B.A., B.S. in History

The department offers a variety of survey courses (200 series) for first- and second-year students as either general education courses or as introductions to advanced courses in history or other subject areas. In addition to 200-level survey courses, it offers advanced undergraduate courses in the history of Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the United States, technology and science, agriculture, and other selected topics. Objectives for History Majors Display the appropriate level of cognitive knowledge of historical themes and events based upon the student?s course of study Display an understanding of past cultures and social organizations, based on the course of study Develop the fundamental methodological skills of the historical craft:- The ability to contextualize and analyze primary source evidence.- Familiarity with the concepts of historical argument and interpretation, and the ability to formulate effective argumentation in written and oral forms.- Awareness of the basic historiography in selected research area.- The ability to conduct research and to write a historical essay based upon primary and secondary source research. Students receive an introduction to these concepts in HIST 195 Introduction to History. Display a sophisticated understanding of the relationship between past events and the present. For purposes of outcomes assessment, all History majors must complete three credits of HIST 495 Historiography and Research Writing or, if qualified and willing, one graduate level writing/research seminar. Majors must distribute their courses across geographic and chronological areas such that they take at least 3 credits at the 300-level or above in five of the following six areas: U.S. history, European history, African/Asian/Latin American history Ancient history (pre-500), medieval and early-modern history (ca. 500-1750), and modern history (post-1750) Individual courses may fulfill both a geographic and a chronological area. For example, a course on nineteenth century France may count as both European history and modern history. No single course, however, may be used to fulfill more than one geographic and one chronological area. If a course stretches significantly across two or more areas, students will select which geographic and/or which chronological area they want the course to fulfill. The History Department undergraduate adviser should be consulted as to which courses fulfill what areas. HIST 495 Historiography and Research Writing may not be used to fulfill any area.