History, BS

Total number of hours for the program: 120.

The history degree trains students to connect their personal and local history to regional, national, and global histories. It combines significant academic training in analysis, written and oral communication, and critical thinking with internship opportunities in the public-school classroom, public history institutions, and government, academic, non-profit, spiritual, and corporate institutions. Students completing this degree leave with skills and experiences help them become contributing members of society and of a global economy.

Note: Students who elect to pursue the BS as part of the double licensure program in Social Sciences Education (BSED) could exceed 128 credit hours.

Liberal Studies Hours (42 hours)

Liberal Studies Program Requirements

Major Requirements (3 hours)

Math Requirement (3 hours)

MATH 170 - Applied Statistics Credits: 3

Survey Credits (9 hours)

Students will take three hours from each of the following areas: U.S. History, European History, and ALAMEA (African, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and Asian history).

European History (three hours chosen from the following):
HIST 220 - Ancient Empires: 3000 BCE-300 CE Credits: 3
HIST 221 - The Birth of Europe: 312-1517 Credits: 3
HIST 222 - European History Since 1517 Credits: 3
HIST 281 - Transformations in European Religious History Credits: 3
ALAMEA (three hours chosen from the following):
HIST 210 - African History to 1880 Credits: 3
HIST 211 - African History Since 1880 Credits: 3
HIST 212 - Colonial Latin America Credits: 3
HIST 213 - Modern Latin America Credits: 3
HIST 218 - Modern Asia Credits: 3
US History (three hours chosen from the following):
HIST 233 - U.S. Legal History Credits: 3
HIST 234 - Immigration and Ethnicity in U.S. History Credits: 3
HIST 235 - The History of American Sports Credits: 3
HIST 236 - Native American Lives Credits: 3
HIST 237 - African American History Credits: 3
HIST 238 - History of American Pop Culture: Music, Movies, and Media Credits: 3
HIST 250 - Urban History: Cities and Suburbs in the United States Credits: 3
HIST 271 - Religion in America Credits: 3

Methods Credits (6 hours)

Students will take six hours of methods courses:

HIST 297 - Sophomore Seminar Credits: 3
One of the following Advanced Methods/Capstone Courses (three hours):
HIST 483 - Public/Applied History Capstone Internship Credits: 3
or
HIST 491 - Supervised Student Teaching in Social Sciences, 9-12 Credits: 3
or
- 400-Level Capstone designated Seminar Course (three hours)

Upper Division Electives (18 hours)

18 hours of 300/400 level electives to include three hours in United States History, three hours in European History, three hours in ALAMEA History. Students must take three hours at the 400 level (in addition to the Capstone Hours listed in the Methods Credits section above).

Note: For dual-degree students seeking a BS in History and a BSED in Social Science Education, HIST 395 will be double counted as an upper-level division elective course in the history major. It is a requirement in the BSED program in Social Science Education.

Additional Requirements

To complete the program, a total of 42 hours is required, including a minor, second major, or other approved program and general electives. To meet one of the general university degree requirements, at least 30 hours of the courses taken at WCU must be at the junior/senior level. Students should consult their advisors during the term before their senior year to create a plan for their Capstone Course. Visit the department’s website at https://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/cas/humanities/history/ to view the eight-semester curriculum guide.