2022-23 Undergraduate Academic Catalog | School of Arts and Humanities | History | Majors

History, B.A.

[History—2205]  

Students studying history are normally planning to enter a career involving knowledge of history and public policy. Such careers would include the professional teaching of history, the practice of law, government service, the ministry, librarianship, and curatorship. However, the History major is a classic liberal arts major which affords opportunities and benefits that may not be immediately apparent. Because it trains students in critical thinking, analysis, and the ability to “make connections” (between the present and the past and also between various disciplines and spheres of life), it is a versatile major that prepares versatile people for a swiftly changing world. While certainly it is the recommended major for those planning to enter graduate study in history, law, government, public policy, and an excellent major for those planning graduate study in other disciplines in the humanities (such as religion, theology, or literature), it has also prepared many for careers in business, finance, and other “real-world” work that may or may not involve graduate study.

SPECIFICS OF THE HISTORY B.A. DEGREE

Minimum Total Hours: 124

Total Liberal Arts Hours Required: 93

General Education Requirements: Per Core Curriculum Requirements list (see General Education Council).  Exceptions: American Sign Language may not be used to meet the foreign language proficiency requirement.

Minimum Requirements:  GPA of 2.0 in the major and overall; no grade less than C- in the major; minimum grade of C in HIST 2500.

Transfer Requirements: See institutional transfer policies.

Application to the Major: Special application form and requirements to be secured from the department office or online at History's intranet site and submitted at the end of the sophomore year.  (Note: The standard institutional major application will not be accepted.)  A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 is required for acceptance to the major.

Major Requirements: 36 hours as follows:

  • HIST 2500;
  • HIST 4200;
  • 6 hours of American history;
  • 6 hours of European history (HIST 1400 cannot count);
  • 3 hours of political science;
  • 3 hours of economics;
  • 12 hours of history electives (A second HIST 4200 and/or HIST 3000  can count as long as the subject/content differs).