Students must present a minimum 2.25 GPA to declare a history major.
Bachelor of Arts in History (Secondary Level Teacher Certification for Social Studies)
About This Program
The Bachelor of Arts in History program explores the forces that have shaped human affairs, offering insights to address today's challenges and future uncertainties. Examining our traditions allows students to develop a deep understanding of their identity and equips them with the skills needed for successful careers in a wide range of fields.
Students interested in Texas Teacher Certification at the elementary level should consult the College of Education section of this catalog for the most recent changes in requirements regarding admission to Teacher Education, completion of University programs in preparation for certification, and eligibility for certification after graduation. Students interested in secondary certification in social studies, including history, should see the History with Social Studies BA secondary certification plan below.
Competencies
- Upon completion, students shall understand how historical research is conducted, chiefly by learning to identify primary sources and how historians use them.
- Upon completion, students shall understand how historical interpretations are developed, especially how to assess secondary sources.
- Upon completion, students shall demonstrate writing skills and be able to present an historical analysis or argument clearly, employing good style and grammar in the English written language.
- Upon completion, students shall demonstrate ability in conducting research and presenting findings in non-written modalities such as oral presentations or digital history formats.
- Upon completion, students shall possess a broad knowledge of major developments in (a) field(s) of history.
- Upon completion, students shall develop marketable skills useful for pursuing the career of their choice.
- Upon completion, students shall develop cultural competency, including the ability to recognize the reliability of sources and understand and identify implicit bias.
Curriculum
| Foundations | ||
| General Core Requirements | 42 | |
| Students must complete specific courses in certain core areas. | ||
| For Social and Behavioral Sciences select: | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS | ||
| For Foundational Component Area select: | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS | ||
| History Foundations (Core) | ||
| Select 1441 & 1442 in the same modern or classical language 2 | 8 | |
| Students take either HIST 1301 or HIST 1331 AND either HIST 1302 or HIST 1332 as part of the general core requirements | ||
| HIST 2321 | WORLD HISTORY TO 1400 | 3 |
| HIST 2322 | WORLD HISTORY, 1400 TO THE PRESENT | 3 |
| HIST 3300 | INTRODUCTION TO HISTORICAL RESEARCH | 3 |
| History / Social Studies Specialization | ||
| History Concentration | ||
| HIST 3345 | TEXAS TO 1850 | 3 |
| HIST 3346 | TEXAS SINCE 1845 | 3 |
| HIST 4395 | HISTORY SEMINAR | 3 |
| Select 4 upper level History courses | 12 | |
| Social Studies Concentration | ||
| For Political Science select one from the following: | 3 | |
| LEGISLATIVE ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURE | ||
| JUDICIAL POLITICS | ||
| CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CIVIL LIBERTIES | ||
| JURISPRUDENCE AND CONSTITUTIONAL CONFLICT | ||
| ETHNIC GROUP POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES | ||
| POLITICS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS | ||
| POLITICS OF MEXICAN AMERICANS | ||
| ELECTION STRATEGY AND CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT | ||
| THE U.S. PRESIDENCY | ||
| U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: GOVERNMENT POWER | ||
| U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS | ||
| PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP IN DOMESTIC POLICY MAKING | ||
| HEALTH POLITICS AND POLICY | ||
| GEOG 2302 | HUMAN GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOG 2303 | WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| Select any 3000/4000-level Geography course | 3 | |
| Select general electives sufficient to complete 120 hours 2 | 4 | |
| Education Specialization | ||
| Prior acceptanace to the College of Education required | ||
| EDML 4300 | PRE-ADOLESCENT/ADOLESCENT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| EDUC 4318 | POSITIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| LIST 4343 | CONTENT AREA READING AND WRITING | 3 |
| Field Experience (Fall semester only) | ||
| EDUC 3301 | TEACHING DIVERSE LEARNERS | 3 |
| EDUC 4341 | ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS | 3 |
| EDUC 4343 | TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL | 3 |
| Field Experience (Spring semester only - student teaching) | ||
| EDUC 4647 | CLINICAL TEACHING IN MIDDLE/SECONDARY SCHOOL/ALL-LEVEL CLASSROOMS | 6 |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Majors should complete general education core and history core requirements before enrolling in upper level history courses and should complete HIST 3300 as early as possible. Students may not enroll in HIST 4395 until they have completed HIST 3300 with a "C" or better. UNIV 1101 is included as part of HIST 3300 and upon successful completion of the course with a C or better, students will have also completed the UNIV requirement.
- 2
Students may satisfy the language requirement through transfer credit or AVANT test; doing so will make additional elective hours available
Suggested Plan of Study
Majors will design an individual plan of study in consultation with their advisor.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| HIST 1301 or 1331 | 3 | HIST 1302 or 1332 | 3 |
| COMMUNICATION | 3 | COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| LANGUAGE, PHILOSOPHY & CULTURE | 3 | CREATIVE ARTS | 3 |
| MATHEMATICS | 3 | MATHEMATICS | 3 |
| SCIENCE (with lab) | 3 | SCIENCE (with lab) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| HIST 2321 | 3 | HIST 2322 | 3 |
| HIST 3300 | 3 | HIST 3345 | 3 |
| GEOG 2302 | 3 | GEOG 2303 | 3 |
| POLS 2311 | 3 | POLS 2312 | 3 |
| GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 | GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ECON 2305 | 3 | ECON 2306 | 3 |
| HIST 3346 | 3 | HIST ELECTVE | 3 |
| GEOG 3000/4000 | 3 | HIST ELECTIVE | 3 |
| HIST ELECTIVE | 3 | HIST ELECTIVE | 3 |
| 12 | 12 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| HIST 4395 | 3 | LIST 4343 | 3 |
| GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 | EDUC 4319 | 3 |
| GENERAL ELECTIVE | 3 | EDUC 4340 | 3 |
| POLS ELECTIVE | 3 | ||
| 12 | 9 | ||
| Fifth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| EDUC 3301 | 3 | EDUC 4647 (SPRING ONY) | 6 |
| EDUC 4318 | 3 | ||
| EDUC 4343 (FALL ONLY) | 3 | ||
| 9 | 6 | ||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||
Oral Communication Competency
Students majoring in history demonstrate competency in oral communication by successfully completing HIST 3300. The department advisor must certify completion of this requirement.
Computer Use Competency
Students majoring in history demonstrate competency in computer use by successfully completing both HIST 3300 and HIST 4395. The department advisor must certify completion of this requirement.
Program Completion
To graduate, students must have a 2.0 GPA overall and in history courses. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the general education and history core requirements before enrolling in upper level history courses.