Major Requirements

The History Department offers a major in history and one in history and social science. The history major offers students a broad choice of courses that emphasize high-level analytical skills and historical inquiry. It introduces students to a wide range of methodologies, including oral history, intellectual history, social history, cultural history, and gender history. The major requirements, although flexible, are designed to ensure that all students will gain some knowledge of both U.S. and non-U.S. history beyond the introductory level. They also ensure that every student majoring in history will confront a diversity of historical interpretations and practice designing and conducting historical research. 

The history and social science major is designed for students who plan to teach history and/or social studies at the secondary level. It meets all content requirements for teacher certification in social studies in Virginia. In addition to history, areas of study include government, civics, international studies, economics, and geography. This major also emphasizes historical interpretation and offers students opportunities to pursue independent historical research.

Major Requirements: History (BA)

Course Number And Title

Sem. Hrs.

Three history courses at the 100/200 level* 12
Five history courses at the 300/400 level* 20
HIST 260: Historical Thinking 4
HIST 360: Junior Research Seminar 4
Any 400-level seminar 4
Total 44

*These courses should include at least two in U.S. history and one in non-Western history. At least two of the courses should carry a “W” General Education designation.

Major Requirements: History and Social Science (BA)

Course Number And Title

Sem. Hrs.

HIST 111: World History to A.D. 1600

4

HIST 112: World History: The Modern Era

4

HIST 247: History of the United States 4
HIST 260: Historical Thinking 4

Four history courses at the 300/400 level, including two in U.S. history, two in non-U.S. history, and at least one W course that requires a research paper

16

GEOG 113 Human Geography

4

MBE 201: Introductory Macroeconomics

4

POLS 335: American Government

4

One of the following:
POLS 103: Global Realities
POLS 206: Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLS 210: Introduction to International Relations
POLS 250: Introduction to International Political Economy
POLS321: Politics and Literature of Latin America
POLS 344: European Union in World Politics
POLS 345: International Law and Organizations
POLS 348: International Human Rights
POLS 350: Immigration and Citizenship

4

Total

48

Minor Requirements: History

Course Number And Title

Sem. Hrs.

Two courses in U.S. history 8
Two courses in non-U.S. history 8
One history course in any area 4
Total 20

*The courses must include at least one writing (W) course in history. Three history courses must be at the 200 level or above, and at least two must be at the 300 level or above.