History Major

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Program Coordinator/Contact
William Prigge, Department Head
Department of History, Political Science, Philosophy, and Religion
West Hall Room 109
E-mail: will.prigge@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/hist
Click here for additional information.

Program Information
The history curriculum is adaptable to personal interests and needs, allowing students to explore the past and make connections to the present. The Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree in history prepares students for careers in various professional occupations, law, journalism, teaching, business, public service, library sciences, international work, historical research, and provides a necessary background for graduate work or other specialized training.

Student Learning Outcomes
History graduates will be able to effectively communicate, research, analyze, interpret, and apply information in various professional contexts.

Course Delivery Format
The program provides courses online and face to face on campus and at various off-campus attendance centers.

Requirements for History Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements*: 30

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101
, and
ENGL 201
Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SPCM 101
Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences Credits: 6

Institutional Graduation Requirements**: 5

Goal #1 First Year Seminar Credits: 2
Goal #2 Cultural Awareness and Social and Environmental Responsibility Credits: 3

College of Arts & Sciences Requirements: 17-34

Bachelor of Arts

Modern Languages Credits: 3-14 (completion and competency in one language at the 202 level or a department-approved advanced upper division language course)
Social Sciences Credits: 8
Humanities Credits: 6

Bachelor of Science

Natural Science Credits: 14
With 6 credits of Biological Sciences
With 8 credits of Physical Sciences
Social Sciences Credits: 12
Humanities Credits: 8

SGRs, IGRs, and/or Major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Consult program advisor for details. See the College of Arts and Sciences for additional information about Bachelor of Arts Specifications and Bachelor of Science Specifications .

Major Requirements: 36

HIST 111 - World Civilizations I * ** (COM)
Credits: 3
or
HIST 121 - Western Civilization I * ** (COM)
Credits: 3
HIST 112 - World Civilizations II * ** (COM) (G)
Credits: 3
or
HIST 122 - Western Civilization II * ** (COM) (G)
Credits: 3
HIST 151 - United States History I * ** (COM)
Credits: 3
HIST 152 - United States History II * ** (COM)
Credits: 3
HIST 280 - Writing History
Credits: 3
HIST 480 - Historical Methods and Historiography (COM) (AW)
Credits: 3
Upper Division Non-US History Courses Credits: 6
Additional Upper Division Courses (US or Non US History) Credits: 12

Electives: 38-45

Total Required Credits: 120

Curriculum Notes

No more than 6 credits in HIST 491-591 - Independent Study (COM) and HIST 494 - Internship (COM) may be counted toward the major or minor.

No grade below a “C” in history courses may be used to fulfill major and minor requirements.

*The 30 credit Board of Regents System General Education Requirements (SGRs) must be completed as part of a student’s first 64 credits.

** South Dakota State University has a 5 credit Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGRs).

(G) Globalization Requirement.

(AW) Advanced Writing Requirement.

Students must take the proficiency examination after completing 48 credits. English 101, and a course in each of the General Education areas of social science, mathematics, natural science, and humanities and arts must be taken prior to taking this exam.