Mar 28, 2024  
2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

History - Major


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The department of history and political science is committed to developing in students an understanding of the importance of the past in human experience. This past serves as a foundation and frame of reference for their pursuit of knowledge in the classroom and in the wider world. Students gain a sophisticated awareness of the discipline of history, discovering that it is more than mere fact-gathering; it involves multiple methods and interpretations of the past. Finally, the department’s goal is that all majors will engage in the dynamic study of history by developing their own insights and interpretations of the past. The history program can be combined with inclusive childhood or adolescence teacher certification for students pursuing careers in education. A minimum GPA of 2.7 is required for student teaching.

Students from a variety of majors may also wish to pursue a minor in history.

History Core


The History Core provides the foundation for all of our programs. Students are required to take 12 credits from the following:

History Requirements


In addition to 12 credits of lower division survey work, all majors must take Historical Methodology, Historical Methodology Lab, History and Historians and submit a comprehensive portfolio in their last semester.

History Electives


Students must select six elective courses (18 credits) in upper division history. Some upper division Political Science courses may be substituted with the approval of the department chairperson.

History Senior Experience


Seniors will take a writing-intense research seminar. The purpose of the course will be to apply their skills as serious students of history to a research project of their own design. The seminar’s topic will be based on the participating faculty member’s current research interest, but will be sufficiently broad to allow students to develop research projects in their own fields of interest. Students will engage in an extensive search for sources, including both primary and secondary documents. These sources will serve as the foundation of a formal research paper, which will be the culmination of the students’ efforts in the course, and which will represent the students’ efforts at historical interpretation.

Writings from the seminar will be included within the portfolio format of the Senior History Comprehensive.

Sample Program for History - Major


Freshman Year


  • Perspectives - Enduring Questions (PEQ) Credits: 3
  • Perspectives - Enduring Questions (PEQ) Math and Science with Lab Credits 7
  • Health/Wellness Credits: 0
  • Foreign Language 101 - 102 Level Credits: 6

As well as:

Sophomore Year


  • Perspectives - Enduring Questions (PEQ) Credits: 9
  • Experiential Learning (EL) Pathway
  • Electives Credits: 6

As well as: 

Junior Year


  • Upper Division History Credits: 9
  • Integrative Studies (IS) Credits: 9
  • Core Milestone Experience (CME)  Credits: 0
  • Electives Credits: 6
  • Liberal Arts Electives Credits: 6

Senior Year


  • Upper Division History Credits: 9
  • Electives Credits: 18

As well as: 

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