2024-2025 Catalog

 

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, 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 Department 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, 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-185World History to 1500

3

HST-190World History 1500 to Present

3

HST-290Making History: Historians, Historical Techniques and Historiography

3

HST-449History Capstone Proseminar

0 to 1

HST-450History Research Seminar

3

Regional Studies: (9 credits)

Students choose three courses from the following:
HST-211American Civilization to 1865

3

HST-212American Civilization after 1865

3

HST-256Africa and the World

3

HST-280History 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 these 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-103Recent History and Politics

3

HST-211American Civilization to 1865

3

HST-212American Civilization after 1865

3

HST-256Africa and the World

3

HST-280History of Middle East and North Africa

3

HST-220Topics in History

3

HST-230Colonial Latin America

3

HST-231National Latin America

3

HST-295Portraits

1 to 3

HST-300Western/American Intellectual and Social History

3

HST-301American Foreign Relations

3

HST-302American Political Parties

3

HST-312Medieval Civilization

3

HST-320American Economic History

3

HST-321History of the Muslim-Christian Encounter

3

HST-341History of England to 1688

3

HST-342History of England 1688 - Present

3

HST-355Modern Mexico

3

HST-361History of Russia and Eastern Europe

3

HST-370International Cultural Studies

3

HST-381History of East Asia

3

HST-395Renaissance and Reformation

3

HST-400American Constitutional History

3

HST-442World War II

3

HST-475Independent Learning in History History

1 to 3

HST-499History 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

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. 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 grades of "C" of above, 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 Registration and Academic Services 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.

Indiana Weselayan