Advising Suggestions for History BA Degree

The Undergraduate catalog is the official source of requirements for a History major and for the BA Degree. Click here to view the undergraduate catalog. This web site description is not intended to serve as a substitute for the catalog information or for meeting regularly with an advisor.

These suggestions are for Non-Transfer Students.

Freshman Year

1) World Civilization HIST 1110/1120
The department suggests that each major and minor take the appropriate world civilization courses as the freshman-level introduction to history. In today’s society, all of us need to look beyond America and Europe for the roots of our culture and the origins of the forces that influence us. We are part of a global environment and the product of world-wide historical developments, and we need a fundamental grounding in this fact. On a more practical level, the world civilization sequence includes all major world civilizations, including European. Therefore, it’s the most comprehensive survey sequence we offer.

Please also note the following . . .

• A history major in the teacher licensure preparation program must take World Civilization HIST 1110/1120. Western Civilizaton HIST 1010/1020 will not count for certification to teach.
• Although the department suggests that students take the two classes in chronological order, this is not a requirement. World Civilization HIST 1110 deals with world civilizations from ancient times to 1500 (ie., the "opening" of the "new world"), while World Civilization HIST 1120 deals with modern world civilizations from 1500 to the present.
• the department also advises that studenets take World Civilization HIST 1110 and World Civilization 1120 in separate semesters. This allows students to focus on the content of each historical period.
• The Department advises that history majors in particular, take these courses during the regular academic year. This allows for adequate study of the course content and interaction with History faculty throughout the semester.

2) Advising
During the freshman year, it is important to establish a good working relationship with faculty advisors. By doing this early, students can be sure that they are taking the right options in general education and that they are beginning to explore possibilities for a minor (for more on minors, see point # 3 under junior year, below).

3) Meeting the Permanent Faculty
While still at the beginning of their studies, students should take the time to get to know the faculty members of the department. Learn not only what subjects they teach but the expectations they have for students in their classes. Faculty members serve as advisors to students and provide advice, guidance, and encouragement throughout students' college experience.

4) Language Classes
History offers a Bachelor of Arts degree that requires the completion of a 12 hour sequence of foreign language courses (example Spanish 1010, Spanish 1020, Spanish 2010, Spanish 2020). It is possible to test out of the beginning courses or to receive credit for them because of language taken in high school. Note discussion of these possibilities on pages 60-61 and 192 of the current catalog (2009-2011).

During the freshman year, presuming no exemption from the beginning level courses, students should complete the 1010 and 1020 sequence of the chosen language.

5) General Education Courses
On pages 64-67 of the current catalog (2009-2011) the current general education requirements are listed. For the freshman year, the Department strongly recommends completion of the English Composition sequence (ENGL 1010, 1020), as good writing will be essential to all of courses. Beyond these two classes, advisors can suggest the best way to take the other courses required in the sciences, social sciences, physical education, etc. Generally speaking, focus the first two years of school on general education, the last two years on upper-division courses in the major and minor.

6) Upper-Division Form
Approximately two semesters before graduation students are required to submit an Upper-Division form and an Intent to Graduate form to the Records Office for an analysis of the remaining courses needed to graduate. See Records web page for specific dates. On the Upper Division form students will record all courses taken up to that point. We would advise students to secure a copy of this form from their advisor for personal own use. The Upper Division form is a very handy tool to keep track of courses as students progress through the program.

Sophomore Year

1) American People HIST 2010/2020
This is the American history survey sequence. The first course, HIST 2010, deals with American history from the beginning of new world colonization to the end of Reconstruction. HIST 2020 deals with late nineteenth-century industrialization up through the present.

It is better to take these courses during a regular semester (a fall or spring) rather than in summer, and it is better to take them in sequence over the full year. Although taking the courses in chronological order (2010 before 2020) is advised, it is not absolutely necessary.

2) Language Classes
During this year students should complete the 2010 and 2020 classes in the chosen foreign language.

3) General Education
Students should be working with advisors each semester to make sure they are taking the right courses that count for general education.

4) The Historian’s Craft HIST 3010
This course introduces students to advanced reading, research, and writing in the discipline of history. The class also introduces students to careers in history. The Department considers this course to be a prerequisite for work in the 3000-4000 level classes. It provides the necessary foundation for doing the historical research papers that will be assigned later on, as well as providing a base for reviewing the secondary literature at a level appropriate for a senior college student.

History 3010 should be taken in the sophomore year. The work load and time requirements in 3010 are significant and a semester of no more than 12 to 15 hours is recommended.

History 3010 should be completed before taking upper-division work. It is intended to assist students with the assignments in upper-level courses. Professors teaching 3000-4000 level classes will expect that students have taken 3010, and will hold them accountable for the skills taught in the class.

Junior Year

1) General Education/Language
By the first semester of the junior year the general education courses, with language sequence should be completed. Students should now be ready for upper-level classes in the major, minor, and electives (or second minor). 

2) Major–Upper Division Courses
Beyond the four survey courses and HIST 3010, students will need seven upper-division (3000-4000 level) courses in history to complete the major. Of those seven courses, two must be European, two Global and two U.S.. One additional course is an upper division elective from any of the history fields.

3) Minor
For a Bachelor of Arts degree students must have, in addition to the major, at least one minor that qualifies as a LIBERAL ARTS minor. The minors that qualify are listed on page 61 of the current catalog (2009-2011).

4) Second Minor or Electives
In addition to the first minor, you will need 18 hours of electives or a second minor are needed, keeping in mind that 120 hours overall are required to to graduate–not counting Developmental Studies hours.

A second minor, is typically in the liberal arts, although that is not a hard and fast rule. Depending on the circumstances, and with approval a minor in something outside the liberal arts disciplines is acceptable. Be aware of this however. In order to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree, 90 hours of the required 120 must come from liberal arts subjects.

Not only must 90 hours of 120 must be in liberal arts subjects, but at least 42 hours of the total 120 must be at the 3000-4000 level.

5) Upper-Division Form
During the first semester of the senior year, fill out the upper-division form in consultation with an advisor. This form will be submitted to the Dean of Liberal Arts, and, from there, to the graduation analyst’s office. Students will receive back from analyst's office a degree audit which will tell them what coursework is required to take before graduation. The upper-division form ensures that the student, advisors, and the university are all on the same page. It is ALSO a way to ensure that students who have overlooked a requirement, have an opportunity (three regular semesters and at least one summer) to complete the coursework. If the student delays submitting an upper-division form he/she will not be allowed to graduate until the upper division form is filed.

6) Intent to Graduate Form
At the beginning, (the first week) of the students' final semester, they need to file with the Records Office an intent to graduate form. Essentially, this is simply a form which sets the final graduation process in motion. This is an administrative requirement for graduation.

7) Major Field Test/ACT Comp Test
During the final semester of undergraduate work, the student is required to take the Major Field Test/ACT Comp test which, in effect, attempt to measure general knowledge learned during the college career along with specific information in the discipline of history. This is an accountability measure imposed by the institution.