Frequently Asked Questions: Undergraduate Programs

1. Which classes meet the distribution requirements for Area A (United States and Canada), Area B (Europe), and Area C (Africa, Asia, and Latin America)?
2. Which class meets the Writing Intensive (WI) requirement?
3. Which classes meet the Historical Writing (HW) requirement?
4. What is the difference between 100-, 200-, 300-, and 400- level classes?
5. May I take a graduate class for undergraduate credit?
6. What can I expect to learn by majoring in History or Social Studies?
7. Will I graduate with a BA or a BS?

Which undergraduate classes meet the distribution requirements for Area A (United States and Canada), Area B (Europe), and Area C (Africa, Asia, and Latin America)?

Every 300- or 400- level course except HIST 300 and HIST 481 counts for one of the three areas. For courses not listed below (such as special topics classes), ask an adviser.

Upper level History courses that meet the Restricted Electives requirement for Area A – United States and Canada

• HIST 303 – History of American Religion
  
• HIST 305 – Native American History
  
• HIST 313 – Michigan History
  
• HIST 315 – History of Black Americans
  
• HIST 319 – The Civil Rights Movement in the United States
  
• HIST 336 – History of Women in the United States and Great Britain, 1800 to the Present
  
• HIST 350 – History of Canada
  
• HIST 362 – United States Urban History
  
• HIST 364 – United States Military History
  
• HIST 365 – The Old South
• HIST 370 – History of American Sport
  
• HIST 380 – American Colonies
  
• HIST 383 – The Age of Jackson
  
• HIST 385 – Civil War and Reconstruction
  
• HIST 414 – The Automobile Industry and Modern America
• HIST 415 – Sexual Communities in American History
  
• HIST 424 – The United States from 1917 to 1941
  
• HIST 425 – The United States from 1941-1963
  
• HIST 426 – The United States from 1963 to the Present
  
• HIST 461 – Foreign Relations of the United States
  
• HIST 463 – United States Labor History
  
• HIST 464 – The Old West 1540-1890
  
• HIST 465 – United States Constitutional History
  
• HIST 468 – The American Mind to the Civil War
  
• HIST 469 – The American Mind Since the Civil War
• HIST 480 – The American Revolution
  
• HIST 482 – The Age of Washington and Jefferson
  
• HIST 486 – The United States as an Emerging World Power

Upper level courses that meet the Restricted Electives requirement for Area B – Europe

• HIST 309 – France to 1789
  
• HIST 310 – France since 1789
  
• HIST 316 – History and Geography of Modern Europe
  
• HIST 321 – Women and Gender in the Ancient World
  
• HIST 323 – Greek History
  
• HIST 324 – Roman History
  
• HIST 327 – Europe in the Early Middle Ages 400-1050
  
• HIST 328 – Europe in the Late Middle Ages 1050-1400
  
• HIST 329 – Power, Place & Image in Florence and Rome
• HIST 330 – Europe in the Renaissance and Reformation
• HIST 332 – Modern Europe 1815-1919
  
• HIST 333 – Europe Since 1919
  
• HIST 335 – History of Women in Europe
  
• HIST 338 – German History Since 1815
  
• HIST 343 – Russia to 1855
  
• HIST 344 – Russia since 1855
  
• HIST 411 – England to 1689
  
• HIST 412 – England 1689 to the Present
• HIST 427 – Europe from Absolutism to Revolution 1648-1815
  
• HIST 435 – Italy Since 1815
  
• HIST 450 – European Military History
  
• HIST 451 – History of the First World War 1914-1918
  
• HIST 456 – Europe since 1945
  
• HIST 471 – Social and Intellectual History of 19th century Europe

Upper level courses that meet the Restricted Electives requirement for Area C – Africa, Asia, and Latin America

• HIST 301 – The Religions of South and East Asia
  
• HIST 302 – Near Eastern and Western Religions
• HIST 306 – Hinduism
• HIST 307 – Buddhism
  
• HIST 317 – History and Geography of Spanish America
  
• HIST 326 – History and Geography of Modern Asia
  
• HIST 339 – Arab-Israeli Conflict
  
• HIST 341 – The Middle East, 1798 to the Present
  
• HIST 342 – North Africa, 1798 to the Present
  
• HIST 347 – Sub-Saharan Africa to 1885
  
• HIST 348 – 20th Century Africa
  
• HIST 355 – Latin America: Colonial Period
  
• HIST 356 – Latin America: National Period
  
• HIST 375 – Modern India
  
• HIST 441 – The Far East to 1800
  
• HIST 442 – Modern China
  
• HIST 443 – Modern Japan
  
• HIST 444 – China and its Nomadic Neighbors
  
• HIST 457 – History of Mexico

Which class meets the Writing Intensive (WI) requirement?

HIST 300W – Researching and Writing History is our WI course.

Which classes meet the Historical Writing (HW) requirement?

Different course sections are designated as HW every semester. For a current list, see our homepage or ask an adviser.

What is the difference between 100-, 200-, 300-, and 400- level classes?

• 100-level courses are introductory classes that assume no prior background in history. Most of these classes fulfill General Education requirements.
  
• 200-level courses are designed to introduce historical research and writing to students considering a major or minor in history. Like 100-level courses, they assume no prior background in history, and most of these classes fulfill General Education requirements.
  
• 300-level courses are intended for History majors and minors and other advanced undergraduate students.
  
• 400-level courses are also intended for History majors and minors, but they have a larger historical research and writing component than 300-level courses.

May I take a graduate class for undergraduate credit?

Seniors may take 500-level graduate courses with the instructor's permission.

What can I expect to learn by majoring in History or Social Studies?

The faculty have adopted the following learning goals for our undergraduate majors:

Graduates in History will be able to:

1. Think critically and write clearly.
2. Assess and analyze primary documents and secondary literature in history.  Students will also be able to apply these analytical skills to popular media.
3. Use historical evidence to compose arguments in support of a thesis and to construct historical narratives.
4. Conduct historical research by locating, assessing, and citing primary and secondary literature in libraries and archives and on the Internet.  Students will also have been exposed to other methods of historical research, such as oral history and archaeology.
5. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the history of the United States (or the United States and Canada), Europe, and at least one of the following: Asia, Africa, the Middle East, or Latin America.
6. Bring a historical and cross-cultural perspective to discussions of current affairs, and participate in public life as informed, thoughtful, and articulate citizens and leaders.

Graduates in History for Teaching will be able to:

1. Think critically and write clearly.
2. Assess and analyze primary documents and secondary literature in history.  Students will also be able to apply these analytical skills to popular media.
3. Use historical evidence to compose arguments in support of a thesis and to construct historical narratives.
4. Conduct historical research by locating, assessing, and citing primary and secondary literature in libraries and archives and on the Internet.  Students will also have been exposed to other methods of historical research, such as oral history and archaeology.
5. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the history of the United States (or the United States and Canada), Europe, and at least one of the following: Asia, Africa, the Middle East, or Latin America.
6. Teach the discipline of history to adolescent learners, while critically evaluating their own teaching and their students’ learning.
7. Bring a historical and cross-cultural perspective to discussions of current affairs, and participate in public life as informed, thoughtful, and articulate citizens and leaders.

Graduates in Social Studies will be able to:

1. Think critically and write clearly.
2. Identify and understand the distinctive methodologies of the social studies disciplines.
3. Integrate knowledge, skills and interpretations within and across these disciplines.
4. Develop an understanding of global differences in culture, religion, and political and economic systems, across time and space.
5. Conduct research and report results in at least one of the social studies disciplines.
6. Bring a critical and informed perspective to discussion of current affairs, and participate in public life as informed, thoughtful and articulate citizens and leaders.

Graduates in Social Studies for Teaching will be able to:

1. Think critically and write clearly.
2. Identify and understand the distinctive methodologies of the social studies disciplines.
3. Integrate knowledge, skills and interpretations within and across these disciplines.
4. Develop an understanding of global differences in culture, religion, and political and economic systems, across time and space.
5. Conduct research and report results in at least one of the social studies disciplines.
6. Teach the social studies disciplines to adolescent learners, while critically evaluating their own teaching and their students’ learning.
7. Bring a critical and informed perspective to discussion of current affairs, and participate in public life as informed, thoughtful and articulate citizens and leaders.

Will I graduate with a BA or a BS?

Students in our major programs can graduate with either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. To earn a BA, you must have one year of college credit in a foreign language.