History

History

Professors: Mary C. Kelly, Melinda Marie Jetté

A Bachelor of Arts degree is offered in History for traditional students.

The mission of the History program is to produce students with a knowledge of American, European and World History; a knowledge of historical perspectives, thinking, and methods, including an awareness of ethical issues and human values in the study of history; and the ability to plan and complete historical research projects. Students must demonstrate their knowledge and methods in written and oral forms of presentation.

History Department Goals and Career Preparation

History Program Goals are designed to measure content knowledge and skills; supporting the University’s mission to cultivate students who are well-rounded in the liberal arts, excellent scholars, and engaged, knowledgeable citizens respectful of diversity in the global environment.

The major in History provides students with the essential skills for a wide variety of careers. Among the careers pursued by recent graduates are teaching, archival and museum work, law, business, government service, journalism, and higher degrees in history and public history.

Together with History Program Learning Outcomes addressing Knowledge, Historical Perspectives, and Historical Research, the sequenced Public History concentration prepares students for careers in the field, integrating:

• Professional skills, ethics, and standards
• Familiarity with research and the production of professional historical narratives
• Public history methods and interpretation.

The History curriculum prioritizes the skills most desired by employers, including: written and oral communication, logical and analytical reasoning, information literacy and research skills, problem solving, and teamwork. Experiential learning and field-based internship opportunities complement this foundational skill-development in the History curriculum.

Students achieving a grade point average at graduation of 3.25 or above in the History major are awarded Honors in History. Students achieving a grade point average at graduation of 3.50 or above in History are awarded High Honors in History. The GPA in the History major and for Honors in the History major is calculated by averaging the grades of all courses used to fulfill the requirements of the major. Any non-HS course used to fulfill a major requirement must be approved through the completion of a course substitution form and is included in the major GPA calculation.

Students who intend to teach History (Social Studies) in high school should refer to the School of Education for information on the Secondary Teacher Certification program.

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Major Requirements

In addition to all graduation requirements, student must complete a minimum of 37 credits in History. History majors, especially those who contemplate graduate study, are encouraged to pursue the study of a foreign language.

Required Core Courses
HS214 Popular History Today
HS275 History Workshop
HS410 History Research Seminar 
HS450 History Senior Portfolio Assessment

Select one  of these experiential courses: HS491, HS395, HS495, HS246, HS310, HS329, HS377
Two 200-level HS courses
Three 300-level HS courses

Choose one Concentration:

Public History Concentration – 9 credits
HS395 or HS495 Internship in Public History 
Select Two Public History electives: HS246, HS310, HS329, HS377 

Social Studies Concentration – 9 credits
HS235 Topics in World History
HS308 From Sea to Shining Sea: the Geography of the United States 
HS319 History of New England

Professional Concentration – 9 credits
HS 200 Who’s Who in American History
Select one course in social, cultural, or intellectual history: HS313, HS320, HS322, HS323, HS341
Selection one course in European or World history: HS235, HS337, HS340, HS376

History Minor
Six courses (18 credits) are required for the History minor, including at least two 300-level courses.

Recommended Curriculum - History

 

*One or more additional electives may be needed to fulfill general education requirements.  See General and Liberal Education (GLE).