History, BA

Contact:

The History Department Office
145 Eggers Hall
315-443-2210 or 9926
e-history@maxwell.syr.edu

Faculty

Alan Allport, Susan Branson, Brian Brege, Craige B. Champion, Andrew W. Cohen, Albrecht Diem, Michael R. Ebner, Carol Faulkner, Jeffrey Gonda, Paul M. Hagenloh, Samantha Kahn Herrick, Amy Kallander, George Kallander, Osamah F. Khalil, Radha Kumar, Norman A. Kutcher, Chris Kyle, Elisabeth D. Lasch-Quinn, Gladys McCormick, Tessa Murphy, Mark G. Schmeller, Martin S. Shanguhyia, Junko Takeda, Robert Terrell, Margaret Susan Thompson

An understanding of the past is essential to shaping the present and future of our nation and the world. History majors and minors are asked not to memorize facts, but to develop the reading, writing and research skills necessary to understand the past and face the future. The undergraduate program leading to a B.A. in history provides rigorous training in research, analysis, and writing. Because students of history learn to evaluate evidence, write well, and think clearly, the history major is excellent training for almost any career.

Students majoring in history are encouraged to take a foreign language.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Organize and express thoughts clearly and effectively in writing

2. Think critically and apply historical methods to evaluate the record of the past, including both primary and secondary sources

3. Analyze and synthesize the history of their field of specialization

4. Identify and discuss key debates among historians within their fields of specialization

5. Deploy historical skills and knowledge to conceptualize and write a paper using primary and secondary sources

6. Conduct original research, including the effective use of libraries and databases

Major Requirements

The major requires 30 credits in history, 21 of which must be upper-division courses (numbered 300 or higher). Students are required to take one of the following lower-division, two-course foundation sequences:

Division Requirements

Students must take 6 credits in pre-modern history (3 credits in lower division, 3 credits in upper-division), and 6 credits in modern history (3 credits in lower-division, 3 credits in upper-division).

Upper-division Credits

Of the 21 upper-division credits, 3 must be in HST 301 - Practicum, and 3 must be in HST 401 - Senior Seminar .

Distribution requirement

The history department divides its course offerings into three broad geographic categories: U.S., European, and Global. Students must take at least 3 credits (1 course) in each of these three areas.

Concentration requirement

Each student must complete a concentration, consisting of 15 credits (5 courses), in one of the three distribution areas. Lower division survey courses and HST 401 can count toward this total. It is strongly encouraged, but not required, that both the lower division sequence and HST 401 fall within the student’s area of concentration.