History Major

The history major trains students to identify, describe, and analyze forces that have shaped societies over time. By carefully considering the development and interplay of factors such as culture, pol it ics, religion, gender, race, and economics, students learn to understand the contextual basis for major issues facing different societies. By examining primary sources and various historical narratives, students learn to sort through competing interpretations of the past in order to arrive at an informed and well-reasoned understanding of historical developments. Students majoring in history develop skills in research, reasoning, wr it ing, and social analysis. Graduates enter advanced degree programs in history, Christian ministries, and law. They also pursue careers in business, government service, and human service fields.

Students pursuing a major in History must complete a total of 36 hours, as follows: all majors must take a core of HIST 111, 112, 211, 212, 442, and one non-western history course. Beyond the core, students must complete 6 add it ional upper-level history courses, at least one of which must be in American history, one in European history, and one in non-Western history.

History majors have the choice to take courses from the following historical sequence of philosophy courses in partial fulfillment of the upper-level history electives: PHIL 351, 352, 353 (Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Philosophy, respectively). Students who are not minoring in philosophy may take up to six hours (2 courses) from the historical sequence of philosophy courses toward the 18 hours of required history electives. Students who are minoring in philosophy may take only three hours (one course) from the historical sequence of philosophy courses. 

All seniors pursuing the History major are required to take senior comprehensive examinations. Information must be acquired from the Department Chair.

 

 

 
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