History, Bachelor of Arts
College: College of Liberal Arts
Department: History, Philosophy, and Theology
Student Type: Traditional Undergraduate
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Campus: Lisle Campus
Requirements - Major
Students majoring in History must complete with a grade of “C” or better at least 36 semester credit hours of History courses. At least 18 semester credit hours must be at the 3000 level or above, of which at least 6 semester credit hours must be at the 4000 level or above. The 36 semester credit hours must include:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 2203 | Historiography | 3 |
| HIST 4399 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| American History to 1865 | ||
| American History since 1865 | ||
| World History to 1600 | ||
| World History Since:1600 | ||
In courses above 2203(3), students must take at least one course each in American, European, and World history (total of 9 hours) respectively at the 2000 level or higher. 12 hours of electives must be at the 3000 level and 3 hours of electives at the 4000 level. History majors are required to demonstrate competency in a foreign language either by completion of at least one foreign language course at or above the 2202 level or through results from department-approved testing at intermediate-low level or higher.
History Major for Pre-Law Students
There is no single major that is either required or recommended for admission to law school, according to the “Statement on Pre-legal Education of the Association of American Law Schools.” Instead, that statement recommends an education for: “Comprehension and expression in words; critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals; and, creative power in thinking.” The American Bar Association issued, in 1980, a report on Law Schools and Professional Education in which it applied the above skills to various areas of the university curriculum. In applying them to history, the report stated that: “A separate, distinct justification for the study of history is sometimes offered. Law students often encounter concepts that are intelligible only in terms of their historical roots.”
Students in the History program will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLO):
Student Learning Outcome 1: Demonstrate the ability to conduct primary source research
• University SLO: 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills
Student Learning Outcome 2: Be able to identify various historical methodologies and schools of thought
• University SLO: 2. Critical and Creative Thinking Skills
Student Learning Outcome 3: Be able to analyze, discuss and write about basic concepts and theories in the field of History reflectively.
• University SLO: 3. Communication Skills