history and political science courses

The development of a historical frame of reference, an appreciation of the dynamics of change and an understanding of the modern world constitute the broad objectives of the offerings in history and political science. The department's aim is the development of specific competencies: the ability to pursue historical research with skill and integrity, the facility to analyze with insight and balance and the demonstrated capacity to write with clarity and readability.

Even though there is not a separate major in political science or international studies, history majors may choose to minor in those areas - provided that no courses taken to fulfill the requirements for one area are used to meet those in another area (An exception to this rule is that either HIS 245: Regional and National Studies or HIS 205: World Civilizations may count once for both the major and the International Studies minor).  The same rule holds true with regard to students wishing to have a minor in more than one area: no course may overlap among the different minors (while this rule may prevent students from doing certain combinations of minors using our existing course offerings, it does not exclude the possibility that other courses transferred in from other institutions might not make these combinations possible.)

Students interested in using the History major in preparation for law school should also complete the pre-law core program. All majors are required to take at least one course in a non-Western area. Students considering graduate work in history are encouraged to consider a departmental honors project. Incoming first-year students might also want to consider the honors program.

Students may repeat the “studies” courses (HIS 245, HIS 301, HIS 302, PLS 303) and HIS 350 if the content is different. In addition to the following history and political science courses, one course in history of religion, one in art history and one in music history may be counted toward a History major. In addition to the course requirements, all seniors will take a comprehensive examination covering all the subjects they have studied in history and political science.

The department welcomes nonmajors in all of its courses.

Major (40 hours)
Required:
HIS 200 Foundations of American Civilization (3)
HIS 201 Modern America (3)
HIS 225 History: Theory and Application (3)
HIS 263 European History (3)
HIS 205 World Civilizations (3) or HIS 245 Regional and National Studies (3)
HIS 350 Research Seminar (4)
HUM 221 Humanities 1 (3)
HUM 222 Humanities 2 (3)
HIS 265 European Social/Intellectual History (3) or HIS 302 Studies in European History (3)
Any one of the following:
HIS 253 American Social/Intellectual History (3)
HIS 301 Studies in American History (3)
HIS 305 African American History (3)
HIS 310 U.S. Women’s History (3)

Electives: (any three of the following)
HIS 390 Independent Study in History (3)
Any history course not taken in the above list*
Any political science course*
Any one course in history of religion
Any one course in art history
Any one course in music history
*May take three history or political science courses as electives.

Minors
There are three possible minors in history and political science in the separate areas of history, political science and international studies. History majors may have a minor in political science and/or international studies, provided the guidelines outlined above are adhered to. Minors include the courses listed below:

History (18 hours)
Core: 15 hours
HIS 225 History: Theory and Application (3)
HIS 245 Regional and National Studies (3) or HIS 205 World Civilizations (3)
HIS 200 Foundations of American Civilization (3)
HIS 201 Modern America (3)
HIS 263 European Survey (3)

Political Science (18 hours)
PLS 215 Introduction to Politics (3)
PLS 251 American Political Process (3)
PLS 270 Political Theory (3)
PLS 272 Global Politics (3)
PLS 285 Comparative Politics (3)
PLS 301 Constitutional Law (3) or PLS 303 Studies in Political Science (3)

International Studies  (18 hours)
Core: 12 hours
HIS 245 Regional and National Studies (3)
HIS 245 Regional and National Studies (second topic) (3)
PLS 272 Global Politics (3)
PLS 285 Comparative Politics (3)