History is the study of the past. It encompasses almost all aspects of human activity and behavior. The arts and sciences, technology and economics, ideology and social attitudes are all as much a part of history as politics and war.
History is the most universal of the humanities. It is not merely a body of facts to be learned, but is a series of arguments and points of view to be debated. Study of the ideas, attitudes, and actions of peoples in the past helps to sharpen a person's own sense of values, offering moral lessons in the search for a global future of creative achievement and international peace. It also helps to cultivate a more tolerant and compassionate spirit toward peoples whose way of life may be different from one's own.
The excellent training in basic skills and the broad range of information students receive in history courses prepare history majors for a wide variety of careers in law, government, politics, journalism, publishing, international business, and public history. Teaching at the elementary, secondary, or university level is an opportunity for history majors who continue their education at the graduate level.
The Bachelor of Arts program offers students a wide variety of courses and teaching methods to stimulate understanding of the past.
Preparatory work for the Bachelor of Arts program requires the completion of two semesters of World History and two semesters of Western Civilization, American History, or Comparative History of the Americas.
At the upper-division level, students will take courses in the following fields: Thematic, Comparative and Interdisciplinary History; The Ancient through Early Modern World; and The Modern World.
- Special course selections include: "Issues in History," which examines selected problems and current issues in history and may be repeated with a change of content; Special study courses give students the opportunity to approach history in unique and innovative ways, including such topics as biography, war, sexuality, science, technology, urbanization, minority issues, immigration, religion and capitalism.
- History majors are able to make use of the extensive resources available through the Social Science Research Laboratory, which offers a variety of research and computer-assisted services.
The many career opportunities available to history majors include teaching; law; administration of a historical organization; writing, editing, and publishing of historical journals, books, pamphlets, newsletters, and technical guides; serving as archivists or records managers for presidential libraries, local governments, universities and businesses; preserving and restoring old buildings, districts, and towns; foreign service; politics; or social services.
To further explore career options in this field, visit the Career Services Web site for more information.
You can view more complete information regarding the History program in the General Catalog. All students are responsible for reading and knowing the information pertinent to their areas of study available in the General Catalog. It contains requirements for all academic majors, course descriptions, policies, and regulations governing progress at the university. Catalogs are distributed at all New Student Orientation programs. To order a General Catalog, call (619) 594-7535.