History explores the past so we can better understand the present. Students will learn how to analyze primary and secondary sources to identify significant themes and trends, reach conclusions and produce effective written and oral materials related to a particular subject. There is a general history option and four thematic options within the major:

Students Collaborating

General History Option

The General History option is designed to offer students a survey of history and build upon the core requirements. In addition to the 30 credits of Core courses, this option requires 30 credits of Electives with a THIST prefix; 25 credits must be upper-division (300–400 level) THIST courses. For THIST options, please see the complete list of course offerings.

Students Collaborating

Arts, Culture and Society Option

The Arts, Culture and Society option is designed to offer students a strong foundation for understanding the interconnection between cultural production and historical causation where ideas, art, architecture, literature, film and the performing arts function as agents of social and historical change. This option examines the intersection and interaction between politics, science, economics, social ritual and development, class, gender and race across a global environment over time.

Students discussing in a classroom setting

Global History Option

The Global History option is designed to offer students a strong foundation for understanding the relational forces between continents, and the historical process of globalization. Colonialism, imperialism, anticolonial independence movements and the national and transnational effects they cause are additional areas of study. This option prepares students for investigating issues of globalization, such as the impact of colonization and aggressive imperial expansion on dominated territories and their history.

conversation at PPE Party

Labor and Social Movements Option

The Labor and Social Movements option is designed to offer students a strong foundation for understanding historical roots and processes that shape political, intellectual, economic and social developments and consequently the conditions of the working class in a global context. This option examines the culture, politics and socioeconomic conditions as they intersect with gender, labor and race in changing contexts of im(migration), famine, disenfranchisement, marginalization, oppression and political disempowerment. Consequently, this option explores and analyzes social movements responding to these conditions such as socialism, protest, community organization, unionism and revolution.

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Power, Gender and Identity Option

The Power, Gender and Identity option offers a strong foundation for understanding the historical roots of intersections between race, gender, ethnicity, class and socioeconomics that have created and continue to transform hierarchical structures of power. This option examines the origins of social stratification with regard to race, gender, ethnicity and class.  In consultation with primary sources drawn from divergent cultural, social and natural science documents, this option explores the historical context of marginalization, disenfranchisement, political and economic inequality and disempowerment.

ADVISOR

Toni Woodman

MAJOR COORDINATOR

Professor Will Burghart

DEPARTMENT

Department of Social Sciences (SOCS)

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

  • Education
  • Government Service
  • Heritage Tourism
  • Journalism
  • Museum Curation
  • Records Management

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • At least 45 lower-division credits

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

For a BA in History, you need to complete 60 credits, which includes 30 credits of Core courses and 30 Elective credits.