A major chosen after arrival
Yale says every student begins undeclared and has until the end of sophomore year to choose from over 80 majors. The pages read describe no separate application to History.
Undergraduate · Yale College
Yale History: a global or specialist concentration within twelve credits
Yale College admits students without a declared major, and History is a major they can choose once enrolled. Yale's catalogue requires twelve course credits and asks every major to choose a global or a specialist concentration, with preindustrial credits and 3000-level departmental seminars. This guide makes no claim of a separate application to History.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Yale says about Yale History
Taken from the Yale College Programs of Study 2026–2027 entry for History and Yale Undergraduate Admissions' Majors, Standardized Testing and International 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 Yale's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Two concentrations
On declaring, every History major chooses either the global or the specialist concentration.
Twelve course credits
Including the two-credit prerequisite and the senior requirement.
Preindustrial credits and seminars
Students take two preindustrial credits and two 3000-level departmental seminars.
The SAT or ACT is required
Yale's testing policy requires scores from either test; international applicants meet the same requirements.
Official sources
- Yale Undergraduate Admissions: Majors & Academic Programsadmissions.yale.edu
- Yale College Programs of Study 2026–2027: Historycatalog.yale.edu
- Yale Undergraduate Admissions: Standardized Testingadmissions.yale.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on the Yale College Programs of Study 2026–2027 entry for History and Yale Undergraduate Admissions' Majors, Standardized Testing and International pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Yale's department website, the course listings behind each course code, deadlines and financial aid were not read, and the admissions pages do not mention A-levels or the IB by name and are not stated.
The major
What the catalogue says the History major is
Yale's catalogue describes the History major as for students who understand that shaping the future requires knowing the past, and calls it one of Yale College's most popular and intellectually diverse majors. Twelve course credits are required, including the two-credit prerequisite and the senior requirement. The global concentration requires one credit in five of six geographic regions, two preindustrial credits and two 3000-level departmental seminars; the specialist concentration focuses on a region or thematic pathway. Majors may preregister for the 3000-level seminars.
Is it the right major?
History beside English and Global Affairs
Yale describes these as separate majors, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
History fits if
you want primary-source research across regions and periods, with a choice of breadth or depth.
English fits if
you want literature as the main object. Avandy's Yale English guide covers it.
Global Affairs fits if
you want contemporary policy. Avandy's Yale Global Affairs guide covers it.
Admission and testing
A Yale College application and the SAT or ACT
Yale requires first-year applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores and has no preference between them. International applicants complete the same application with the same requirements, and the admissions pages read do not mention A-levels or the IB by name. The major is chosen after admission, not applied for separately. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Yale's.
Do you prefer breadth across regions or depth in one?
The global and specialist concentrations are built for each.
Do you want seminar-style work early?
Majors can preregister for 3000-level departmental seminars.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT with your A levels or IB?
Yale's testing policy requires scores from either test.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Yale'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 Yale'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. Yale 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 Yale for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the History entry in Yale's Programs of Study and plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Yale 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 Yale College. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Yale History?
The pages read describe admission to Yale College. Students begin undeclared and choose a major by the end of sophomore year.
What are the two History concentrations?
The global concentration covers five of six geographic regions with two preindustrial credits and two seminars; the specialist concentration focuses on a region or thematic pathway.
How many credits does the major require?
Twelve course credits in History, including prerequisites and the senior requirement.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Yes. Yale's testing policy requires scores from either test.
Does Yale name A-levels or the IB on these pages?
No. The admissions pages read do not mention them by name.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Yale's wording with no entry-year label. Check Yale's pages again when Yale publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Yale History
Tell us about the student's curriculum, the regions and periods they enjoy, their writing, and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.