2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Major in History (BA/BS)

39-42 credits

Studying the past exposes people to the diversity of human cultures, helps them comprehend change and continuity over time, enhances their ability to discern patterns of comparison and contrast amid the complexities and similarities of human experience, and sharpens their communication skills. Students with degrees in history can pursue graduate degrees or careers in fields inside and outside the humanities because the skills and habits of mind described above are valuable to every employer. Examples include: law, teaching, government, business, industry, libraries and archives, museums and art galleries, research, writing, and editing. See College of Sciences and Humanities for information about the teacher education programs in social studies. See the Interdepartmental Programs listing for information about minors in ancient studies and Asian studies.

Complete one concentration

Concentration: General, 39 credits

Core requirements, 18 credits

HIST 151World Civilization 1

3

HIST 152World Civilization 2

3

HIST 200Introduction to History and Historical Methods

3

HIST 201American History, 1492-1876

3

HIST 202United States History, 1877 to the Present

3

HIST 470Senior Seminar

3

21 additional credits from the following categories (other than HIST 150)

At least 15 of these 21 additional credits must be in courses numbered HIST 301 and above. Students must register for HIST 200 before completing 15 credits in the major. Students are strongly encouraged to complete HIST 151, 152, 200, 201, and 202 before taking courses at HIST 301 or above. Students who intend to go to graduate or professional school are strongly encouraged to pursue a BA in concentration 1. Each individual course section can only be used to fulfill one of the requirements in World, European, United States, or Topics.

Choose 3 credits from the following:

World History (Asia, Middle East, Africa, Latin America)

HIST 324Topics in Latin American History

3

HIST 370Foundations of Asian Civilization

3

HIST 371Tradition, Conflict, and Change in Modern Asia

3

HIST 372Africa Since 1500

3

HIST 373History of the Middle East

3

HIST 426Topics in African History

3

HIST 427Topics in Asian History

3

HIST 441Comparative Slavery

3

HIST 484Southern Africa

3

HIST 491Topics in Middle Eastern History

3

HIST 493History of Pre-modern East Asia

3

HIST 495Modern China, 1600 to the Present

3

HIST 496Modern Japan, 1600 to the Present

3

HIST 498Topics in Global History

3-6

Choose 3 credits from the following:

European History

HIST 452Women in Modern European History

3

HIST 454The Era of World War I, 1870-1918

3

HIST 455The Era of World War II, 1918-1945

3

HIST 456Europe Since 1945

3

HIST 461Development of Greek Civilization

3

HIST 462Development of Roman Civilization

3

HIST 463Medieval Civilization

3

HIST 464Development of Byzantine Civilization

3

HIST 467The Renaissance and Reformation, 1300-1600

3

HIST 471France Since 1789

3

HIST 475Britain, 1485-1714

3

HIST 476Britain, 1760 to the Present

3

HIST 481Modern Germany

3

HIST 482Cultural History of the Celtic Peoples from Prehistory to the Present

3

HIST 483Irish History

3

HIST 486Russian Civilization before 1917: From Kievan Rus to Imperial Russia

3

HIST 487Soviet and Post-Soviet History

3

HIST 497Selected Topics in European History

3 TO 6

Choose 3 credits from the following:

United States History

HIST 204American Environmental History

3

HIST 205Introduction to Sport in American Life

3

HIST 210Introduction to Black History

3

HIST 215Women in American History

3

HIST 301The United States and the Vietnam War

3

HIST 310Introduction to the History of Business in the United States

3

HIST 318History of the American West

3

HIST 338United States Urban History

3

HIST 400Colonial America, 1492-1763

3

HIST 401Revolutionary America, 1763-1800

3

HIST 405Pre-Civil War America, 1800-1848

3

HIST 407American Civil War and Reconstruction, 1848-1877

3

HIST 409An Age of Reform: The United States in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era

3

HIST 411The American People in Prosperity, Depression, and War

3

HIST 413Post-World War II America

3

HIST 415History of Indiana

3

HIST 416Pre-Civil War South, 1776-1861

3

HIST 417History of the New South

3

HIST 421American Indians in Colonial and U.S. History

3

HIST 425Topics in the History of the American West

3

HIST 430United States Diplomatic History to 1914

3

HIST 432United States Diplomatic History Since 1914

3

HIST 449American Culture Field Studies

3 OR 6

HIST 499Selected Topics in American History

3 TO 6

Choose 3 credits from the following:

Topics in History

HIST 235Historical Topics in Film

3

HIST 324Topics in Latin American History

3

HIST 360Selected Topics in Military History

3

HIST 422Topics in the History of Popular Culture

3

HIST 423Topics in Religious History

3

HIST 424Topics in Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration

3

HIST 425Topics in the History of the American West

3

HIST 426Topics in African History

3

HIST 427Topics in Asian History

3

HIST 429Topics in the History of Gender and Sexuality

3

HIST 446Data Visualization in History and the Social Sciences

3

HIST 491Topics in Middle Eastern History

3

HIST 497Selected Topics in European History

3 TO 6

HIST 499Selected Topics in American History

3 TO 6

Choose 9 credits of History electives (9)

Total Credit Hours: 39

 

Concentration: Public History, 42 credits

Core requirements, 21 credits

HIST 151World Civilization 1

3

HIST 152World Civilization 2

3

HIST 200Introduction to History and Historical Methods

3

HIST 201American History, 1492-1876

3

HIST 202United States History, 1877 to the Present

3

HIST 240Introduction to Public History

3

HIST 368Public History Careers and Internship Preparation

3

21 additional credits from the following categories (other than HIST 150)

9 of these 21 credits must be in HIST 369 Public History Internship. At least 9 of the remaining 12 credits must be in courses numbered HIST 301 and above. Students must register for HIST 200 before completing 15 credits in the major. Students are strongly encouraged to complete HIST 151, 152, 200, 201, and 202 before taking courses at HIST 301 or above. Each individual course section can only be used to fulfil one of the requirements in World, European, or United States history.

Choose 3 credits from European History or World History

European History

HIST 452Women in Modern European History

3

HIST 454The Era of World War I, 1870-1918

3

HIST 455The Era of World War II, 1918-1945

3

HIST 456Europe Since 1945

3

HIST 461Development of Greek Civilization

3

HIST 462Development of Roman Civilization

3

HIST 463Medieval Civilization

3

HIST 464Development of Byzantine Civilization

3

HIST 467The Renaissance and Reformation, 1300-1600

3

HIST 471France Since 1789

3

HIST 475Britain, 1485-1714

3

HIST 476Britain, 1760 to the Present

3

HIST 481Modern Germany

3

HIST 482Cultural History of the Celtic Peoples from Prehistory to the Present

3

HIST 483Irish History

3

HIST 486Russian Civilization before 1917: From Kievan Rus to Imperial Russia

3

HIST 487Soviet and Post-Soviet History

3

HIST 497Selected Topics in European History

3 TO 6

World History (Asia, Middle East, Africa, Latin America)

World History

HIST 324Topics in Latin American History

3

HIST 370Foundations of Asian Civilization

3

HIST 371Tradition, Conflict, and Change in Modern Asia

3

HIST 372Africa Since 1500

3

HIST 373History of the Middle East

3

HIST 426Topics in African History

3

HIST 427Topics in Asian History

3

HIST 441Comparative Slavery

3

HIST 484Southern Africa

3

HIST 491Topics in Middle Eastern History

3

HIST 493History of Pre-modern East Asia

3

HIST 495Modern China, 1600 to the Present

3

HIST 496Modern Japan, 1600 to the Present

3

HIST 498Topics in Global History

3-6

Choose 6 credits from the following:

United States History

HIST 204American Environmental History

3

HIST 205Introduction to Sport in American Life

3

HIST 210Introduction to Black History

3

HIST 215Women in American History

3

HIST 301The United States and the Vietnam War

3

HIST 310Introduction to the History of Business in the United States

3

HIST 318History of the American West

3

HIST 338United States Urban History

3

HIST 400Colonial America, 1492-1763

3

HIST 401Revolutionary America, 1763-1800

3

HIST 405Pre-Civil War America, 1800-1848

3

HIST 407American Civil War and Reconstruction, 1848-1877

3

HIST 409An Age of Reform: The United States in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era

3

HIST 411The American People in Prosperity, Depression, and War

3

HIST 413Post-World War II America

3

HIST 415History of Indiana

3

HIST 416Pre-Civil War South, 1776-1861

3

HIST 417History of the New South

3

HIST 421American Indians in Colonial and U.S. History

3

HIST 425Topics in the History of the American West

3

HIST 430United States Diplomatic History to 1914

3

HIST 432United States Diplomatic History Since 1914

3

HIST 449American Culture Field Studies

3 OR 6

HIST 499Selected Topics in American History

3 TO 6

Choose 3 credits of History electives

 

Public History Internship (Total: 9 credits)

To satisfy the internship requirement for History concentration 2, Public History, students must complete 9 credits in HIST 369. They may do this in 3-credit hour blocks in three different semesters, one 3- and one 6-credit hour blocks in two different semesters, or one 9-credit hour block in a single semester. This flexibility is in place to suit the needs of the internship host site, as well as the student's interests and schedule.

HIST 369Public History Internship

3-9

Total Credit Hours: 42

  • Students in concentration 2 must earn at least a C in all completed history courses and maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0.
  • To qualify as a candidate for an internship (HIST 369), students must have completed 30 credits of history courses (including HIST 240: Introduction to Public History).
  • Candidates for internships (HIST 369) must be in consultation with the Director of the Public History Program and enroll in Public History Careers and Internship Preparation (HIST 368) prior to the internship.
  • Students who do not meet the above requirements may appeal to the Director of the Public History Program for a waiver, first by written request and then by making an oral presentation.

 

Total Credit Hours: 39-42