History
(HST) (STR)
For information, please contact
Charles Ebel, Chairperson,
774-3374, Powers Hall 106
Department
Website
Why Study History?
History at CMU
General Information
History Major -
Non-Teaching
History Major - B.S.
in Ed., Elementary
History Major -
B.S. in Ed., Secondary
History Minor -
Non-Teaching
History Minor -
B.S. in Ed., Elementary
History Minor -
B.S. in Ed., Secondary
Integrated B.A./M.A.
Additional
Information for Student Teaching
The Faculty
HST Course
Descriptions
STR Course Descriptions
Why
Study History?
The study of history is an important part of a university
education and an excellent preparation for a wide range of
careers. History courses provide an understanding of the
political, cultural, social, and economic life of past
civilizations and help us understand the world in which we
live.
A history major or minor provides a broad education that
informs and shapes the thinking of the entire person. A
history minor, in particular, is an excellent balance to
specialized vocational and preprofessional studies. Thus,
the career opportunities for history graduates in teaching,
the professions and public service, industry and commerce
are exceedingly wide and varied. A history major or minor
provides direct preparation for graduate study leading to an
M.A. or Ph.D. degree and to careers in areas such as
teaching, research, museum, library, or archival work.
Historical knowledge and the skills in reading, writing, and
analysis developed through historical study are excellent
preparation for law school and for government employment.
Particularly in conjunction with course work in business,
economics, sociology, political science, and mathematics,
such knowledge and skills are also excellent undergraduate
preparation for graduate work in business administration or
journalism.
History
at CMU
The Department of History offers a variety of courses in the
University Program that introduce students to the
multifaceted discipline of history as well as to American,
African, European, Asian, Middle Eastern and Latin American
civilizations. Courses on both the 100 and 200 levels are
designed for freshmen and sophomores or for students wishing
a broad overview of a particular country or
civilization.
The major or minor in history can be taken on a variety of
teaching and nonteaching degrees. The department
participates in an interdisciplinary major in the social
sciences and in minors in American ethnic studies, bilingual
bicultural education, Ojibwe, humanities, Latin American
studies, military science, Native American studies, and
women's studies. Additionally, the department offers a
Master of Arts and Joint Master of Arts and Ph. D. degrees
in history.
General
Information for all history majors and minors
1. Students planning or considering a major or minor in
history are urged to consult with an advisor as early as
possible in their college careers. Students may select any
history faculty member to serve as advisor.
2. Six hours of Credit/No Credit in history courses will be
accepted in the major or minor, but these hours may not be
in 400 level or 500 level courses.
3. Survey or introductory courses (when transferred from
another college or university) are accepted for no more than
three hours per course on the major or minor.
4. History majors, particularly those planning to do
graduate work in history, are strongly urged to include two
years of foreign language study in their undergraduate
programs.
5. History majors and minors planning to do graduate work in
history are strongly urged to take both the general aptitude
and advanced history tests of the Graduate Record Examination early in their senior year. These examinations are
generally required for admission to graduate schools.
6. Credit Limitation. Courses in the department that are
subject to graduate credit limitation under the policy
covering unspecified content or variable credit include
HST 532, 590, 595, 597, 601, 690, and 791.
7. The history department does not accept the CLEP examination for credit toward a major or minor.
8. Up to six hours of credit for AP examinations will be
approved as follows: three credits for a score of four for
History (American) in HST 111 or History (European) in HST
102; or six credits for a score of five for History
(American) in HST 111 and HST 112 or History (European) in
HST 101 and HST 102.
9. The history department strongly urges all history majors
and minors, particularly those planning to teach history or
to go on to graduate study, to participate in the CMU
Semester Abroad program. Interested students should see a
department study abroad advisor or the International
Education office as early as possible.
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History Major
Non-Teaching;
B.A., B.S. degrees
Fifteen
hours of history courses numbered 300-599 from the
following:
One Seminar (HST 496, 566, or a substitute approved by advisor)
One additional course at the 500 level (HST 590 cannot be
used for this requirement)
HST 301 (3) The Craft of History
Two additional courses at the 300-500 level
Eighteen hours of history courses numbered 100-599
Courses above must include at least one in each of the
following fields: American, Modern Europe, Non-Western or
Third World, Pre-Modern.
Total:
33 semester hours
Field
Requirements Courses listed below meet field requirements as
follows:
American: HST 110, 111, 112, 221, 228, 303, 304, 312,
315, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 330, 333, 335,
511, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 523, 524, 525, 532, 562.
Modern European: HST 102, 106, 280, 344, 347, 349,
351, 353, 354, 356, 542, 548, 558
Non-Western and Third World: HST 163, 168, 176, 236,
237, 362, 369, 370, 376, 377, 378, 379, 382, 392, 566,
569.
Pre-Modern: HST 101, 200, 236, 237, 238, 340, 341,
348, 350, 369, 505, 537, 538
Several courses, HST 236, HST 237, and HST 369, count for
either non-Western or pre-Modern. No course, however, can
fill requirements in more than one area.
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History
Major
B.S.
in Education Degree, Elementary
Education Emphasis
Students must also earn credit in EDU 340. See additional
information for students seeking department’s
recommendation for student teaching.
Fifteen hours of history courses numbered 300-599 as
follows
HST 301: The Craft of History
One seminar (HST 496, 566, or a substitute approved by advisor)
One additional course at the 500 level (HST 511, 515, or 558
especially recommended. HST 590 cannot be used for this
requirement)
Two additional courses at the 300-500 level (must include
one of HST 320, 321, 324, 325, or 326)
Survey Courses (12 hours)
HST 101 and HST 102: Western Civilization
HST 111 and HST 112: American History
Six hours of history courses numbered 100-599
Courses above must include at least two courses in Non-
Western or Third World History (HST 163, HST 168, HST 176,
HST 237, HST 369, HST 370)
Total:
33 semester hours
Students
planning to teach in Michigan are strongly encouraged to
take HST 333. The history major is especially recommended
for those students intending to teach in grades six and
above. Students who wish further preparation for
departmentalized teaching would benefit from HST 400.
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History
Major
B.S.
in Education Degree, Secondary
or Secondary Special Education Emphasis
See additional information for students seeking department’s
recommendation for student teaching.
Fifteen hours of history courses numbered 300-599 as
follows
HST 301: The Craft of History
One seminar (HST 496, 566, or a substitute approved by advisor)
One additional course at the 500 level (HST 590 cannot be
used for this requirement)
Two additional courses at the 300-500 level
Survey Courses (12 hours)
HST 101 and HST 102: Western Civilization
HST 111 and HST 112: American History
Six hours of history courses numbered 100-599
Courses
above must include the following:
One course (3 hours) in Non-Western or Third World
History
One course (3 hours) in American history in addition to HST
111 and HST 112
HST 300 (2 hours)*
HST 400 (3 hours)
Total:
38 semester hours
*Students
may be exempt from this course if they have completed a
mid-tier experience for a second major in a program in the
humanities or social sciences. To be exempt from HST 300,
students must have advisor approval.
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History Minor
Non-Teaching;
B.A., B.A.A., B.S., B.S. in B.A. degrees
Required Courses
(9 hours at the 300 level or above).
Elective Courses
(11 or more additional hours in history)
Total:
21 semester hours
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History
Minor
B.S.
in Education Degree, Elementary
or Elementary Special Education Emphasis
See additional information for students seeking department’s
recommendation for student teaching.
Survey
Courses (12 hours)
HST 101 and HST 102: Western Civilization
HST 111 and HST 112: American History
Non-Western or Third World History
(3 hours from the following)
HST 163: The Latin American Experience
HST 168: The Far East
HST 176: The African Experience
U.S. Social History
(3 hours from the following)
HST 221: Growing Up in America
HST 320: United States Social History to 1865
HST 321: United States Social History since 1865
HST 323: History of Native Americans
HST 324: African-American History to 1915
HST 325: African-Americans in Twentieth Century
America
HST 326: Women in America
One 500 level course (3 hours) (HST 590 does not meet
this requirement.)
Three additional hours at the 300-599 level (HST 333
is recommended for students expecting to teach in Michigan)
Total:
24 semester hours
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History
Minor
B.S.
in Education Degree, Secondary
or Secondary Special Education Emphasis
See additional information for students seeking department’s
recommendation for student teaching.
Survey Courses (12 hours)
HST 101 and HST 102: Western Civilization
HST 111 and HST 112: American History
Historiography and Methods (6 hours)
HST 301: The Craft of History
HST 400: History for Secondary Schools
U.S. Social History
(3 hours from the following)
HST 320: United States Social History to 1865
HST 321: United States Social History since 1865
HST 323: History of Native Americans
HST 324: African-American History to 1915
HST 325: African-Americans in Twentieth Century
America
HST 326: Women in America
Non-Western or Third World History
(3 hours from the following)
HST 362: Latin American Revolutions: Mexico, Cuba and
Central America HST 369: Traditional China
HST 370: Modern China
HST 376: East/Central Africa: Issues
HST 378: South Africa
HST 379: Race, Class and Power: South Africa in the 20th
Century
HST 382: History of Israel
HST 392: Global Perspectives on Non-Western History
HST 566: Seminar in Contemporary Asia
HST 569: China and the West
Total:
24 semester hours
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Integrated
B.A./M.A.
The Integrated B.A./M.A. degree allows highly motivated
students to accelerate their academic careers by undertaking
graduate work toward the traditional Master of Arts degree
(not Joint M.A. in History) concurrently with undergraduate
work. This is not for students seeking teaching
certification as a part of their undergraduate degree work.
Degree
Requirements
The degree requirements for the Integrated B.A./M.A. combine
the non-teaching major and the traditional M.A. as
follows:
1) The student must meet with an advisor in the History
Department and submit an integrated B.A./M.A. Program Plan
to the History Department by the beginning of the second
semester of his or her second year of study for the
B.A.
2) HST 496 (or HST 566 or approved substitute) must be taken
in the junior (third) year.
3) In the student's junior undergraduate year, he or she
must apply to the CMU College of Graduate Studies for
concurrent admission in the senior year and be admitted to
concurrent graduate status.
4) Three to twelve (3-12) hours of M.A. graduate credit,
including one graduate seminar or colloquium, must be taken
in the final year of the undergraduate work.
5) The integrated plan is intended to encourage research and
writing competency in a particular research field;
therefore, the candidate is encouraged to elect Plan A, the
Thesis Option of the M.A. program.
6) It is highly recommended that the student undertake a
one- semester study abroad in history, preferably in the
third year of the B.A. work. This can be arranged through
the department.
Admission
Standards
1) Written recommendation of a CMU history professor.
2) Six (6) hours of history coursework completed with at
least a 3.25 GPA in those courses and a 3.25 overall GPA or permission of
advisor.
Retention
Standards
1) Maintenance of a 3.5 GPA in history courses.
2) Failure to maintain satisfactory work (3.0 GPA) in two
successive semesters will result in removal from the
integrated program.
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Additional
information for students seeking the Department’s
recommendation for Student Teaching.
A. For majors and minors who wish to teach on the
secondary level:
1. A student must have completed at least 30 hours of his or
her History major, including HST 300 and HST 400. Majors
must also complete HST 300 unless they have completed a
mid-tier course for a second major in a program in the
humanities or social sciences. To be exempt from HST 300, a
student must have advisor approval. The student must have a
minimum grade point average of 2.70 in those 30 hours of
history courses. Transfer credit will be accepted from
regionally accredited institutions, but at least six of the
hours must be CMU classes with a grade point average of
2.70. At least 12 of the required credit hours must have
been received within 10 years of application for student
teaching.
2. A student must have completed at least 20 hours of his or
her History minor, including HST 400. The student must have
a minimum grade point average of 2.70 in those 20 hours of
history courses. Transfer credit will be accepted from
regionally accredited institutions, but at least six of the
hours must be CMU classes with a grade point average of
2.70. At least 12 of the required credit hours must have
been received within 10 years of application for student
teaching.
3. Both majors and minors must complete a department student
teaching evaluation form. In addition, students must furnish
transcripts showing all history course credits.
4. Students are urged to take HST 400 the semester before
student teaching. Students are also urged to have taken as
preparation for HST 400 at least five hours of secondary
education course work, including a course in psychological
foundations of education.
5. The department recommends that students planning to teach
history in secondary schools major in history.
6. The North Central Association requires social studies
teachers to have completed 24 hours in coursework
appropriate to their teaching assignments.
B.
For majors and minors who wish to teach on the elementary
level:
1. A major must have completed at least 30 hours of his or
her History major. The student must have a minimum grade
point average of 2.70 in those 30 hours of history courses.
Transfer credit will be accepted from regionally accredited
institutions, but at least six of the hours must be CMU
classes with a grade point average of 2.70. At least 12 of
the required hours must have been received within 10 years
of application for student teaching.
2. A minor must have completed at least 20 hours of his or
her History minor. The student must have a minimum grade
point average of 2.70 in those 20 hours of history courses.
Transfer credit will be accepted from regionally accredited
institutions, but at least six of the hours must be CMU
classes with a grade point average of 2.70. At least 12 of
the required hours must have been received within 10 years
of application for student teaching.
3. Both majors and minors must complete a department student
teaching evaluation form. In addition, students must furnish
transcripts showing all history course credits.
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The
faculty:
Thomas L. Benjamin, Claudia Clark, Charles Ebel, James Gordon,
Jennifer Green, Carol Green-Ramirez, David
Guard, Mitchell K. Hall, Timothy Hall, Dawn Herd-Clark, Eric
A. Johnson, David I. Macleod, William McDaid,
Timothy O'Neil, Benjamin -Shkwegnaabi, Patricia Ranft,
John F. Robertson, David Rutherford, Stephen P. Scherer,
James A. Schmiechen, Catherine Tobin.
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