History, BA

“History illuminates the human condition.”¹ It is the memory of human experience. The Department of History seeks to provide its students with an understanding of the significant institutions, events, trends and individuals that have shaped that experience, thus helping them to develop a better understanding of contemporary cultures and the human condition.

The student majoring in History will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the development of human society and culture through the study of the past, specifically the history of Europe (from the Renaissance through the 20th century) and the United States (from its beginnings through the 20th century). To accomplish this, the student will identify and describe the major individuals, groups, institutions, ideas and events that have helped to shape political, social and economic developments over time; identify and describe major historical eras or periods that have led to the present; and identify and describe the principle of cause and effect and relate historical examples. In addition, students majoring in History will apply the procedures used by historians to find and document sources, collect evidence and draw conclusions in completing original research. Students will write and speak effectively about historical issues.

¹Poster, “Business and History,” prepared by the National Center for the Study of History, Inc., 1988. (Noted in History, It’s Our Future, a publication of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, Inc.)

For more information about the History department, visit its website.

History Curriculum

	Department and Number - Descriptive Title of Course	Fall Cr.	Spr. Cr.
First Year
MAJOR	HIST 110 - (CH) History of the United States to 1877 – HIST 111 - (CH) History of the United States from Reconstruction to the Present	3	3
MAJOR	HIST 120 - (CH) Europe: 1500 to the Present – HIST 121 - (CH) Europe: 1815 to Present	3	3
GE WRTG	WRTG 107 - (FYW) Composition	3
GE C/IL	HIST 190 - Digital History		3
S/BH ELECT – GE QUAN	S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Elective — QUAN ELECT - Quantitative Reasoning	3	3
GE PHIL–T/RS	PHIL 120 - Introduction to Philosophy – T/RS 121 - (P) Theology I: Introduction to the Bible	3	3
GE FSEM	First Year Seminar ²
		15	15
Second Year
MAJOR	HIST 290 - (W) The Craft of the Historian	3
MAJOR	HIST ELECT - History Electives	3	6
COGNATE	COGNATE ELECT - Cognate Electives¹	3	3
GE S/BH	S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Elective		3
FREE ELECT	FREE ELECT - Free Elective	3
GE PHIL–T/RS	PHIL 210 - Ethics – T/RS 122 - (P) Theology II: Introduction to Christian Theology	3	3
		15	15
Third Year
MAJOR	HIST ELECT - History Electives	6	3
COGNATE	COGNATE ELECT - Cognate Electives¹	3	3
GE NSCI	NSCI ELECT - Natural Science Electives	3	3
GE HUMN	HUMN ELECT - Humanities Electives	3	3
GE PHIL–T/RS	PHIL ELECT - Philosophy or T/RS ELECT - T/RS Elective		3
		15	15
Fourth Year
MAJOR	HIST 490 - (EPW) Seminar in History – HIST ELECT - History Elective	3	3
COGNATE	COGNATE ELECT - Cognate Electives¹	6	6
GE ELECT	FREE ELECT - Free Electives	6	6
		15	15
	Total: 120 Credits

¹Students may use cognate electives to develop a second major.

²The selection of a First Year Seminar is likely to fulfill requirements both for the First Year Seminar and a General Education Requirement. Thus, the First Year Seminar will not add to the total credits for the semester. Talk with your advisor if you have any questions.

History, BA

History Curriculum

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

Total: 120 Credits