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Majors and Minors

Major in History (B.A.)

Students majoring in history take a minimum of 11 courses (37 credits) and choose a concentration in either American history or modern European history.

Required courses:

  • Interpretations of American History to 1877
  • Interpretations of American History 1877-Present
  • Historical Research Methods
  • Senior Seminar
  • One non-Western history elective
  • One course from a short list of cultural and historic preservation offerings
Concentration in American History

Students concentrating in American history obtain a solid overview of American history from the colonial period to the present. In their senior year, students perform directed research that leads to the development, presentation and defense of a thesis on the American history topic of their choice.

Students choose four courses from the following list:

  • American Immigrant Experience
  • American Economic History
  • Urban America
  • History of Warfare
  • Modern America
  • Modern American Foreign Policy

Students also choose at least one American history elective and one European history elective.

Concentration in Modern European History

Students concentrating in modern European history acquire a sound foundation of European history from the French Revolution to the present. In their senior year, students perform directed research that leads to the development, presentation and defense of a thesis on the modern European history topic of their choice.

Required courses:

  • Europe 1789-1914
  • Europe 1914-1990s

Students also choose at least four of the following national history courses: England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Russia.

Double Major in History and Secondary Education (B.A.S.)

Students choosing a double major in history and secondary education take a combination of American, European and non-Western history courses (35 credits). Students must also meet the requirements for secondary education.

Required courses:

  • Western Civilization I
  • Interpretations of American History to 1877
  • Interpretations of American History 1877-Present
  • Historical Research Methods
  • Senior Seminar
  • Cultural and Historic Preservation Conference
  • Two courses in American history
  • Two courses in European history
  • One course in non-Western history
  • One upper-level American, European or non-Western history elective

Minor in History

Students completing a minor in history take a minimum of six courses (18 credits).

Required course:

  • Interpretations of American History to 1877 or Interpretations of American History 1877-Present

Students choose five additional history courses in consultation with the department chair. Four courses must be at the 200-level or higher and at least three courses must be focused in one concentration.