A major declared by sophomore year
Dartmouth says students do not need to declare a major until sophomore year. The pages read describe no separate admission to History.
Undergraduate · Dartmouth College
Dartmouth History: ten courses across regions, with advanced practice
Dartmouth students do not need to declare a major until sophomore year, and History is one of the majors they can choose once enrolled. The department sets out ten history courses that must span at least four of six world areas, plus two advanced historical practice courses, one of them the culminating experience. This guide makes no claim of a separate application to the major.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Dartmouth says about Dartmouth History
Taken from the Department of History's major page, Dartmouth Admissions' Majors & Minors and Testing Policy pages, read on 1 November 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Dartmouth's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Ten courses
They must include four of six world areas.
Advanced historical practice
Two courses, one of which is the culminating experience.
Small seminar format
Most students meet it in small courses capped at about 12.
The SAT or ACT, or an international alternative
US high school students submit the SAT or ACT. Students outside the US can meet the requirement in one of five ways, including predicted or final A-level or IB results.
Official sources
- Dartmouth Admissions: Majors & Minorsadmissions.dartmouth.edu
- Dartmouth Department of History: majorhistory.dartmouth.edu
- Dartmouth Admissions: Testing Policyadmissions.dartmouth.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on the Department of History's major page, Dartmouth Admissions' Majors & Minors and Testing Policy pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Dartmouth's Organization, Regulations and Courses catalogue, the full requirement worksheet, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The major
What the department says the major is
The department's page says the standard major needs at least ten history courses that include one course from at least four of six areas: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and the United States. All majors complete two courses involving advanced historical practice, one of which is the culminating experience; most students take two small 96-level courses with a final project. No more than two independent study courses may count. This guide does not list the courses.
Is it the right major?
History beside Sociology and Government
Dartmouth lists these as separate majors, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
History fits if
you want regional breadth and a research-based final project.
Sociology fits if
you want social-science methods. Avandy's Dartmouth Sociology guide covers it.
Government fits if
you want political science. Avandy's Dartmouth Government guide covers it.
Admission and testing
A Dartmouth application, an SAT or ACT and A levels or the IB
Dartmouth requires students who attended high school in the United States to submit the SAT or ACT. Students who attended high school outside the United States may fulfil the requirement in one of five ways, which include predicted or final results from British A-Levels or the IB Diploma. The major is not a separate application. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Dartmouth's.
Do you want to range across world regions?
Four of six areas are required.
Is a research seminar appealing?
Most students meet the advanced practice requirement that way.
Which testing route will you use for Dartmouth?
Outside the US, Dartmouth lists five ways, including A-level and IB results.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Dartmouth's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Dartmouth's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 1 November 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Dartmouth has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Dartmouth for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the department's History page and decide which testing route you will use for Dartmouth.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Dartmouth College or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with Dartmouth College. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Dartmouth History?
The pages read describe admission to Dartmouth. Students do not need to declare a major until sophomore year.
How many history courses are needed?
At least ten for the standard major.
Which areas count?
Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and the United States.
Do A levels and the IB count for testing?
Dartmouth lists predicted or final British A-Level and IB Diploma results among five ways to meet the requirement for students who attended high school outside the United States.
Is the SAT or ACT required?
For students who attended high school in the United States, yes: they must submit either test.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Dartmouth's wording with no entry-year label. Check Dartmouth's pages again when Dartmouth publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Dartmouth History
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their essay-writing subjects, their interest in research and their testing route, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.