College of Humanities and Social & Behavioral Sciences

Department of 
English Language and Literature

Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Department of History

Department of 
Military Science

Department of Philosophy and Religion

Department of Political Science

Department of Psychology

Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

 

Undergraduate Programs of Study

History (HST) (STR) 

For information, please contact 
Charles Ebel, Chairperson, 774-3374, Powers Hall 106

College of Humanities and Social & Behavioral Sciences Website
Department Website

Why Study History?
History at CMU
Admission, Retention, and Termination Standards
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.
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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.
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Admission, Retention, and Termination Standards

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. 

Integrated B.A./M.A.

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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History Majors

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, 312, 315, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 330, 333, 335, 511, 512, 513, 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 Provisional Certification

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 Provisional Certification or Secondary Provisional Certification with Emotional or Cognitive Endorsement

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 Minors

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 Provisional Certification or Elementary Provisional Certification with Emotional or Cognitive Impairment Endorsement 

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 Provisional Certification or Secondary Provisional Certification with Emotional or Cognitive Impairment Endorsement 

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.  See the Admission, Retention and Termination Standards above.

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.
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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, James R.T. Daybell, Charles Ebel, James Gordon, Jennifer Green, David Guard, Mitchell K. Hall, Timothy Hall, Doina Harsanyi, Dawn Herd-Clark, Eric A. Johnson, Chima Korieh, David I. Macleod, William McDaid, Timothy O'Neil, Benjamin Ramirez-Shkwegnaabi, John F. Robertson, David Rutherford, Stephen P. Scherer, James A. Schmiechen, Catherine Tobin.
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