Major in History of Policy, Law, and Governance
PLEASE NOTE!!! This is the same major as History of Public Policy & Law. The department updated the name of this major as well as some of the requirements which are in effect Fall 2025 and onwards. Anyone who declares the major in or after Fall 2025 will follow the History of Policy, Law, and Governance (2025-26) major sheet. Anyone who was declared this major prior to Fall 2025 will continue following the History of Public Policy and Law major sheet.
The B.A. in the History of Public Policy and Law combines comparative historical studies with training in related academic disciplines. As a student in the program, you’ll be trained to critically examine the policy- and law-related problems of the past with an eye toward understanding the present. Along with completing extensive coursework in history and courses in cognate fields of your choosing, you’ll acquire competence in historical research and writing using primary and secondary sources. You’ll also be encouraged to learn a foreign language and quantitative, digital, and/or qualitative research methods appropriate to your fields of interest. As a culmination of your studies, you’ll complete either a quarter-long research seminar or a two-quarter senior thesis project based on original historical research. In addition to your studies, you’ll be encouraged to complete an internship in public policy and law by participating in opportunities available through the UC Washington or Sacramento programs or through independently arranged venues.
Click to view general program information for the Major in History of Policy, Law, & Governance:
Requirements Sheet
Click to view the requirements for the Major in History of Policy, Law, and Governance:
- History of Policy, Law, and Governance Major Sheet (2025-26)
- History Major Sheet (2025-26) Identifying HPLG Coursework – The upper division requirements can be quite complicated. Please find the History major sheet HERE with the HPLG upper division coursework highlighted. This will help you understand which coursework HPLG majors can take, and which regions they fall under.
HPLG Breakdown
Click to view a comprehensive breakdown for the Major in History of Policy, Law, and Governance:
Interested in the History of Public Policy and Law major? Try taking one of our lower division gateway courses:
- History 5: History of the Present – This course provides essential historical context for understanding major issues and developments in contemporary life; topics vary each year. Coverage ranges from the local to the global, and encompasses current events in politics, economics, social relations, welfare, science, religion, and popular culture.
History 7: Great Issues in the History of Public Policy – This course is a broad exploration of great issues in the history of public policy from ancient times to present, to understand basic ways in which societies make their major decisions, the shared dynamics in the process, and how varied settings affect it. - History 74: Poverty, Inequality and Social Justice in Historical and Global Context – Historical and interdisciplinary perspectives on poverty and inequality globally and in the U.S., tracing structural transformations, shifting modes of thought, policy, and action, dynamics of class, racial, gender, ethnic and geographic stratification, and major theoretical debates from antiquity through the present. Course features guest lectures to introduce students to varied conceptual and methodological approaches to studying poverty and inequality, and draws on readings, discussion, writing, and related assignments to explore issues within a social justice framework.
These courses are offered in alternating years, and are only offered once per year, so be sure to check the history department yearly course offerings.
Declare Major
Want to declare the History of Policy, Law, and Governance major? Visit the Student Success Hub to begin the process or click here for more in-depth instructions.