Academic Programs Catalog

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Global History

1. The University requirements for bachelor’s degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of the catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Global History.
   
   The University’s Tier II writing requirement for the Global History major is met by completing one of the following courses:  History 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, or 489. Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
2. The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following course (3 credits):
   	HST	201	Historical Methods and Skills						3
   b.	Two of the following courses (8 credits):
   	HST	140	World History to 1500						4
   	HST	150	World History since 1500						4
   	HST	205	The Ancient Mediterranean and the Medieval World						4
   	HST	206	European History since 1500						4
   	HST	208	Introduction to African History, Culture and Society						4
   	HST	209	Traditional East Asia						4
   	HST	210	Modern East Asia						4
   	HST	211	Colonial Latin America						4
   	HST	212	National Latin America						4
   c.	Three courses at the 300-400 level focused on one of the following geographic areas:  Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America. The courses must be approved by the student’s academic advisor. (9 credits)
   d.	Two courses at the 300-400 level focused on a geographic area other than the area chosen in item c. above. The courses must be approved by the student’s academic advisor. (6 credits)
   e.	One 3-credit senior seminar course chosen from HST 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, or 488. The course must be related to the area of historical concentration chosen in item c. above. Completion of this requirement satisfies both the department’s Tier II writing and capstone requirement.
   f.	Completion of one experiential learning course, a history study abroad or study away course, an internship with a historical focus (HST 493), or an additional senior seminar course focused on any area of the world or topic not used in fulfillment of requirement e. above. The course must be approved by the student’s academic advisor. (3 credits)
   g.	Completion of an area studies minor appropriate to the geographical area of concentration referenced in requirement c. above. History courses taken in the minor may also be used to fulfill requirements in the major.
   h.	Second-year competency in a foreign language related to the geographical area of concentration reference in item c. above. This requirement may be satisfied by placing into a 300-level foreign language course based on a Michigan State University placement test.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in History

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in History.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the History major is met by completing one of the following courses:  History 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, or 489.  Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
2. The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
3. The following requirements for the major (36 credits):

   a.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	HST	201	Historical Methods and Skills				3
   	HST	201H	Historical Methods and Skills for Honors Students				3
   b.	Three of the following courses (12 credits):
   	HST	140	World History to 1500				4
   	HST	150	World History since 1500				4
   	HST	202	U.S. History to 1876				4
   	HST	203	U.S. History since 1876				4
   	HST	205	The Ancient Mediterranean and the Medieval World				4
   	HST	206	European History since 1500				4
   	HST	208	Introduction to African History, Culture and Society				4
   	HST	209	Traditional East Asia				4
   	HST	210	Modern East Asia				4
   	HST	211	Colonial Latin America				4
   	HST	212	National Latin America				4
   c.	Two of the following courses (6 credits):
   	HST	480	Seminar in American History (W)				3
   	HST	481	Seminar in Ancient History (W)				3
   	HST	482	Seminar in Medieval History (W)				3
   	HST	483	Seminar in Modern European History (W)				3
   	HST	484	Seminar in African History (W)				3
   	HST	485	Seminar in Asian History (W)				3
   	HST	486	Seminar in Latin American History (W)				3
   	HST	487	Seminar in Comparative History (W)				3
   	HST	488	Seminar in International Relations (W)				3
   	HST	489	Seminar in Digital History (W)				3
   	The completion of this requirement satisfies the department's capstone course requirement. With the prior approval of the undergraduate advisor and internship coordinator, an internship taken for at least 3 credits may be substituted for the capstone course requirement.
   		Exception: credits in History 490 or 499H may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
   d.	Twelve credits in History courses at the 300-400 level.
   e.	Three additional credits in a History course.
   f.	At least two courses totaling 6 credits from at least three of the following geographical areas: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin American, the United States, or the world. This requirement may be fulfilled by the courses referenced in items 3. b. through 3. e.
   g.	At least two courses totaling 6 credits whose emphasis is on the period before 1800. This requirement may be fulfilled by the courses referenced in items 3. b. through 3. e.
   h.	At least two courses totaling 6 credits whose emphasis is on the period after 1800. This requirement may be fulfilled by the courses referenced in items 3. b. through 3. e.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in History Education

The History: Social Studies Education program is a comprehensive teaching major leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Social Science. It is available for teacher certification and is only available to students pursuing teacher certification. Students who complete the requirements for this major and the requirements for teacher certification are recommended for a secondary teaching certificate in social studies. Persons with teacher certification in social studies are qualified to teach history, political science, geography, and economics.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in History: Social Studies Education

1. The University requirements for bachelor’s degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in History: Social Studies Education.
   The University’s Tier II writing requirement for the History: Social Studies Education major is met by completing History 480 or 481 or 482 or 483 or 483 or 485 or 486 or 487 or 488.  Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
2. Students in the History: Social Studies Education major are not required to complete the College of Social Science requirements referenced under the heading Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees in the College of Social Science section of this catalog.
3. The following requirements for the major:

The Minor in Defense Studies and Leadership, which is administered by the Department of History, provides students with a broad perspective on the military with analysis of all service branches of the Armed Forces from a historical and social scientific perspective. It also prepares current cadets for active duty service.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University.  With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult an undergraduate advisor in the Department of History.

Requirements for the Minor in Defense Studies and Leadership

The Minor in History, which is administered by the Department of History, provides foundational skills needed for the study of history, breadth of historical knowledge, and advanced study of one or more historical topics. Students obtain research, reasoning and writing skills that form the core of historical study and develop capacities to integrate knowledge from diverse historical subfields based on this common set of skills.

The minor is available as an elective to students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts degree in History, History Education, or Global History. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to apply to the program should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of History.

Requirements for the Minor in History

Complete 15 credits in History as follows: 

1. The following course (3 credits):
   HST    201    Historical Methods and Skills                                                                                                       3
2. Complete 12 credits in History courses, of which 6 of those credits must be at the 300-400 level. A maximum of 3 credits in advanced placement or transfer credit may be used towards this requirement. Courses used in fulfillment of this requirement must be approved by the undergraduate advisor in the Department of History.