History - A.B. or B.S.
Students majoring in history (as their first major) will have the option of choosing to graduate with a B.A. or a B.S. degree. The sole difference is the language requirement. This option is a common practice at Christian colleges, as well as state schools. Students thinking seriously about graduate work in history will be advised to study a foreign language, graduating with the B.A. Those students pursuing the B.A. in history will be required to satisfy the language proficiency requirement.
Purpose
The History major is offered by the Department of History and Political Science. The History major is chosen by students who have a variety of interests and objectives. It offers excellent preparation toward teaching, research, journalism, Christian ministries and graduate study. (History majors desiring to teach in secondary schools need to major in History and Social Studies Education. The History major combined with a major in Philosophy/Religion serves as excellent pre-seminary preparation. Also, the History major often serves as a companion double major with Accounting, Art, Biblical Literature, Biology, Business Administration, Christian Ministries, Communication Studies, Computer Information Systems, Criminal Justice, Economics, English, Intercultural Studies, International Relations, Mathematics, Music, Political Science, Political Science Pre-Law, Psychology, Philosophy and Theology, Social Studies, Social Work, Spanish or Writing. The department also offers a 24-credit hour History minor.
General Education Competencies
Please refer to the general education requirements and competencies section under the Division of Social Sciences.
Requirements
A major in History includes 33-34 credit hours of History and a cognate area of 9 credit hours, which may be additional courses in History or a grouping directed in any one of the following suggested areas: accounting, art, biblical literature, biology, business administration, Christian ministries, communication studies, computer information systems, criminal justice, economics, English, geography, intercultural studies, international relations, mathematics, music, political science, psychology, philosophy and theology, social studies, social work, Spanish, writing, or as directed by the department.
In place of HST-180, students majoring in History, Social Studies and Social Studies Education, or minoring in History, should complete HST-185 and HST-190. Students majoring in History are required to take a minimum of 12 credit hours of upper-division courses (numbered 300 or higher) offered by the department.
The specific social studies requirements for a History/Social Studies teaching major (Social Studies Education) are detailed under the Social Studies/Social Studies Education major.
Requirements (42-43 credits)
Required Courses (12-13 credits)
Students take each of the following courses
| HST-185 | World History to 1500 | 3 |
| HST-190 | World History 1500 to Present | 3 |
| HST-290 | Making History: Historians, Historical Techniques and Historiography | 3 |
| HST-449 | History Capstone Proseminar | 0 to 1 |
| HST-450 | History Research Seminar | 3 |
Regional Studies: (9 credits)
Students choose three courses from the following:
| HST-211 | American Civilization to 1865 | 3 |
| HST-212 | American Civilization after 1865 | 3 |
| HST-256 | Africa and the World | 3 |
| HST-280 | History of Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
NOTE: History majors are required to take a minimum of 12 hours of upper-division courses (numbered 300 or higher) offered by the department. HST 450 may be included in this 12 hours.
Electives: (12 credits)
Students will take 12 hours of History electives: One from U.S. History, One from European History, One from World History
| HST-103 | Recent History and Politics | 3 |
| HST-211 | American Civilization to 1865 | 3 |
| HST-212 | American Civilization after 1865 | 3 |
| HST-256 | Africa and the World | 3 |
| HST-280 | History of Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
| HST-220 | Topics in History | 3 |
| HST-230 | Colonial Latin America | 3 |
| HST-231 | National Latin America | 3 |
| HST-295 | Portraits | 1 to 3 |
| HST-300 | Western/American Intellectual and Social History | 3 |
| HST-301 | American Foreign Relations | 3 |
| HST-302 | American Political Parties | 3 |
| HST-312 | Medieval Civilization | 3 |
| HST-320 | American Economic History | 3 |
| HST-321 | History of the Muslim-Christian Encounter | 3 |
| HST-341 | History of England to 1688 | 3 |
| HST-342 | History of England 1688 - Present | 3 |
| HST-355 | Modern Mexico | 3 |
| HST-361 | History of Russia and Eastern Europe | 3 |
| HST-370 | International Cultural Studies | 3 |
| HST-381 | History of East Asia | 3 |
| HST-395 | Renaissance and Reformation | 3 |
| HST-400 | American Constitutional History | 3 |
| HST-442 | World War II | 3 |
| HST-475 | Independent Learning in History | 1 to 3 |
| HST-499 | History Honors | 3 |
Cognate (9 credits)
Nine credit hour cognate (group of courses from an appropriate second major or minor) or an additional nine hours of history courses.
Language Proficiency
NOTE: Students majoring in history (as their
first major) will have the option of choosing to graduate with a B.A. or a B.S. degree. The sole difference is the language requirement. This option is a common practice at Christian colleges, as well as state schools. Students thinking seriously about graduate work in history will be advised to study a foreign language, graduating with the B.A. Those students pursuing the B.A. in history will be required to satisfy the following language proficiency requirement:
Proficiency in a non-native language at the intermediate level may be met by showing four years of high school foreign language with no grade below a "C," satisfactorily passing a language examination rated for the intermediate level of proficiency, or taking two years of college foreign language.
Declaring and Maintaining a History Major
In order to pursue History as a first or second major, students need to consult with the coordinator of the Department of History and Political Science and then declare a History major in the Registrar's Office. Students majoring or minoring in History must maintain no less than a 2.25 GPA in the History major/minor.
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 15 credit hours in history may be transferred toward the major.
