Pictured |
Chelsea Ray-Dye | History | Osceola, Indiana (hometown) and
Jason Rose | History | Ligonier, Indiana (hometown) | Bachelor of Arts in History

About the Bachelor of Ars in History

Students completing the Bachelor of Arts in History take advantage of small class sizes to develop skills in historical analysis, learning how to search for patterns and relationships throughout history; and discover the meaning of the past and its relationship to our modern world. The History major prepares students for a variety of careers that demand expertise in thinking critically, communicating effectively, analyzing texts, and writing for a diverse audience—skills highly prized by employers. Potential careers include law, public policy, library studies, and teaching.

Academic Advising

College policy on advising requires that students meet with their academic advisors at least once each year, and in some departments, prior to each semester’s to enrollment. Advising holds are placed on all College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students prior to advance registration and are released following advising appointments. Students with a declared major are advised in their academic units. To determine who your advisor is and how to contact them, see One.IU.

Degree Requirements (120 cr.)

Degree Map >>

Students receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree must complete 120 total credit hours including:

• IU South Bend Campuswide General Education Curriculum (33-39 cr.)
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts Additional Requirements (14-23 cr.)
• Major Requirements (30 cr.)
• Required Minor taken in any campus school or interdisciplinary program (15-18 cr.)
• Free Electives (balance of credits needed to equal 120 credit requirement)

• A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
• Major and minor requirements must be completed with a grade of C– or higher.

Major Requirements (30 cr.)

• Six credit hours are required at the 100-level; 9 are permitted.
• All other courses should be at the 200-level or above.
• HIST-H 217 The Nature of History (should be taken sophomore year).
• HIST-J 495 Proseminar for History Majors.

HIST-J 495 is the capstone of the major program. Before taking the course, students must submit a portfolio of written work to the department 60 days before the seminar begins. A portfolio is a collection of written materials that documents a student’s individual progress through the history major. It encourages students to reflect critically on their coursework and experiences as history majors as they get ready to take HIST-J 495.

Contents of the portfolio

• Formal job resume
• Three essays (students should include the original copies with the course instructor’s comments and grade)
• A research paper that includes systematic documentation
• Three essay examinations
• Self-analysis essay (What do the materials included in my portfolio say about my learning experience as a history major?)
• Note | No more than three items in any portfolio may come from any one course.

100-level Courses

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

Select no more than three of the following (9 cr.)

• HIST-A 100 Issues in United States History
• HIST-H 101 The World in the Twentieth Century I
• HIST-H 105 American History I
• HIST-H 106 American History II
• HIST-H 113 History of Western Civilization 1
• HIST-H 114 History of Western Civilization 2
• HIST-H 124 Latino and African American Civil Rights
• HIST-S 105 American History Honors Survey 1
• HIST-S 106 American History Honors Survey 2
• HIST-T 190 Literary and Intellectual Traditions

American History (6 cr.)

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

Select two courses from the following

• HIST-H 226 Origins and History of the Cold War
• HIST-H 260 History of Women in the United States
• HIST-A 300 Issues in United States History
• HIST-A 301 Colonial America
• HIST-A 302 Revolutionary America
• HIST-A 303 United States, 1789-1865 I
• HIST-A 304 United States, 1789-1865 II
• HIST-A 305 United States, 1865-1900
• HIST-A 310 Survey of American Indians I
• HIST-A 315 United States Since World War II
• HIST-A 318 The American West
• HIST-A 346 American Diplomatic History 2
• HIST-A 348  Civil War and Reconstruction
• HIST-A 351 The United States in World War II
• HIST-A 352 History of Latinos in the United States
• HIST-A 355 African American History I
• HIST-A 356 African American History II
• HIST-A 363 Survey of Indiana History
• HIST-A 373 American History Through Film
• HIST-A 374 September 11 and Its Aftermath
• HIST-H 496 Internship in History
• HIST-T 390 Literary and Intellectual Traditions
  VT: American History

European History (6 cr.)

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

Select two courses from the following

• HIST-B 260 Women, Men, and Society in Modern Europe
• HIST-B 300 Issues in Western European History
• HIST-B 342 Women in Medieval Society
• HIST-B 346 The Crusades
• HIST-B 352 West Europe- High/Late Middle Ages
• HIST-B 361 Europe in the Twentieth Century I
• HIST-B 362 Europe in the Twentieth Century II
• HIST-B 378 History of Germany Since 1648
• HIST-C 386 Greek History-Minoans to Alexander
• HIST-C 388 Roman History
• HIST-D 308 Empire of the Tsars
• HIST-D 310 Russian Revolution and Soviet Regime
• HIST-H 201 History of Russia I
• HIST-H 202 History of Russia II
• HIST-H 205 Ancient Civilization
• HIST-H 206 Medieval Civilization
• HIST-H 226 Origins and History of the Cold War
• HIST-T 390 Literary and Intellectual Traditions
  VT: European History

Latin American/Asian/Middle East History (6 cr.)

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

Select two courses from the following

• HIST-C 392 History of Modern Near East
• HIST-E 300 Issues in African History
• HIST-F 300 Issues in Latin American History
• HIST-G 358 Early Modern Japan
• HIST-G 369 Modern Japan
• HIST-G 465 Chinese Revolution/Communist Regime
• HIST-H 207 Modern East Asian Civilization
• HIST-H 211 Latin American Culture and Civilization 1
• HIST-H 212 Latin American Culture and Civilization 2
• HIST-H 237 Traditional East Asian Civilization
• HIST-T 390 Literary and Intellectual Traditions
  VT: Latin American or Asian History
• HIST-W 300 Issues in World History

World Languages

Students are encouraged to continue their world languages study beyond the two years required by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Graduate schools generally require mastery of one world language for the study of American history and of two or more world languages for study of other fields of history. Students with appropriate language competence are encouraged to participate in the university’s various programs of international study.

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