← History (HISTORY)

Easiest courses in History

Looking for a gentler semester? Start with courses where students have earned higher grades.

Highest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.

Find your fit

40 courses

Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Only courses with at least 100 letter grades are ranked.

HISTORY 119 introduces Europe's global expansion from 1400-1815, examining economic, political, and cultural encounters with the Americas and Africa.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Lee Wandel, Suzanne Desan: Workload includes seven required books, long specific tests, and multiple papers or exams. Students note that attending lectures is crucial because slides alone may not convey the main points, and the material can be conceptually heavy.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2025

HISTORICAL STUDIES introduces historical studies at the research university with an emphasis on interpretation and critical thinking.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Assignments include weekly readings, one-page papers, and a long research paper. Workload varies from minimal attendance to mandatory participation and strict deadlines under historical instructors like Claire Taylor.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

This introductory survey covers African society, culture, polity, and economy from prehistory to contemporary developments using multidisciplinary perspectives.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of James Delehanty, Neil Kodesh: Workload includes heavy reading and essays or exams, but reviewers note these are manageable if students complete the assigned work.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

HISTORY 133 is an introductory global examination of war and peace from ancient times to the present, focusing on military cultures and technologies.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2023–Fall 2024

Covers the history of Greek civilization from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic period.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The course features mandatory attendance, quizzes based on lectures, and papers. Workload varies from easy to difficult, with some students finding grading reasonable while others report tough grading and strict deadline policies.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

Traces the intellectual, political, and social history of the university as an idea, institution, and community from the Middle Ages to the present.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Matthew Farrelly: Reviewers characterize the workload as light, typically involving one weekly homework assignment, a final paper, and a slideshow, though one review notes the course is reading-heavy with in-class discussions.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Fall 2025

Introduction to the historical, social, and legal experiences of Latinx communities in the US, focusing on migration, conquest, and diverse group histories.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Fall 2025

HISTORY 101 covers American political, economic, and social development from the founding of the colonies to the Civil War.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Gloria Whiting, John Sharpless, Justine Walden: Workload varies by instructor: John Sharpless assigned heavy reading and difficult blue book essays, while Gloria Whiting used quizzes and papers. Justine Walden’s quizzes focused on specific textbook details unrelated to lectures, creating high difficulty.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

INTRODUCTION TO EAST ASIAN HISTORY: JAPAN surveys major cultural, social, political, and economic developments in Japanese history from ancient to recent times.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The course relies on exams and a term paper rather than homework, with heavy reading and significant participation weight. Grading is described as tough, with some noting high standards for top grades.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Fall 2024

This course surveys American legal history from English background through the Civil War, focusing on the origins of modern civil and constitutional rights.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Richard Keyser: The course requires intense weekly reading, note-taking, and preparation for timed essay exams and take-home papers.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025