The History Department offers a wide variety of chronological, geographical,
and thematic courses that enhance individuals’ understanding of themselves and
the contemporary world by expanding their experiences to include the experiences
of other peoples, both past and present. These courses range from ancient times
to the present, cover most geographical regions of the world, and allow topical
specialties ranging from women’s or environmental history to the history of
technology or sports. History graduates can and do find employment in a wide
range of occupations. Traditionally they have gone into teaching and education
careers in primary and secondary schools and, with appropriate graduate-level
training, colleges or universities. More recently, increasing numbers of history
graduates find their way into private, non-profit as well as public organizations
or agencies, such as museums, archives and libraries, research and service institutions,
legislative bodies, and planning agencies. Others find career opportunities
in the private sector, including publishing, journalism or broadcasting, or
law firms; in fact, history is an ideal pre-law major.
The Department of History offers lower level baccalaureate courses (HTY
103-HTY 280), upper level baccalaureate courses
(HTY 301-HTY 499),
and graduate level courses (HTY 501-HTY
699). Senior history majors may take 500-level graduate courses. Other students
may take graduate level courses by permission.
Majors must complete at least twelve three-credit courses in history, including:
- At least 2 courses (1 must be upper level) from each of the following groups:
- United States history
- European history
- The history of areas outside Europe and the United States or history
with either a worldwide or a topical focus.
- At least eight upper-level history courses, distributed as follows:
- A primary concentration of four courses from a single geographical,
chronological or topical area.
- One senior seminar (HTY 498) normally
taken during the student’s final undergraduate year.
- Three upper-level elective history courses from any area.
In addition, History majors must complete an outside field requirement that
may be satisfied by one of the following:
- Demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language at the intermediate
level, by either examination or through course work.
- Completion of a minor in another discipline requiring at least four courses above the survey
level. These courses may not have been presented to satisfy the
General Education Requirements.
- Completion of an approved Interdisciplinary Curriculum (see
section on
“Interdisciplinary Curricula” in this catalog) requiring at least four
courses beyond the survey level. These courses may not have been
presented to satisfy the General Education Requirements. The History
Department reserves the right to devise and approve additional, but
comparable, “interdisciplinary curricula” other than those listed in this
catalog.
- Completion of a second major.
Students who transfer from other institutions must take a minimum of 6 courses
within the department. All students must earn at least a “C”
in all courses applied to the major.
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