History

Faculty

Michael D. DeMichele, Ph.D.
Willis M. Conover, Ed.D., Chair
Roy Palmer Domenico, Ph.D.
Josephine M. Dunn, Ph.D.
David J. Dzurec III, Ph.D.
Frank X.J. Homer, Ph.D.
Robert Hueston, Ph.D.
Lawrence W. Kennedy, Ph.D.
Lee M. Penyak, Ph.D.
Susan L. Poulson, Ph.D.
Robert W. Shaffern, Ph.D.

Overview

The Department of History offers two majors to University students. The major in History leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. The major in International Studies leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. Both programs are serviced by full-time faculty who bring to their classrooms a love for their specific areas of history and an enthusiasm for classroom teaching. Their individual teaching styles provide students with a wide variety of learning experiences. Through advisement, the faculty encourages students to tailor their programs to their individual interests and career goals, thus taking advantage of the flexible courses of study built into both programs. History and International Studies majors have gone on to careers in many fields, including education, business, communications, government, and law. (See the Pre-Law section of the catalog for details of the Department's success in preparing students for the study of law.)

Major in History

"History illuminates the human condition."¹ It is the memory of human experience. The Department of History seeks to provide its students with an understanding of the significant institutions, events, trends, and individuals that have shaped that experience, thus helping them to develop a better understanding of contemporary cultures and the human condition.

The student majoring in History will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the development of human society and culture through the study of the past, specifically the history of Europe (from the Renaissance through the 20th Century) and the United States (from its beginnings through the 20th Century). To accomplish this, the student will identify and describe the major individuals, groups, institutions, ideas, and events that have helped to shape political, social, and economic developments over time; identify and describe major historical eras or periods that have led to the present; and identify and describe the principle of cause and effect and relate historical examples. In addition, the History major will apply the procedures used by historians to find and document sources, collect evidence and draw conclusions in completing original research. The History major will write and speak effectively about historical issues.

¹ Poster, "Business and History," prepared by the National Center for the Study of History, Inc., 1988. (Noted in "History, It's Our Future," a publication of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, Inc.)

Minor in History

A minor in History (18 credits) should include HIST 110-111 or HIST 120-121 or HIST 125-126 plus any four additional history courses.

History Curriculum
Dept. and No.				Descriptive Title of Course	Credits
				FIRST YEAR	FALL	SPRING
MAJOR		HIST 110-111		United States History	3	3
MAJOR		HIST 120-121		Europe: 1500 to Present	3	3
GE WRTG-SPCH		WRTG 107 - COMM 100		Composition - Public Speaking	3	3
GE C/IL		C/IL 102		Computer Information Literacy	3
GE QUAN		QUAN ELECT		Quantitative Reasoning		3
GE PHIL-T/RS		PHIL 120 - T/RS 121		Intro to Philosophy - Theology I	3	3
GE FSEM		INTD 100		Freshman Seminar	1
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education		1
					16	16
				SECOND YEAR
MAJOR		HIST 140 2		Craft of the Historian	3
MAJOR		HIST ELECT		Electives	3	6
COGNATE		ELECT 1		Electives	3	3
GE S/BH		S/BH ELECT		Social/Behavioral Electives	3	3
GE PHIL-T/RS		PHIL 210 - T/RS 122		Ethics - Theology II	3	3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education	1	1
					16	16
				THIRD YEAR
MAJOR		HIST ELECT		Electives	6	3
COGNATE		ELECT 1		Electives	3	3
GE NSCI		NSCI ELECT		Natural Science Electives	3	3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Electives	3	3
GE ELECT		ELECT		Free Electives	3	3
GE PHIL-T/RS		PHIL-T/RS ELECT		Philosophy or T/RS Elective		3
					18	18
				FOURTH YEAR
MAJOR		HIST 490		Seminar - Elective	3	3
COGNATE		ELECT 1		Electives	6	6
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Elective	3	3
GE ELECT		ELECT		Free Electives	3	3
					15	15
					Total: 130 Credits
1 Students may use cognate electives to develop a second major. 2 Department requires HIST 140: The Craft of the Historian, for history majors; students admitted to four-year B.A./M.A. program are recommended to take HIST 500: Research Methods. No student should take both Research Methods courses.