BA in History | BS in History | Minor in History | Course Descriptions
Acting Chair: Terry Bilhartz (936) 294-1482
Faculty: Nancy Baker, Rosanne Barker, Terry Bilhartz, Ty Cashion, Thomas Cox, Caroline Castillo-Crimm, Jeff Crane, Brian Domitrovic, Charles Heath, Ken Hendrickson, Jeff Littlejohn, David Mayes, James Olson, Andrew Orr, Nicholas Pappas, Katherine Pierce, Bernadette Pruitt, Nicolaas Rupke, Robert Shadle, Tracy Steele, Nancy Zey
Information: (936) 294-1475; AB 4 Room 441; history@shsu.edu
Website: www.shsu.edu/~his_www/
Knowledge of history is a key to the future. History is the foundation of virtually all academic disciplines because intellectual progress is based on a critique of traditional assumptions, dogmas, and paradigms. In a series of writing-intensive courses, students develop analytical, verbal, and cultural skills that can be applied to a variety of professional settings.
Mission
The Department of History will prepare students to analyze major historical events, evaluate changes in values and institutions over time, assess complex forces at work in the past and today, and learn how, in written and oral expression, to explain those changes. In doing so, the department will prepare students for any career requiring critical and analytical skills. The Department of History considers itself a vehicle—through teaching, research and service—for presenting and critiquing the values of the past and for conveying those values and critiques to future generations.
Academic Programs
- BA in History
- BS in History
- Teacher Certification
Highlights
With more than 3,900 students, the History Department is one of the largest and fastest growing departments on campus. Its enrollments have increased by 50% in recent years. SHSU’s History Department faculty demonstrates high standards of quality in its teaching and research. Four members of the department have won SHSU’s Excellence in Teaching Award, two have won the Minnie Stevens Piper Award and another won the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Texas Professor of the Year Award. Nine members have received more than $2.6 million in federal grants to train Texas high school teachers in Traditional American History. Faculty in this department also have published, or signed contracts for the publication of, more than 50 scholarly books.
Suggested Minors
History majors can minor in a wide variety of disciplines, including English, Political Science, Criminal Justice, General Business, Economics, Computing Science, Psychology, Math, Speech Communication, Journalism, Sociology, Geography, Radio/Television, Dance, Theater, Health, Kinesiology, Agriculture, Industrial Technology, Photography and Spanish.
Career Opportunities
History students enhance their critical abilities by examining original texts, acquiring research skills, learning to write, and analyzing social, political, economic, and cultural changes over time talents that will serve them well in any employment setting. Although most history students pursue careers in teaching, museum studies, and records management, they can also be found working successfully in medicine, the law, governmental service and business.
Student Organizations and Activities
The History Department sponsors Phi Alpha Theta, a national history honor society, and the Webb Society, a student service club. Webb Society students engage in a wide variety of fun and educational activities, including the Sam Houston Folk Life Festival, the Renaissance Festival, Encuentro, and numerous historical re-enactments.
Internships and Study Abroad
History majors interested in museum careers have the opportunity of completing a museum internship as part of their undergraduate curriculum. In recent years interns have served at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, the Star of the Republic Museum at Washington-on-the-Brazos, the Contemporary Art Museum of Houston, the Texas Prison Museum, and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York among others.
SHSU History faculty have offered classes in England, in China, in Russia and in Greece. The department also sponsors field classes all over the western United States. Check with the department for availability.
Scholarships
A variety of University and departmental scholarships are available. Since all history department scholarships are arranged by faculty nomination, students do not apply for them directly. Information on University scholarships may be obtained from the Office of Academic Scholarships website at www.shsu.edu/~sfa_www/scholarship.html or telephone (936) 294-1672.
Program Specific Requirements
History majors pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree are required to take four semesters of a single foreign language. The languages offered at Sam Houston State University are French, German, and Spanish. However, any language can be accepted in transfer.
Curriculum
Required History Courses for Majors
The Bachelor of Arts degree requires 36 semester credit hours in History, including HIS 163 <HIST 1301>, HIS 164 <HIST 1302>, HIS 265 <HIST 2311>, HIS 266 <HIST 2312>, and HIS 369 <HIST 3369>. All History majors are required to complete at least one 400-level <4000-level> history course. At least 12 hours of advanced history must be taken in residence.
Bachelor of Arts in History
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Bachelor of Arts
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||
History |
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SHSU Course Number |
Hours |
Recommended Sequence |
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 |
|
| Component Area II (Mathematics) | 3 |
|
| Component Area III (Natural Sciences) | 8 |
|
| Component Area IV (Humanities/Visual/Performing Arts)* | 9 |
|
| Component Area V (Social/Behavioral Sciences)* | 15 |
|
| Component Area VI (Institutionally Designated Option) | 1 |
|
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| Foreign Language first two courses | 8 |
Freshman |
| Foreign Language second two courses | 6 |
Sophomore |
| Fine Arts Art, Dance, Theatre, Music, PHL 366 <PHIL 3366> | 3 |
|
| Major Core | ||
| HIS 163 <HIST 1301>* | 3 |
|
| HIS 164 <HIST 1302>* | 3 |
|
| HIS 265 <HIST 2311>* | 3 |
|
| HIS 266 <HIST 2312>* | 3 |
|
| Major | ||
| History Electives (one course at 4000 level) | 24 |
|
| Minor (required) | 18 |
|
| Electives | 7 |
|
| Total Hours: | 120 |
|
Notes: *Satisfies major requirement and requirements in Component Area IV and V.
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Bachelor of Arts
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Social Science Composite History Emphasis |
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SHSU Course Number |
Hours |
Recommended Sequence |
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 |
|
| Component Area II (Mathematics) | 3 |
|
| Component Area III (Natural Sciences) | 8 |
|
| Component Area IV (Humanities/Visual/Performing Arts) | 9 |
|
| Component Area V (Social/Behavioral Sciences)* | 15 |
|
| Component Area VI (Institutionally Designated Option) | 1 |
|
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| Foreign language | 14 |
|
| PHL 366 <PHIL 3366> | 3 |
|
| GEO 161 <GEOG 1321>, GEO 265 <GEOG 2355>, GEO 266 <GEOG 2356>, GEO 369 <GEOG 3359>, and GEO 471 <GEOG 4358> | 15 |
|
| SOC 131 <SOCI 1301> | 3 |
|
| ECO 234 <ECON 2301> | 3 |
|
| POL 378 <POLS 3378> | 3 |
|
| Major Core | ||
| HIS 163 <HIST 1301>* | 3 |
|
| HIS 164 <HIST 1302>* | 3 |
|
| HIS 265 <HIST 2311>* | 3 |
|
| HIS 266 <HIST 2312>* | 3 |
|
| HIS 369 <HIST 3369> | 3 |
|
| HIS 376 <HIST 3376>, HIS 377 <HIST 3377>, HIS 378 <HIST 3378> or HIS 379 <HIST 3379> | 3 |
|
| HIS 331 <HIST 3331>, HIS 332 <HIST 3332>, HIS 333 <HIST 3333>, HIS 336 <HIST 3336>, HIS 381 <HIST 3381>, HIS 389 <HIST 3389>, HIS 391 <HIST 3391>, or HIS 478 <HIST 4378> | 3 |
|
| HIS 390 <HIST 3390> | 3 |
|
| Major | ||
| HIS <HIST> Advanced | 12 |
|
| Electives (with department approval) | 1 |
|
| Total Hours: | 120 |
|
Notes: Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement. All students must complete at least 120 hours to graduate.
*Student may use courses to satisfy major and Component Area IV and V.
Teacher Certification
Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with teacher certification at the secondary level (grades 8-12) should use their 18 elective hours and an additional 9 hours to satisfy the required certification courses. The required education courses are listed below. With teacher certification, the BA degree total is 144 hours. Those students not seeking certification should use their electives to fulfill the University requirement for advanced hours.
SED 383 <CISE 3383>, SED 394 <CISE 3394>, SED 464 <CISE 4364>, SED 480 <CISE 4380>, SED 496 <CISE 4396>, SED 497 <CISE 4397>, RDG 392 <READ xxxx>, SED 374 <CISE 3374>
For teacher certification, no grade below C in social science courses is accepted.
Bachelor of Science in History
The Bachelor of Science degree requires 30 semester credit hours in History, including HIS 163 <HIST 1301>, HIS 164 <HIST 1302>, HIS 265 <HIST 2311>, HIS 266 <HIST 2312>, HIS 369 <HIST 3369> and HIS 373 <HIST 3373>. History majors are required to complete at least one 400-level <4000-level> history course. At least 12 hours of advanced history must be taken in residence.
Notes: Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement. All students must complete at least 120 hours to graduate.
Minor in History
Minor in History (without Teacher Certification)
A minor in history requires 21 semester credit hours, including HIS 163 <HIST 1301>, HIS 164 <HIST 1302>, HIS 265 <HIST 2311>, HIS 266 <HIST 2312>, and nine hours of upper-level history electives. For history courses, no grade below C is accepted.
Minor in History (with Teacher Certification)
A history minor with teacher certification requires 27 semester credit hours, including HIS 163 <HIST 1301>, HIS 164 <HIST 1302>, HIS 265 <HIST 2311>, HIS 266 <HIST 2312>, HIS 369 <HIST 3369>, HIS 398 <HIS 3398>, (HIS 376 <HIST 3376> or HIS 377 <HIST 3377> or HIS 378 <HIST 3378> or HIS 379 <HIST 3379>), (HIS 331 <HIST 3331> or HIS 332 <HIST 3332> or HIS 333 <HIST 3333> or HIS 336 <HIST 3336> or HIS 381 <HIST 3381> or HIS 389 <HIST 3389> or HIS 391 <HIST 3391> or HIS 478 <HIST 4378> or HIS 495 <HIST 4395>), and three hours of any upper-level history elective. For history courses, no grade below C is accepted.