This major gives a student the opportunity to apply the perspectives of history and political science to an area of the world of his or her choosing. A six-block concentration in United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, or Africa/Middle East satisfies the requirement, but a student may propose, subject to the approval of the chairs, a coherent program for the study of any world region. Students will choose courses relevant to each region in consultation with a major advisor in each department.

     To enter this major, students must take either History 104 or 105 or Political Science 103 or 104, then four units in the department in which the qualifying course was taken and five units in the other department. (The component courses of PS 104, which include PS 100 and selected 200 level PS courses, will also fulfill the introductory requirement. See below for details.) At least three units in each department must focus on the chosen region of concentration. Regional concentrations outside the United States must include the second-year or the equivalent in a foreign language appropriate to the area. One unit of language may count for the three electives, but not for the six-block concentration. In addition, the student must complete the Colloquium in History/Political Science (330) and one unit of advanced research (History 420 or tutorial in Political Science).

     Any History-Political Science major may apply to write a thesis, subject to the approval of both departments. A student must submit a proposal outlining the subject and identifying general sources by the beginning of Block 8 of the junior year, or, if a student is off campus in the junior year, the proposal may be submitted at the beginning of Block One of the senior year. The thesis should be interdisciplinary in nature and include the use of primary materials.

     Students who write theses both departments consider superior and who maintain a 3.6 GPA in the major through Block 7 of the senior year will be awarded distinction. Students who wish to be considered for distinction must complete the thesis by the end of Block 7 of the senior year and defend it before a committee of faculty drawn from the two departments.

      The majors' advisors may approve credit toward the major for other special or advanced courses when appropriate to a student's concentration. "Topics" courses in both History and Political Science are examples.