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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

History (HIST) Undergraduate Programs

283 STEWART HALL/(320) 308-3165
www.stcloudstate.edu/history

A program of the College of Social Sciences.

Programs at a Glance

Degree programs

  • BA – History
  • Minor – Elementary Education
    • History

Program admission and performance requirements

Graduation – University

  • BA in History – minor  or one  year of  a foreign language

University minimum requirements for bachelor’s degrees

  • 120 credits
  • 40 credits in General Education
  • 1 credit in PESS 122
  • 45 credits in upper-division (300-400) courses
  • 30 credits in residence at SCSU
  • 2.00 GPA overall, in major, and in minor (departments may set higher standards) for BA; 2.5 GPA overall to apply to BS program.

(See this section and the section on the College of Social Sciences for more information.)

Chairperson: Peter Nayenga
Faculty: Eden, Galler, Glade, Harvey, Hofsommer, Jaede, Kim, Lewis, Mullins, Nayenga, Ness, O'Brien, Rothaus, Wingerd

The Department of History believes the study of history has intrinsic value both as intellectual training and as a basic means of understanding human character. Our goals are to acquaint students with history as a discipline, to stimulate objective analysis of the past, to provide a broader perspective of the future, develop an understanding and appreciation of the nature of change and the diversity of the human experience, and offset parochialism and ethnocentrism through diverse course offerings.

The history department offers major and minor programs and provides background courses for the other humanities and social sciences and for area study and special programs.

The study of a foreign language is very important to the understanding of other cultures and frequently a requirement for graduate work in history.

Students interested in social studies programs with emphasis in history should refer to the programs listed in social studies.

Bachelor of Arts

Major (42)
A total of 42 history credits (24 required: 18 elective), of which at least 36 must be at the 200-level or above. A student must complete the following core requirements (24):

  1. U.S.: HIST 140 and 141 (6)
  2. Western Civ I and II: HIST 210 and 211 (6)
  3. Africa, Asia, Latin America or Middle East (6)
  4. HIST 490, Craft of the Historian (3)
  5. HIST 491, Senior Research Seminar (3)
    HIST electives (18)

Students are required to take either a minimum of 9 credits in a foreign language or a minor outside of history.

HIST 491 fulfills the UDWR for the History B.A. Program.

Minor (30)
A total of 30 history credits (21 required; 9 elective), of which at least 24 must be at the 200-level or above. A student must complete the following core requirements (21):

  1. US: HIST 140 and 141 (6)
  2. Western Civ I and II: HIST 210 and 211 (6)
  3. Africa, Asia, Latin America or Middle East (6)
  4. HIST 490, Craft of the Historian (3)
    HIST electives (9)

Bachelor of Science

The Social Studies Education major prepares students for Minnesota licensure as middle/secondary (5-12) social studies teachers. Students selecting this major must complete the General Education program, the Social Studies Licensing Core, one of the emphases in the B.S. Social Studies major designated for licensure, and the Professional Education component.

The following courses make up the University's approved Social Studies Licensing Core:
ANTH: 250; ECON 201; GEOG 253, 270; HIST 140** or 141**, 106* (global only), 385; ETHS 310; POL 195, 251; PSY 240; SOC 160; SST 253, 453.
Many of these social studies licensure core courses may be used for the general education program. (*Students emphasizing history will use HIST 210, 211 and electives in African, Asian, and/or Middle Eastern history instead of HIST 106 (global only). **They will also include both HIST 140 and 141 in their emphasis.)

Individuals who plan to seek this licensure should consult the Director of Social Studies Education in the College of Social Sciences, SH 361, 320-308-5226, immediately upon enrolling at SCSU or changing to this field to determine the current plan for the social studies licensure competencies to be developed and demonstrated. Fifteen credits of coursework at SCSU and a 2.50 GPA at SCSU are required for admission to the Bachelor of Science Social Studies Education (Teaching) major leading to middle/secondary social studies licensure.

1 HIST 101, 105 and 106 courses cannot be used to fulfill requirements for the history major and minor in B.A. and B.S. programs.

Social Studies Major - History Emphasis (24)1
A total of 24 history credits (18 required; 6 elective), of which at least 18 must be at the 200 level or above:
History Core:

  1. US: HIST 140, 141 (6)
  2. Western Civ I and II (6)
  3. Africa, Asia, Latin America, or Middle East (6)
  4. HIST electives (6)

Elementary Education Minor (18)1
The student must complete the following core requirements:

  1. US: HIST 140, 141 (6)
  2. Western Civ I and II: HIST 210, 211 (6)
  3. Africa, Asia, Latin America or Middle East (6)

Elementary Education Cognate (9)1
A student will select one course from each of the three groups below:

  1. US: HIST 140, 141 (3)
  2. Western Civ I and II: HIST 210, 211 (3)
  3. Africa, Asia, Latin America or Middle East (3)

Internship Program

The internship program of the Department of History is designed to give competent, interested students an opportunity to participate in an approved off-campus learning and work situation which relates to the major. The program offers the student an opportunity to relate course work and major requirements to their application in the working world. See HIST 444 in the course listings. A maximum of three (3) credits may be applied to the elective credits needed in the major program. Any remaining credits apply as general electives toward graduation. Students interested in the internship program should contact the department as early as possible to apply for the program.