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Department of History

BA in History | BS in History | Minor in History | Course Descriptions


Chair: Brian Domitrovic (936) 294-1474

Faculty: Nancy Baker, Rosanne Barker, Terry Bilhartz, Ty Cashion, Thomas Cox, Jeff Crane, George Diaz, Brian Domitrovic, Charles Heath, Ken Hendrickson, Jeff Littlejohn, David Mayes, James Olson, Andrew Orr, Nicholas Pappas, Katherine Pierce, Wesley Phelps, Bernadette Pruitt, Stephen Rapp, Tracy Steele

Information: (936) 294-1475; AB 4 Room 441; history@shsu.edu

Website: www.shsu.edu/~his_www/

Knowledge of history is a key to the future. History is the foundation of virtually all academic disciplines in that intellectual progress is based on a critique of traditional assumptions, dogmas, and paradigms. In a series of writing-intensive courses in the department's curriculum, students develop analytical, verbal, and cultural skills that can be applied in a variety of professional settings.

Mission

The Department of History will prepare students to analyze major historical events, evaluate changes in values and institutions over time, assess complex forces at work in the past and today, and learn how, in written and oral expression, to explain these events, changes, and forces. In doing so, the department will prepare students for any career requiring critical and analytical skills. The Department of History considers itself a vehicle—through teaching, research and service—for presenting and gaining perspective on the values of the past and for conveying those values and perspectives to future generations.

Academic Programs

Highlights

With more than 4,000 students, the History Department is one of the largest and fastest growing departments on campus. Its enrollments have increased by 50% in recent years. SHSU’s History Department faculty demonstrates high standards of quality in its teaching and research. Four members of the department have won SHSU’s Excellence in Teaching Award, two have won the Minnie Stevens Piper Award and another won the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Texas Professor of the Year Award. Nine members have received more than $2.6 million in federal grants to train Texas high school teachers in Traditional American History. Faculty in this department also have published, or signed contracts for the publication of, more than 50 scholarly books.

Suggested Minors

History majors can minor in a wide variety of disciplines, including English, Political Science, Criminal Justice, General Business, Economics, Computing Science, Psychology, Math, Speech Communication, Journalism, Sociology, Geography, Radio/Television, Dance, Theater, Health, Kinesiology, Agriculture, Industrial Technology, Photography and Spanish.

Career Opportunities

History students enhance their critical abilities by examining original texts, acquiring research skills, learning to write, and analyzing social, political, economic, and cultural changes over time. This develops talents that serve well in any employment setting. Although most history students pursue careers in teaching, museum studies, and records management, they can also be found working successfully in medicine, the law, governmental service and business.

Student Organizations and Activities

The History Department sponsors Phi Alpha Theta, a national history honor society, and the Webb Society, a student service club. Webb Society students engage in a wide variety of fun and educational activities, including the Sam Houston Folk Life Festival, the Renaissance Festival, history conferences, and numerous historical re-enactments.

Internships and Study Abroad

History majors interested in museum careers have the opportunity of completing a museum internship as part of their undergraduate curriculum. In recent years interns have served at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, the Star of the Republic Museum at Washington-on-the-Brazos, the Contemporary Art Museum of Houston, the Texas Prison Museum, and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York among others.

SHSU History faculty have offered classes in England, China, Russia and Greece. The department also sponsors field classes all over the western United States. Check with the department for availability.

Scholarships

A variety of University and departmental scholarships are available. Since all history department scholarships are arranged by faculty nomination, students do not apply for them directly. For information on University scholarships, please, visit Office of Academic Scholarships or telephone (936) 294-1672.

Program Specific Requirements

History majors pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree are required to take four semesters of a single foreign language. The languages offered at Sam Houston State University are French, German, and Spanish. However, any language can be accepted in transfer.

Curriculum

Required History Courses for Majors
The Bachelor of Arts degree requires 36 semester credit hours in History, including HIS 163 <HIST 1301>; HIS 164 <HIST 1302>; HIS 265 <HIST 2311>; HIS 266 <HIST 2312>; HIS 331 <HIST 3331>, HIS 332 <HIST 3332>, HIS 333 <HIST 3333>, HIS 336 <HIST 3336>; HIS 381 <HIST 3381>, HIS 389 <HIST 3389>, HIS 391 <HIST 3391>, or HIS 478 <HIST 4378>; HIS 369 <HIST 3369>; HIS 376 <HIST 3376>, HIS 377 <HIST 3377>, HIS 378 <HIST 3378>,or HIS 379 <HIST 3379>; and HIS 390 <HIST 3390>. All History majors are required to complete at least one 400-level <4000-level> history course. At least 12 hours of advanced history must be taken in residence.

Bachelor of Arts
Major in History

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

SHSU Course Number

Hours

Recommended Sequence

Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)

6

 
Component Area II (Mathematics)

3

 
Component Area III (Natural Sciences)

8

 
Component Area IV (Humanities/Visual/Performing Arts)*

9

 
Component Area V (Social/Behavioral Sciences)*

15

 
Component Area VI (Institutionally Designated Option)

1

 
Degree Specific Requirements
Foreign Language first two courses

8

Freshman

Foreign Language second two courses

6

Sophomore

Fine Arts Art, Dance, Theatre, Music, PHL 366 <PHIL 3366>

3

 
Major Core
HIS 163 <HIST 1301>*

3

 
HIS 164 <HIST 1302>*

3

 
HIS 265 <HIST 2311>*

3

 
HIS 266 <HIST 2312>*

3

 
HIS 369 <HIST 3369>

3

 
HIS 376 <HIST 3376>, HIS 377 <HIST 3377>,
HIS 378 <HIST 3378> or HIS 379 <HIST 3379>

3

 
HIS 331 <HIST 3331>, HIS 332 <HIST 3332>,
HIS 333 <HIST 3333>, HIS 336 <HIST 3336>,
HIS 381 <HIST 3381>
, HIS 389 <HIST 3389>,
HIS 391 <HIST 3391>, or HIS 478 <HIST 4378>

3

 
HIS 390 <HIST 3390>

3

 
Major
History Electives (one course at 4000 level)

24

 
Minor (required)

18

 
Electives

7

 
Total Hours: 

120

 
Notes: *Satisfies major requirement and requirements in Component Area IV and V.    

 

Bachelor of Arts
Major in Social Science Composite History Emphasis

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

SHSU Course Number

Hours

Recommended Sequence

Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)

6

 
Component Area II (Mathematics)

3

 
Component Area III (Natural Sciences)

8

 
Component Area IV (Humanities/Visual/Performing Arts)

9

 
Component Area V (Social/Behavioral Sciences)*

15

 
Component Area VI (Institutionally Designated Option)

1

 
Degree Specific Requirements
Foreign language

14

 
PHL 366 <PHIL 3366>

3

 
GEO 161 <GEOG 1321>, GEO 265 <GEOG 2355>,
GEO 266 <GEOG 2356>
, GEO 369 <GEOG 3359>, and
GEO 471 <GEOG 4358>

15

 
SOC 131 <SOCI 1301>

3

 
ECO 234 <ECON 2301>

3

 
POL 378 <POLS 3378>

3

 
Major Core
HIS 163 <HIST 1301>*

3

 
HIS 164 <HIST 1302>*

3

 
HIS 265 <HIST 2311>*

3

 
HIS 266 <HIST 2312>*

3

 
HIS 369 <HIST 3369>

3

 
HIS 376 <HIST 3376>, HIS 377 <HIST 3377>,
HIS 378 <HIST 3378> or HIS 379 <HIST 3379>

3

 
HIS 331 <HIST 3331>, HIS 332 <HIST 3332>,
HIS 333 <HIST 3333>, HIS 336 <HIST 3336>,
HIS 381 <HIST 3381>
, HIS 389 <HIST 3389>,
HIS 391 <HIST 3391>, or HIS 478 <HIST 4378>

3

 
HIS 390 <HIST 3390>

3

 
Major
HIS <HIST> Advanced
(one course at 4000 level if not take in Major Core)

12

 
Electives (with department approval)

1

 
Total Hours: 

120

 

Notes:
Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement.  All students must complete at least 120 hours to graduate.
*Student may use courses to satisfy major and Component Area IV and V.

Teacher Certification

Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with teacher certification at the secondary level (grades 8-12) should use their 18 elective hours and an additional 9 hours to satisfy the required certification courses. The required education courses are listed below. With teacher certification, the BA degree total is 144 hours. Those students not seeking certification should use their electives to fulfill the University requirement for advanced hours.

SED 383 <CISE 3383>, SED 394 <CISE 3394>, SED 464 <CISE 4364>, SED 480 <CISE 4380>, SED 496 <CISE 4396>, SED 497 <CISE 4397>, RDG 392 <READ XXXX>, SED 374 <CISE 3374>

For teacher certification, no grade below C in social science courses is accepted.

Bachelor of Science

Major in History

The Bachelor of Science degree requires 30 semester credit hours in History, including HIS 163 <HIST 1301>, HIS 164 <HIST 1302>, HIS 265 <HIST 2311>, HIS 266 <HIST 2312>, HIS 369 <HIST 3369> and HIS 373 <HIST 3373>. History majors are required to complete at least one 400-level <4000-level> history course. At least 12 hours of advanced history must be taken in residence.

3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk

SHSU Course Number

Hours

Recommended Sequence

Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)

6

 
Component Area II (Mathematics)
MTH 142 <MATH 1420>

4

 

Component Area III (Natural Sciences)
BIO 161 <BIOL 1311>
and BIO 111 <BIOL 1111>,
BIO 162 <BIOL 1313> and BIO 112 <BIOL 1113>

8

 

Component Area IV (Humanities/Visual/Performing Arts)
Cultural Studies
1 from HIS 265 <HIST 2311>, HIS 266 <HIST 2312>,
GEO 265 <GEOG 2355>, GEO 266 <GEOG 2356>,
SOC 168 <SOCI 2319>
or BSL 236 <BESL 2301>

9

 

Component Area V (Social/Behavioral Sciences)
Including HIS 163 <HIST 1301>, HIS 164 <HIST 1302>

15

 

Component Area VI (Institutionally Designated Option)

1

 
Degree Specific Requirements
CHM 138 <CHEM 1311> and CHM 118 <CHEM 1111>

4

 
CHM 139 <CHEM 1312>and CHM 119 <CHEM 1112>

4

 
PHY 138 <PHYS 1301> and PHY 118 <PHYS 1101>

4

 
PHY 139 <PHYS 1302>and PHY 119 <PHYS 1102>

4

 
CHM 238 <CHEM 2323>and CHM 218 <CHEM 2123>

4

 
CHM 239 <CHEM 2325>and CHM 219 <CHEM 2125>

4

 
BIO 244 <BIOL 2440>

4

Junior

CHM 348 <CHEM 3438>

4

Junior

2 from BIO 342 <BIOL 3420>, BIO 344 <BIOL 3440>,
BIO 345 <BIOL 3450>
, BIO 347 <BIOL 3470>, BIO 349 <BIOL 3490>

8

Junior

Major Core
HIS 163 <HIST 1301>

3

 
HIS 164 <HIST 1302>

3

 
HIS 265 <HIST 2311>

3

 
HIS 266 <HIST 2312>

3

 
Major (one course at the 4000 level)

18

 
Minor (not required)
Electives

7

Advanced General

Total Hours: 

120

 

Notes:
Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement.  All students must complete at least 120 hours to graduate.

Minor in History

Minor in History (without Teacher Certification)
A minor in history requires 21 semester credit hours, including HIS 163 <HIST 1301>, HIS 164 <HIST 1302>, HIS 265 <HIST 2311>, HIS 266 <HIST 2312>, and nine hours of upper-level history electives. For history courses, no grade below C is accepted.

Minor in History (with Teacher Certification)
A history minor with teacher certification requires 27 semester credit hours, including HIS 163 <HIST 1301>, HIS 164 <HIST 1302>, HIS 265 <HIST 2311>, HIS 266 <HIST 2312>, HIS 369 <HIST 3369>, HIS 398 <HIS 3398>, (HIS 376 <HIST 3376> or HIS 377 <HIST 3377> or HIS 378 <HIST 3378> or HIS 379 <HIST 3379>), (HIS 331 <HIST 3331> or HIS 332 <HIST 3332> or HIS 333 <HIST 3333> or HIS 336 <HIST 3336> or HIS 381 <HIST 3381> or HIS 389 <HIST 3389> or HIS 391 <HIST 3391> or HIS 478 <HIST 4378> or HIS 495 <HIST 4395>), and three hours of any upper-level history elective. For history courses, no grade below C is accepted.


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