Bachelor of Arts Degree in History
The degree program in History combines the development of informed perspectives, cultivation of analytical skills, and mastery of content areas that cover the United States and different regions in the world. A major in History teaches a student to write effectively and expressively, to think critically, to analyze arguments, and to communicate ideas. These skills will all aid in the pursuit of a career in a variety of fields.
The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree, including the Core Curriculum requirements, is 120. Thirty-nine of the total semester credit hours required for the degree must be at the upper-division level.
All candidates for this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements and the degree requirements, which are listed below.
Core Curriculum requirements: Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree in History must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed in the table below satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements; however, if these courses are taken to satisfy both requirements, then students will need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree. For a complete listing of courses that satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements see pages 5–9 of this catalog.
| Core Curriculum Component Area | Courses that Satisfy Core Curriculum and Degree Requirements |
|---|---|
Communications |
English Rhetoric/Composition (6 semester credit hours) |
Mathematics |
Mathematics (3 semester credit hours) |
Natural Sciences |
Science (6 semester credit hours) |
Humanities & Visual and Performing Arts |
Literature (3 semester credit hours) |
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
United States History and Diversity (6 semester credit hours) |
World Society and Issues |
(3 semester credit hours) |
Degree Requirements
- 33 semester credit hours in the major, of which 21 must be at the upper-division level:
- HIS 2003 Historical Methods
This is a foundational course for the major. Students must take it as early as possible in their program.
- 9 semester credit hours selected from the sophomore-level civilization courses, including HIS 2123, HIS 2133, and courses numbered HIS 2533 to HIS 2583.
- 18 upper-division semester credit hours of history courses, including at least one U.S., one European, and one Latin American, African, or Asian studies course.
- 3 semester credit hours from HIS 4973 Seminar in History. HIS 2003 Historical Methods is a prerequisite for enrollment in this course.
- HIS 2003 Historical Methods
- 9 semester credit hours in approved upper-division courses from other disciplines that support the study of history. The student must consult with his or her faculty advisor to define a cohesive support area, and the faculty advisor’s approval is required for each course.
Recommended areas for support work include, but are not limited to:
American Studies English Anthropology Geography Art History Philosophy Bicultural-Bilingual Studies Political Science Classics Psychology Communication Sociology Criminal Justice Women’s Studies Economics
- 6 semester credit hours of a single language other than English
- 30 semester credit hours of electives
Bachelor of Arts Degree in History with a Concentration in Social Studies
The Bachelor of Arts Degree in History with a concentration in Social Studies is designed for students intending to teach history, geography, government and economics at the secondary school level. The signature experience is encapsulated in HIS 4143 History Standards and Their Public Reception. This course reviews the ongoing debates over the content of history curriculum in the schools among historians, educators and the public.
The minimum number of semester credit hours for this degree is 132, including required coursework for teacher certification. Students seeking teacher certification should also refer to the requirements listed in the College of Education and Human Development section of this catalog.
All candidates for this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements and the degree requirements, which are listed below.
Core Curriculum requirements: Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Social Studies must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed below satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements. The same course may be taken to satisfy both the Core Curriculum requirements and the degree requirements. For a complete listing of the courses that satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements see pages 5–9 of this catalog.
| Core Curriculum Component Area | Courses that Satisfy Core Curriculum and Degree Requirements |
|---|---|
Communications |
English Rhetoric/Composition (6 semester credit hours) |
Mathematics |
Mathematics (3 semester credit hours) |
Natural Sciences |
Science (6 semester credit hours) |
Humanities & Visual and Performing Arts |
Literature (3 semester credit hours) |
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
United States History and Diversity (6 semester credit hours) |
World Society and Issues |
(3 semester credit hours) |
Degree Requirements
- 24 semester credit hours of required courses:
ANT 1013 Introduction to Anthropology ECO 2013 Introductory Macroeconomics GRG 1023 World Regional Geography HIS 2003 Historical Methods HIS 2133 Introduction to World Civilization since the Fifteenth Century HIS 2563 Introduction to European Civilization HIS 4143 History Standards and Their Public Reception HIS 4973 Seminar in History
- 6 semester credit hours of civilization courses from among the following:
ANT 3273 Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica ANT 3673 Ancient Civilizations of the Near East, Egypt, and Europe ANT 3723 Ancient Complex Society HIS 2533 Introduction to Latin American Civilization HIS 2543 Introduction to Islamic Civilization HIS 2553 Introduction to East Asian Civilization HIS 2573 Introduction to African Civilization HIS 2583 Introduction to South Asian Civilization
- 15 semester credit hours of upper-division history courses: specifically 6 hours in U.S. history, 3 hours in European history, and 6 hours in either Latin American, Asian or African history.
- 6 semester credit hours from among the following:
HIS 3093 United States Constitutional History POL 3023 Civil Liberties in American Law and Practice POL 3113 American Political Theory POL 3283 The American Presidency POL 3323 Constitutional Law
- 3 semester credit hours from among the following:
POL 2603 International Politics POL 2633 Comparative Politics POL 3103 Political Ideology POL 3143 Political Philosophy: Modern POL 3193 Theories of Citizenship POL 3363 Political Parties and Interest Groups POL 3373 The Legislative Process POL 3393 Latin American Politics POL 3403 European Politics POL 3503 American Foreign Policy since World War II
- 3 semester credit hours from among the following:
GRG 3113 Geography of the United States and Canada GRG 3123 Geography of Latin America GRG 3133 Geography of Europe GRG 3213 Cultural Geography GRG 3513 Urban Geography GRG 3533 Geography of Economic Activity GRG 3643 Political Geography GRG 3723 Physiography
- 33 semester credit hours in Communication, Reading and Education:
COM 1043 Introduction to Communication BBL 3403 Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in a Pluralistic Society C&I 4203 Models of Teaching in the Content Areas of the Secondary School C&I 4646 Student Teaching: Secondary EDP 3203 Learning and Development in the Secondary School Adolescent EDP 4203 Assessment and Evaluation EDU 2103 Social Foundations for Education in a Diverse U.S. Society IDS 2013 Introduction to Learning and Teaching in a Culturally Diverse Society RDG 3773 Introduction to Content Area Reading–Secondary SPE 3603 Introduction to Exceptionality