The study of history encompasses all recorded expressions of human activity-social, political, intellectual, artistic, and economic. Because of its broad scope, history provides an excellent introduction to all studies which concern human beings and their activities. History introduces students to their own culture and to cultures that are foreign both in time and space; it thereby attempts to advance their understandings of themselves and their world.

History offers every encouragement to superior students, including proseminars and seminars in which small groups consider special topics in detail, and reading courses designed to fit the interests of the individual. Freshmen with superior preparation may, by passing a special examination, receive full credit for HIST H105 American History I, HIST H106 American History II, HIST H113 Western Culture I, and HIST H114 Western Culture II without enrolling in those courses.

Minor in History

A minor in history consists of a 15 credit hour program to be arranged in consultation with a departmental advisor, and filed with the departmental office. The program for a minor must be arranged at least one semester before graduation. At least 9 of these credit hours must be at the 200-level. A 200-level seminar is strongly recommended for all history minors.

Associate of Arts with a Concentration in History

(All courses are 3 cr. hours unless otherwise designated.)

Concentration Requirements (18 cr.)

This concentration may include 6 credit hours at the 100-level. All other history courses must be at the 200-level or above, and must include HIST H217 The Nature of History, 3 credit hours of American history, 3 credit hours of modern Western European history since 1500, and 3 credit hours in some other area (such as Ancient, Medieval, Russian, or Asian history).

Bachelor of Arts in History

(All courses are 3 cr. hours unless otherwise designated.)

History majors must earn at least 30 credit hours in history courses. These may include 6 credit hours at the 100-level but all other history courses must be at the 200-level or above, including 6 credit hours of American history, 6 credit hours of modern western European history since 1500, 6 credit hours in other areas such as Ancient, Medieval, Russian, or Asian history. As soon as possible after declaring a major in history, students should enroll in HIST H217 The Nature of History.

Because HIST J495 Proseminar for History Majors is the capstone of the major program, no history major will be allowed to take it without demonstrating thorough preparation. That will be done by submitting a portfolio of written work to the department chairperson at least 60 days before the seminar begins. At minimum, each portfolio must include:

• Six essay examinations (however constructed, each examination must consist entirely of written answers).
• Five essays (which may be book reviews, comments on documents, brief narratives, or interpretive essays).
• Two longer papers that include systematic documentation.
• A formal job resume.

No more than three items in any portfolio may come from any one course. The items need not all come from history courses. Finally, all portfolios will include brief introductions in which students evaluate their own work and indicate which items they consider best.

At the earliest possible time, in no case later than the first semester of the junior year, each student, in consultation with a departmental advisor, should develop a suitable course of study. Students who wish to focus their study on a particular historical theme, such as religion, politics, diplomacy, social change, economics, ideas, or some particular world area, must devise a program in consultation with a departmental advisor and, where appropriate, with an advisor from another department related to the proposed focus. If such a focused program necessitates any departure from the general history requirements stated above, the program must also be approved by the history departmental chairperson.

History of Art

A degree in history with a focus in history of art may also be obtained. This degree requires 21 credit hours in history and 18 credit hours in the history of art. These may include 6 credit hours at the 100-level, but all other courses must be at the 200-level or above, plus a 400-level seminar, in either history or fine arts. The student may receive further information from history or the School of the Arts.

Foreign Languages

Students are encouraged to continue their foreign language study beyond the two years required by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Graduate schools generally require mastery of one foreign language for the study of American history and of two or more foreign languages for study of other fields of history. Students with appropriate language competence are encouraged to participate in the university's various programs of foreign study.

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