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 243: World History to A.D. 1600 |
4 |
HIST 245: 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 and two in non-U.S. |
16 |
GEOG 113: Human Geography |
4 |
MBE 201: Introductory Macroeconomics |
4 |
POLS 212: Introduction to American Government |
4 |
One political science course at the 300/400 level |
|
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 |
Three history courses must be at the 200 level or above, and at least two must be at the 300 level or above.