The Best Major (Unbiased Opinion)

My History Major

As you might remember from previous blogs, the road to declaring a major was anything but straightforward for me. Even after declaring, I was really nervous that I hadn’t explored all my options, or that I wasn’t good enough for the history major. After being a history major for almost a year, I couldn’t be happier. Here are just a few reasons why I think that the history major is the best major at Carleton (and I’m completely unbiased, of course). 

Flexibility

History is arguably one of the most flexible majors. There’s only one specific required class, and the rest are only required by field. For example, my major concentration is US history, so I have to take four classes within US history. What’s really interesting is that you also have to have two minor concentrations. I chose Asia and Early Modern/Modern Europe, which means I have to take two classes in each field. I love having a wide variety of classes to choose from each term while also being forced outside my comfort zone.

Colloquium

The one required course is Junior Colloquium, which is required for all majors and minors. Instead of being anchored in a specific historical field, this course is all about historical theory and discussion. I love going to class every day and debating with my peers about how to write and read history. It’s also been a really fun way to meet other history majors with different primary concentrations that I might not have crossed paths with otherwise. 

Public History

I think it’s super cool that the history major emphasizes so many different kinds of history, including written, oral, and cultural. But we also learn different ways to present history, such as written arguments and public presentations. Public history is a completely different mode from analytical writing, but it develops great skills in arguing history in an easily accessible way. Plus, it’s an excuse to go down to the archives in the libe, which I will always take the opportunity to do. 

Constant Learning

As I said before, having to take classes in areas that aren’t in your primary field forces you to constantly be a learner in a way I didn’t expect. Not only am I horrific at geography, but I also knew nothing about European or Asian geography. Being in these classes has forced me to become a student at the base level again and learn foundation information, which is something I haven’t had to do in US history for years. The outcomes have been amazing, and even though it can be uncomfortable to walk into a classroom knowing nothing, the best part is knowing that you will grow and learn over the course of the ten weeks. 

I couldn’t be happier about my choice to be a history major. Part of the reason I was so skeptical was because I was not a history person in high school. But history at Carleton is so different. It’s not just facts and memorization, but a constant conversation about the world around us, and the ways that it came to be.

Kate (she/her) is a junior History  and Theater double major from the Bay Area, California. She loves Carleton’s artsy community, and is involved in the Vocal Studies Program and occasionally the Experimental Theater Board when her fight choreography skills are in high demand. Kate’s favorite places on campus are the practice rooms, either in Myers or the Weitz, where she can sing or play the ukulele. She loves the campus during all the seasons but thinks nothing could compare to the beautiful colors of Northfield in the fall. When not in class, you can find Kate either petting the nearest cat or forcing her friends to watch bad movies in a study room.