History Major

The Department of History offers introductory survey courses, research methods seminars and upper level subject studies in American, European, African, Asian and Middle Eastern history. Thematic courses address film and history, military history, biography, and gender, race, and cultural studies. The senior capstone seminar provides opportunity for independent research by examining historical documents. Departmental honors, Phi Alpha Theta, history club and field trips provide students additional opportunities to interact with faculty. The department encourages students to consider studying abroad or to complete an internship as a supplement to the major or minor.

The History program offers two tracks, one for History majors, and the other for students pursuing majors in both History and Secondary Education.

Track 1: History, requires a minimum completion of 27 credit hours.
Track 2: History-Secondary Education requires a minimum of 27 hours. Requires the necessary Department of Education courses needed to earn a major in Secondary Education. Please refer to the Secondary Education page for specific requirements.

Application for Departmental Honors

Honors Thesis in History Guidelines

Methods in History Course (3 hrs.)

Choose one*:

HIST 250 Colonial America (3 hrs.)
HIST 255 The Black Death (3 hrs.)
HIST 258 Revolutions (3 hrs.)

(*Students must meet this requirement before enrolling in any 300-level history course):

Track 1: History (27 hrs.)

(12 hours must be upper division coursework (300 level or above))

American History Courses (9 hrs.)

Choose three courses from American History (one must be 300 level):

HIST 101 United States History to 1865 (3 hrs.)
HIST 102 United States History 1865 to Present (3 hrs.)
HIST 251 History of Slavery (3 hrs.)
HIST 262 African-American History (3 hrs.)
HIST 266 The Atlantic World, 1400-1800 (3 hrs.)
HIST 270 The American Revolution (3 hrs.)
HIST 330 The American Civil War (3 hrs.)
HIST 353 US Expansion to World War One (3 hrs.)
HIST 390 Selected Topics in American History¹ (3 hrs.)

European History Courses (9 hrs.)

Choose three courses from European History (one must be 300 level):

HIST 223 Medieval Europe (3 hrs.)
HIST 225 Renaissance and Reformation (3 hrs.)
HIST 230 Modern Europe (3 hrs.)
HIST 273 Rome, the City: Ancient to Renaissance (Study Abroad) (3 hrs.)
HIST 281 The Holocaust: History and Memory (3 hrs.)
HIST 322 Joan of Arc: Film and History (3 hrs.)
HIST 342 The European Witch-Hunts (3 hrs.)
HIST 390 Selected Topics in European History¹ (3 hrs.)

World History Courses (9 hrs.)

Choose three courses from World History (one must be 300 level):

HIST 109 Asian History to 1700 (3 hrs.)
HIST 110 Ancient Civilizations (3 hrs.)
HIST 205 Maritime History of the Mediterranean (study abroad) (3 hrs.)
HIST 241 Muslim Societies Since 1500 (3 hrs.)
HIST 247 Modern Japan (3 hrs.)
HIST 346 History of Modern China (3 hrs.)
HIST 374 Social History of India (3 hrs.)
HIST 385 Global Cold War (3 hrs.)
HIST 390 Selected Topics in World History¹ (3 hrs.)

Capstone Course (3 hrs.)

HPRL 493 Senior Seminar (3 hrs.)

Track 2: History-Secondary Education (18 hrs. + EDUC Requirements)

(9 hours must be upper-division coursework (300 level or higher))

American History (9 hrs.)

HIST 101 United States History to 1865 (3 hrs.)
HIST 102 United States History 1865 to Present (3 hrs.)

Choose one additional course from American History:

HIST 251 History of Slavery (3 hrs.)
HIST 262 African-American History (3 hrs.)
HIST 266 The Atlantic World, 1400-1800 (3 hrs.)
HIST 270 The American Revolution (3 hrs.)
HIST 330 The American Civil War (3 hrs.)
HIST 353 US Expansion to World War One (3 hrs.)
HIST 290/390 Selected Topics in American History (3 hrs.)

World/European History (12 hrs.)

Choose four courses from World/European History:

HIST 109 Asian History to 1700 (3 hrs.)
HIST 110 Ancient Civilizations (3 hrs.)
HIST 223 Medieval Europe (3 hrs.)
HIST 225 Renaissance and Reformation (3 hrs.)
HIST 230 Modern Europe (3 hrs.)
HIST 241 Muslim Societies Since 1500 (3 hrs.)
HIST 247 Modern Japan (3 hrs.)
HIST 281 The Holocaust: History and Memory (3 hrs.)
HIST 322 Joan of Arc: Film and History (3 hrs.)
HIST 342 The European Witch-Hunts (3 hrs.)
HIST 346 History of Modern China (3 hrs.)
HIST 374 Social History of India (3 hrs.)
HIST 385 Global Cold War (3 hrs.)
HIST 290/390 Selected Topics in World/European History (3 hrs.)

Geography

HIST 111 Geographical History (3 hrs.)

Optional: Professional learning experiences include Internships and HIST 496: Honors Research.

Portfolio

All History majors should keep a file of important assignments completed in their History courses. Items to be placed in the file include any written assignments graded or evaluated by the professor, such as written projects, including exams, research papers, and blogs; as well as any internship projects and/or audio/video materials. The contents of the file will be used to develop a senior portfolio, a course requirement in HPRL 493 Senior Seminar. To be submitted in December of the senior year, the senior portfolio is a reflective document that provides evidence of a student’s learning achievements and may be used to facilitate career planning, job search activities and/or admittance to graduate programs.