History Requirements
The Major. A minimum of 30 semester hours is required for the major, a maximum of 40 semester hours is allowed. Majors must take: at least 8 hours in American history and 8 hours in world history; two beginning-level survey courses (103 or 104, and 121 or 122) very near the outset of the major; at least 16 hours of middle-level courses (numbered 200 and 300); and the 400-level Senior Capstone Research Seminar. This Capstone Seminar will normally be taken during the fall of the senior year toward the end of the major. Students may count one course from the following list as a middle level course for their major: ART 250 or 251, GEO 304 or POL 211, 313, 314, or 334. Only one of these courses may be counted towards the history major. A grade of C- or higher is required in each course for the major. History majors are encouraged to participate in Jewell’s overseas programs. All history courses help students develop skills in careful reading, effective writing and critical thinking. A few majors may be able to take an internship. Consult with the chair about possibilities.
The Minor. Introduces students to the basics of world and American history in a 16-24 hour program. Students chose either an American or world history emphasis, enabling the student to do more in-depth study and to learn more about the work of historians. Students in the minor will be taught most of the same skills that history majors learn, including analytical reading, critical thinking, persuasive writing and effective argumentation. Students in their first year will normally need to take at least one of the survey courses (121 or 122; 103 or 104). Normally, after at least one American and one World survey course, students take at least 12 hours of 200-300-level courses (with at least 8 hours in the area of emphasis and at least 4 hours in the other area).
General Education: Students who select history as their first major must follow the requirements for the B.A. degree; the history major as a second major combined with a B.S. primary major does not require the additional B.A. degree courses. Some general education courses may count toward the major; consult with the chair about this matter.
Class Selection: Students will normally take beginning courses before they take middle courses. Freshmen will not normally be admitted to courses numbered 300 and above. A student may enroll for either half of a course with double numbers for seven weeks and 2 hours’ credit.
Certification: Students majoring in history may choose to receive Missouri teaching certification for social studies secondary school, grades 9-12, with an extention in middle school, grades 5-9. (Missouri does not offer teacher certification in purely "history.") Procedures to be followed in obtaining teacher certification are included in the Student Handbook for Teacher Certification. Specific course requirements for all certification programs may be found on teacher certification checksheets. Handbooks and checksheets are available at the Education Department Office.
History Honorary: Students who have completed at least 12 hours of history with a 3.1 GPA in their history courses, and at least a 2.75 GPA in two-thirds of their other courses are invited to contact one of their history instructors about membership in Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honorary.
