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2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
History, B.A.
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History courses introduce students to the nature of history and survey the globe in a historical context. The 100- and 200-level courses are world or regional surveys, covering extensive periods of time, while the 300- and 400-level courses are focused on one theme, time period or geography. The upper-level courses require extensive analysis of sources and texts and they include a research assignment that showcases the students’ ability to develop and present their own historical interpretations.
The major requires three core courses: HIST 101 , HIST 102 and HIST 395 . Majors must take eight additional courses: Two on the 200 level and six on the 300 and 400 levels—with at least three of the upper division courses taken at the 400 level. In addition, majors must take one upper division course in each of the following fields: U.S., Europe and World history. For students writing a senior honors thesis, only three hours of HIST 499 may be counted among the three 400-level courses required for the major.
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History Degree and Major Requirements
The requirements for a major in history consist of introductory, mid- and upper-level courses. All courses introduce students to the nature of history and survey the globe in a historical context. In addition to involving reading, writing and critical thinking, these courses help students develop skills in identifying and interpreting research sources and presenting research results in a 21st century context. The 100- and 200-level courses are world or regional surveys, covering extensive periods of time, while the 300- and 400-level courses focus on specific nations, time periods or themes. The upper-level courses also require more extensive analysis of sources, texts and interpretations. Courses at the 400 level are capstones where students are expected to show an advanced ability to meet all department objectives. Majors in history are strongly encouraged to continue study in foreign languages beyond the minimum university requirement and, when appropriate, to integrate their foreign language studies into their history classes.
This major requires three core courses. Two of these courses are introductory: HIST 101. World History to 1500 [C2HQC] and HIST 102. World History Since 1500 [C2HQC] . The third required course is HIST 395. History Seminar .
In addition to the core requirements, majors must take eight elective courses: two on the 200 level and six on the 300 and 400 levels. At least three of the six upper division courses must be taken at the 400 level. For students writing a senior honors thesis, only three hours of HIST 499. Honors , may be counted among the three 400-level courses required for the major.
Majors must also complete one course at the upper division level in each of the following fields: U.S. history, European history and World history.
Students may elect a major concentration of either public history or teacher education. A concentration is not required.
Required Courses
- General Education 41 Credit Hours 1
- Foreign Language classes (intermediate level required) 0-14 Credit Hours 2
- Philosophy course (in addition to General Education courses) 3 Credit Hours
- Major requirements 33-37 Credit Hours
- University electives 28-42 Credit Hours
Footnotes
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
2 The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures’ placement test.
Core Requirements: 15-16 Credit Hours
Footnotes
1 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major. 2 HUM 252 may be able to fill this requirement. Check with the history adviser.
History Majors (No Concentration Option): 18 Credit Hours
History Majors (Concentration Option): 18-21 Credit Hours
Choose one of the concentrations below: History Teacher Education Concentration Courses: 18 Credit Hours
Do you want to teach history in a middle or high school setting? A history major is good preparation for a professional path in social studies education which allows students to combine a passion for history with a clear professional path. Students may choose between a four-year program and a five-year program that lead to preparation for teacher licensure. The five-year program (including a pre-professional secondary education minor and interdisciplinary social science (ISS) minor, and then application and acceptance to an M.A.T. program in the fifth year) allows students to extend and deepen their historical knowledge and skill at historical thinking, while learning to apply it in field experiences. The four-year program (a double major in secondary education and history, with a minor in ISS) provides an accelerated program for motivated students to get into the classroom sooner. Within the four-year program, the required ISS minor prepares students for teaching social studies with preparation beyond history.
Students choosing to complete the history B.A. with a concentration in teacher education complete the following courses instead of the more general history electives.
Students interested in teaching licensure must also complete the ISS minor.
Pre-professional secondary education minors (5-year program): HIST 457 cannot double-count for the major and ISS minor; this course is required for the ISS minor.
Students who take POSC 457 cannot also take or receive credit for HIST 457 .
Secondary Education majors (four-year program): HIST 457 can double-count with the ISS minor.
Choose one. Thinking with Economics: 3 credit hours
Choose one. Virginia history requirement: 3 Credit Hours
[Note: counts as US elective] History Electives: 12 Credit Hours
- Four 300- or 400- level HIST courses (one each of World, European electives; at least three 400-level). 12.00 Credit Hours
Total: 33-34 Credit Hours
Public History Concentration Courses: 21 Credit Hours
Historians today practice their discipline in a variety of careers as well as in more traditional academic settings. Those historians who work in museums, archives, government agencies, libraries, historic preservation organizations, businesses, contract history firms, cultural resource management firms and historic sites are known as public historians because they use their skills as historians to serve a public audience. The concentration in Public History trains students in the broad range of skills and issues associated with public history while providing them with a solid general background in history. Students pursuing the public history concentration augment their foundation of traditional history courses by taking introductory and specialized public history courses and completing a semester-long internship. History majors opting to pursue the public history concentration will complete seven elective courses, six of which must be 300/400 level history courses. The public history concentration consists of five courses (15 credit hours). Students are required to complete two public history core courses and three elective courses. Two of the three elective courses should be chosen from the list of primary electives; the remaining elective course may be chosen from either the primary or secondary list of elective courses. Required Courses: 6 Credit Hours
Primary Electives: 6 Credit Hours
Primary or Secondary Elective: 3 Credit Hours
Choose Two 300- or 400-level HIST Courses: 6 Credit Hours
(At least one course in each of World, U.S. and European history and at least three courses at the 400 level across all courses) Total: 33-37 Credit Hours
Recommended Schedule for Majors without a specific concentration
(Non- History Teacher Education Concentration) Total: 30 Credit Hours
- History electives (mix 300 and 400 levels) 9.00 Credit Hours
- Electives 18.00 Credit Hours
- General Education courses (Cluster Four) 3.00 Credit Hours
Recommended Schedule for the Major with History Teacher Education Concentration
A more detailed recommendation for combining the majors and minors leading to licensure can be found on the History department website. First Year
Students who have a double-major in which the other major is a BS degree may be subject to the BS degree requirements instead, which do not include a foreign language. Be sure to talk to your advisor. Fourth Year
- History electives (mix 300 and 400 levels) 9.00 Credit Hours
- Electives 18.00 Credit Hours
- General Education courses (Cluster Four) 3.00 Credit Hours
- Student teaching for students in the 4-year program
European History Requirement
These courses satisfy the Department of History European history requirement.
United States History Requirement
These courses satisfy the Department of History United States history requirement.
- HIST 225. U.S. History [C4AE] Credits: 4.00
- HIST 397. U.S. Military History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 303. Virginia’s Place in #VastEarlyAmerica Credits: 3.00
- HIST 304. Native Peoples of the United States Credits: 3.00
- HIST 310. American Business History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 315. History of Sport Credits: 3.00
- HIST 316. The Life and Times of James Madison, 1751-1836 Credits: 3.00
- HIST 319. Women at Work in U.S. History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 320. Women in U.S. History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 322. The New South Credits: 3.00
- HIST 323. The Old South Credits: 3.00
- HIST 326. The Automobile in 20th Century America Credits: 3.00
- HIST 327. Technology in America Credits: 3.00
- HIST 330. U.S. Diplomatic History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 338. U.S. Urban History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 339. Selected Themes in U.S. History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 350. Virginia Credits: 3.00
- HIST 355. African-American History to 1865 Credits: 3.00
- HIST 356. African-American History Since 1865 Credits: 3.00
- HIST 362. Introduction to U.S. Religious History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 402. Workshop in Colonial American Life Credits: 3.00
- HIST 403. Workshop in Civil War Virginia Credits: 3.00
- HIST 406. Monticello Credits: 3.00
- HIST 407. Digital History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 411. Colonial and Revolutionary North America Credits: 3.00
- HIST 420. Mobs, Taxes, War and Laws: The American Revolution Credits: 3.00
- HIST 422. U.S. History, 1789-1848 Credits: 3.00
- HIST 425. Civil War and Reconstruction Credits: 3.00
- HIST 427. U.S. Environmental History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 428. American Workers in the Industrial Age, 1877-1948 Credits: 3.00
- HIST 430. The Gilded Age: U.S. History, 1877-1901 Credits: 3.00
- HIST 431. Reform, World War and Prosperity: U.S. History, 1901-1929 Credits: 3.00
- HIST 432. Depression, War and Cold War: U.S. History, 1929-1961 Credits: 3.00
- HIST 433. Reform, Upheaval and Reaction: U.S. History Since 1961- 1980 Credits: 3.00
- HIST 434. Recent America Credits: 3.00
- HIST 439. Selected Topics in American History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 443. Modern American Technology and Culture Credits: 3.00
World History Requirement
These courses satisfy the Department of History world history requirement.
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