Major in History

Requirements

Completion of ten courses (40 units) in History, as follows:

Required courses (Lower Division 16 units):

• HIST - 120 History of the U.S.
• HIST - 175 Historical Methods

Choose two from the following (8 units):

• HIST - 110 European Civilization
• HIST - 130 East Asian Civilizations
• HIST - 140 Latin American Perspectives
• HIST - 150 Modern African History
• HIST - 115 European/U.S. History
• HIST - 135 Indian Civilizations

Required Courses (Upper Division, 24 units)

• Three courses in Emphasis: European, African, Asian, Latin American, United States History (12 units)
• Two courses outside of Emphasis (8 units)
• Seminar in Area of Emphasis (4 units)

Double Emphasis in History

History majors complete the 16 lower division requirements and complete three upper division courses and one seminar in each of their two areas of emphasis (total 12 courses and 48 units). The double emphasis provides students with greater comparative depth in History, and opens up opportunities in teaching and graduate school.

Honors in History

Senior History majors having a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) for twenty-four (24) or more units of History courses may elect to prepare, for Honors, a senior thesis under the supervision of a professor in the area of the student's emphasis. In most cases the thesis will be completed in one semester, earning the student four (4) units of credit. Under special circumstances, the thesis may be extended to two semesters and eight (8) units of credit.

Learning Goals/Outcomes for the B.A. in History

Students will be able to:

• demonstrate a basic understanding of a significant span of history over a wide geographic area;
• articulate in writing and discussion their understanding of the ways significant historical forces (e.g., colonization, industrialization, war, social movements) shape the development of societies and civilizations;
• exhibit historical consciousness by understanding past societies and civilizations in their own contexts and times;
• demonstrate a sense of how historical thinking can establish a valuable framework for considering ethical issues int the past and present;
• demonstrate a substantive understanding of human history across a number of time periods and/or geographic settings;
• become acquainted with the historical method through analyzing historical documents, evaluating historical interpretations, and understanding historiography;
• conduct and present their own historical research;
• partake in the cosmopolitan spirit of the University, striving to increase their intellectual and moral sensitivity to differences of religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and nationality that are often misunderstood.