Department's curriculum, one can study the history of a wide range of peoples, cultures, and institutions. Department members offer courses in the history of Europe, Russia, South and East Asia, Africa, North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean. History classes examine these areas from a variety of broad historical perspectives, including the political, social, and economic. We also encourage students to explore history through a number of distinctive specializations such as intellectual history, women's history, labor history, environmental history, architectural history, and cultural history, among others.
Many students arrange private readings with faculty members on topics of mutual interest.
AP credit is granted only during the first year that a student enrolls at Oberlin College. The history major consists of at least thirty hours of history. Work in the department is divided into two sections, one including European and United States history, the other including African, Asian, Latin American, and Russian history. Majors must take at least twenty hours of history from members of the Oberlin History Department. On occasion, other courses may be added to this list.