Skip to main content

Academic Advising

Mentoring For Success

In the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of History, we believe the student/advisor mentorship is vital to success. Below is a guide to help you through the academic advising process.

History Advising

Advising Q&A

History Advising

If you are thinking about a major in history, make an appointment to meet with a full-time faculty member of the department to discuss your options. (If you are undeclared or have fewer than 27 credit hours, you'll need to see an Arts & Sciences Advising Center Advisor.)

Declared History Majors with 27 or more hours need to see a faculty member from the Department of History for advising. Please contact Dr. John Grigg to have a history faculty advisor assigned to you.

If you already have an advisor in the Department of History, contact them to schedule an advising appointment at any point in the year. Our faculty advisors are here to help you plan your schedule and answer questions about:

  • History programs
  • Study Abroad courses
  • History Intern Program
  • Career options
  • Graduate and Professional degrees

Advising Q&A


I have an advising hold on my account and I cannot register for classes. How do I remove it?

In order to remove your advising hold, you will need to meet with your History faculty advisor to discuss your plans for course registration. After your meeting, she/he will remove the flag from your account, and you will be able to register according to the Registrar's enrollment schedule.


What is the difference between a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in History and a B.S. (Bachelor of Science) in History?

There are some specific differences between the two degrees:

  1. The B.A. requires completion of a foreign language taken through the intermediate level (see more here). If you plan to attend graduate school in history, the Department of History advises you to pursue a B.A. degree. Most graduate programs throughout the U.S. and Canada require knowledge of one or more foreign languages.

  2. The B.S. requires a 15 hour "cognate field" in lieu of a foreign language. A cognate field consists of 12 hours of 3000-4000 level courses in one or more related disciplines outside of the history department. These disciplines serve to complement the student's interest in history and can originate from a wide array of UNO departments. The B.S. also requires one 3-credit hour course in logic or statistics (see a list of possible courses). The specific composition of a student's cognate field will be determined in consultation with the student's History faculty advisor.
When can I make an appointment to meet with my History faculty advisor?

After you are assigned an advisor in the Department of History, you can contact them to schedule a meeting. View faculty contact information

I need to switch my major(s). How do I do this?

You will need to make a visit to the CAS Advising Center and request the necessary forms for switching or adding majors/minors.

Can I meet with my advisor during the summer if I have questions?

Please be advised that History faculty travel throughout the summer months. This means they might not be available to meet and/or will be slower to respond to email messages.

Can I talk to my advisor about options for different minors?

Of course. You can also visit the department's website to learn more about interdisciplinary minors.

I am interested in an internship in History. Who can I contact about that?

You can discuss internship options with your faculty advisor. For more detailed information about the History Intern Program, contact the Internship Coordinator.

Who do I talk to about pursuing a history graduate degree at UNO?

You can discuss graduate studies options with your faculty advisor. For more detailed information about the UNO History Graduate Program, contact the current Department of History Graduate Program Chair.

What is a "cognate field"?

The B.S. in History degree requires a 15 hour "cognate field" in lieu of a foreign language. A cognate field consists of 12 hours of 3000-4000 level courses in one or more related disciplines outside of the history department. These disciplines serve to complement the student's interest in history and can originate from a wide array of UNO departments. The B.S. also requires one 3-credit hour course in logic or statistics (see a list of possible courses). The specific composition of a student's cognate field will be determined in consultation with the student's History faculty advisor.


What are the foreign language requirements for the B.A. degree in history?

You can find out more about foreign languages requirements for the History B.A. degree here.

Can I get retroactive credit for courses I tested out prior to enrolling at UNO?

There are only a few departments that allow you to receive retroactive credit. Please visit these websites for information on retroactive credits in English and Foreign Languages or consult with your history faculty advisor.


I am a senior and graduating soon. Is there anything extra I need to do to make sure all of my requirements are fulfilled?

During your final semester at UNO, you are required to meet for an exit interview with the current Department of History Chair. During this scheduled appointment, you will make sure that you have met all of the requirements of your degree.