2010-2011 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in History
Requirements for a Major in History
Students majoring in history are required to complete at least 39 credit hours, including the four survey courses, a course in the writing of history, and the capstone. Students pursuing teacher certification must also take SST 310 and six 300-level electives in history. Students not pursuing teacher certification must take seven history electives at the 200 or 300 level. Each student will select those courses in consultation with his or her major advisor. Majors must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 in courses in the department and must receive a grade of C or better in HST 300 and 495. The required courses include:
- HST 203 - World History to 1500 A.D. Credits: 3
- HST 204 - World History since 1500 Credits: 3
- HST 205 - American History to 1877 Credits: 3
- HST 206 - American History since 1877 Credits: 3
- HST 300 - Writing History Credits: 3
- HST 495 - Varieties of History (capstone) Credits: 3
B.A. or B.S. Degree Requirements
Students planning to enter a program of graduate study in history should earn a B.A. degree. Candidates for the B.A. degree must demonstrate third-semester proficiency in a foreign language, either by completing successfully a 201-level language course or by passing a proficiency examination in the language chosen. Students who choose to earn a B.S. degree must complete the following cognate sequence:
- CIS 150 - Introduction to Computing Credits: 3
- SS 300 - Research Methods in the Social Sciences Credits: 3
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics Credits: 3
History Electives
The electives in history for all majors must include at least one 300-level course in United States history, European history, and non-Western history. Students pursuing teacher certification must take three additional 300-level history courses plus SST 310. Students not pursuing teacher certification must take four additional electives from HST 210 or 211, HST 301 or 391, or HST 498. Each student will select those courses in consultation with his or her major advisor. Majors must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 in courses in the department and must receive a grade of C or better in HST 300 and 495. Majors seeking teacher certification must maintain a GPA of at least 2.7.
Category 1: U.S. History
- HST 301 - Colonial U.S. History to 1763 Credits: 3
- HST 302 - American Revolution and Federalist Era Credits: 3
- HST 303 - Era of Sectional Conflict and Civil War Credits: 3
- HST 305 - The United States Transformed Credits: 3
- HST 306 - Recent U.S. History, 1930 to Present Credits: 3
- HST 311 - History of Religion in the United States Credits: 3
- HST 312 - History of American Women Credits: 3
- HST 314 - African American History Credits: 3
- HST 315 - Latinos: The Forging of Ethnic Identities Credits: 3
- HST 316 - U.S. Civil Rights Movement History Credits: 3
- HST 317 - History of American Foreign Relations Credits: 3
- HST 318 - History of Democracy in America Credits: 3
- HST 320 - American Indians Credits: 3
- HST 323 - Michigan History Credits: 3
- HST 325 - History of American Sports Credits: 3
- HST 326 - Industrializing America Credits: 3
- HST 327 - History of American Urban History Credits: 3
- HST 328 - Constitutional History of the U.S. Credits: 3
- HST 329 - Intellectual History of the United States Credits: 3
- HST 370 - History of Medicine and Health Credits: 3
- HST 371 - History of Gender, Family, Sexuality Credits: 3
Category 2: European History
- HST 350 - Classical Greece and Rome Credits: 3
- HST 355 - The Middle Ages Credits: 3
- HST 360 - Tudor and Stuart England Credits: 3
- HST 361 - Modern Britain Credits: 3
- HST 363 - European Social and Cultural History Credits: 3
- HST 364 - Renaissance and Reformation Europe Credits: 3
- HST 365 - Early Modern Europe Credits: 3
- HST 370 - History of Medicine and Health Credits: 3
- HST 371 - History of Gender, Family, Sexuality Credits: 3
- HST 376 - History of Witches Credits: 3
- HST 377 - History of Warfare Credits: 3
- HST 384 - Revolutionary Europe, 1789-1900 Credits: 3
- HST 385 - Europe 1900-1945 Credits: 3
- HST 386 - Europe since World War II Credits: 3
- HST 387 - Modern Germany Credits: 3
- HST 390 - Soviet History Credits: 3
Category 3: Non-Western History
- HST 330 - Early Latin America Credits: 3
- HST 331 - Modern Latin America Credits: 3
- HST 333 - Survey of Modern Chinese History Credits: 3
- HST 334 - The Making of the Caribbean Credits: 3
- HST 335 - African Civilizations before 1870 Credits: 3
- HST 335 - African Civilizations Before 1870 Credits: 3
- HST 336 - Africa after 1870 Credits: 3
- HST 337 - The Age of Islamic Empire Credits: 3
- HST 338 - Modern Middle East Credits: 3
- HST 340 - A History of East Asia to 1800 Credits: 3
- HST 341 - A History of East Asia since 1800 Credits: 3
- HST 342 - History of East Asian Religions Credits: 3
- HST 345 - The Ancient Mediterranean and Orient Credits: 3
- HST 372 - From Slavery to Freedom Credits: 3
- HST 374 - Revolution in the Americas Credits: 3
- HST 389 - Russian History Credits: 3
- HST 391 - Russian Thought-Ninth to Twentieth Centuries Credits: 3
Transfer Students
Transfer students seeking a major in history must complete at least 12 credits in history at Grand Valley, including a minimum of two upper-level courses. Ordinarily, transfer students will complete the capstone course (HST 495) at Grand Valley.
Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in History
First Year
- Three General Education Foundation courses
- Two foreign language courses (B.A. candidates)
(B.A. candidates) OR - CIS 150 - Introduction to Computing (3 credits) AND STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits) (B.S. Candidates)
- HST 203 - World History to 1500 A.D. (3 credits)
- HST 204 - World History since 1500 (3 credits)
- MTH 110 - Algebra (4 credits)
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits)
Second Year
- Four General Education Foundation courses
- HST 205 - American History to 1877 (3 credits)
- HST 206 - American History since 1877 (3 credits)
- HST 300 - Writing History (3 credits)
- One elective
- SS 300 - Research Methods in the Social Sciences (3 credits) (B.S. candidates)
- One foreign Language course (B.A. candidates)
Third Year
- Three 300-level history courses
- Five elective courses (non teachers)
- SST 310 - Strategies for Social Studies Teachers (3 credits) (teacher cert. candidates)
- Four elective courses (teacher cert. candidates)
- Two General Education Theme courses
Fourth Year
- Three 300-level history courses
- One General Education Theme course
- Six elective courses
- HST 495 - Varieties of History (capstone) (3 credits)
Additional Course Information
Courses on the 100 level are introductory courses designed to fulfill the general education requirement in Historical Perspectives. Courses on the 200 level are introductory courses designed to prepare students for advanced study in history; HST 203 also fulfills the general education requirement in Historical Perspectives. Courses on the 300 level focus on particular regions, era or themes; they are intended for history majors and minors, social studies majors, and other interested students. All 300- and 400-level courses have prerequisites; 600-level courses are intended for graduate students and very well-qualified seniors.
We strongly encourage students to seriously contemplate taking advantage of the various semester and year-long study abroad opportunities offered by Grand Valley State University. History courses taken abroad may count toward the major or minor if granted prior permission by the Department of History chairperson.