The Program of History’s courses, some of which specifically emphasize scholarly methods, engage students in the historian’s craft by enjoining them to dissect primary and secondary sources and to write extensively.  The capstone experience evolves in the seminars, tutorials, and theses, in which students write substantial research papers on original topics of their own selection.  The comprehensive composition of the curriculum is designed to inspire students first to acquire critical analytical and interpretative skills and foundational background knowledge and then to advance both their analytical abilities and their particular historical interests through focused topical studies and independent research.

The Program of History offers students three areas of concentration: Applied History with New Media, European/Classical and United States.  These concentrations are designed to prepare graduates who are articulate, literate, reflective, and committed to a lifetime of learning and civic action.

42 Hours, 2.75 GPA

HIS 103          Introduction to and the Ethics of the Historical Profession (3 cr.)

HIS 400          History in the Public Realm (3 cr.)

HIS 451          Thesis I (3 cr.)

HIS 452          Thesis II (3 cr.)

Senior Oral Comprehensive Exam:  All Majors must pass a two-hour oral examination covering the required curriculum and students’ historical concentration.  The examination should be taken during the final semester prior to graduation.  This permits for retake of the examination during the student’s final semester in case of failure.  The examination board will be composed of three members including the department chair, students’ history adviser, a faculty member selected by the student, the Program Coordinator for History and/or one faculty member selected by the students’ history adviser.  Students may one retake the oral examination once.  The examination is based on a “Pass” or “Fail” grading systems.

Senior Written Comprehensive Exam:  All Majors must pass a comprehensive written examination covering the required curriculum and students’ historical concentration, with a passing percentage of 70 or higher in order to graduate.  A student may take the written examination only twice.  The examination should be taken during the final semester prior to graduation.  The written examination will be graded by three full-time faculty members.  Each member’s numerical score will be added together and divided by three to compose the pass percentage.

Seniors are required to pass both the Senior Oral Comprehensive Examination and the Senior Written Comprehensive Examination in order to graduate.  These two examinations are not required for students minoring in history.

Areas of Concentration                                                                                                     30 Hours

Each major will select an area of concentration in consultation with a faculty adviser.  Freshmen are required to select the area of concentration by completion of second semester and transfer students are required to select the area of concentration by completion of first semester of enrollment.

       Applied History with New Media Concentration (Parkville Campus Only):

• A primary area of concentration, selected from European/Classical or United States in which five courses are selected.  No more than five courses will count toward the concentration.
• AR 218: Graphic Design Software
• CA 241: Photography I
• EN 341: Literature and Film
• GGP 330: Cartography
• GGP 350: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• HIS 103: Introduction to and the Ethics of the Historical Profession
• HIS 400: History in the Public Realm
• HIS 451: Thesis I
• HIS 452: Thesis II

        European/Classical Concentration (Parkville Campus and Portfolio):

• Five courses in the European/Classical curriculum
• One intermediate seminar (250-299 level) within the European/Classical curriculum
• Two non-seminar (200-249 level) courses taken from outside the European/Classical curriculum (in this case United States curriculum)
• One upper level (300-399 level) seminar within the European/Classical curriculum
• One upper level (300-399 level) seminar outside the European/Classical curriculum (in this case United States curriculum)
• No more than two courses numbered below 200 can be counted toward the major, except 103
• HIS 103: Introduction to and the Ethics of the Historical Profession
• HIS 400: History in the Public Realm
• HIS 451: Thesis I
• HIS 452: Thesis II

       United States Concentration (Parkville Campus and Portfolio):

• Five courses in the United States curriculum
• One intermediate seminar (250-299 level) within the United States curriculum
• Two non-seminar (200-249 level) courses taken from outside the United States curriculum (in this case European/Classical curriculum)
• One upper level (300-399 level) seminar within the United States curriculum
• One upper level (300-399 level) seminar outside the United States curriculum (in this case European/Classical curriculum)
• No more than two courses numbered below 200 can be counted toward the major, except 103
• HIS 103: Introduction to and the Ethics of the Historical Profession
• HIS 400: History in the Public Realm
• HIS 451: Thesis I
• HIS 452: Thesis II