Bachelor of Arts in History

History is a foundational academic discipline providing perspective and context for meaningful citizenship and considered lives. The YSU Program in History provides outstanding preparation for rewarding careers in education and research, law, media and journalism, business and consulting, museum curation and historic preservation, and much more. The study of History also offers something even more valuable: vital skills and perspectives not tied narrowly to specific and often transient jobs, technologies, or circumstances, but broadly applicable and always relevant in an ever-changing world. These include critical thinking, analytical and research skills, cogent argumentation, and communication in both traditional and digital formats, historical imagination, and a deeper understanding of the human condition. Our programs emphasize hands-on, experiential learning in methodology and research – as well as in traditional content – at all curriculum levels.

Program requirements are simple and flexible, allowing timely completion and student-driven choice of content focus. Students will take two introductory level courses (from a choice of four), nine upper division courses (mixing American and World offerings, with at least two from each), and a Capstone project.

Beyond the Major itself, it is recommended that students consider choosing elective courses across other disciplines in the social sciences and the humanities. Particular attention is called to courses offered in Anthropology, Geography and GIS, Political Science, Philosophy, and Sociology. Students contemplating graduate work in history should consult early and often with History faculty and the Program Coordinator.

COURSE TITLE S.H.
FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS
YSU 1500Success Seminar1-2
or SS 1500 Strong Start Success Seminar
or HONR 1500 Intro to Honors
General Education Requirements
ENGL 1550Writing 13-4
or ENGL 1549 Writing 1 with Support
ENGL 1551Writing 23
CMST 1545Communication Foundations3
Mathematics Requirement3
Arts and Humanities (6 s.h. Select two courses)6
Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) (6-7 s.h.)7
Social Science (6 s.h.) Introductory courses in major full fill this requirement0
Social and Personal Awareness (6 s.h. Select two courses)6
Foreign Language Requirement
FNLG 1550Elementary Foreign Language (or FNLG 1505)4
FNLG 2600Intermediate Foreign Language (or FNLG 1506)4
Major Requirements
Introductory Courses
Select any two of the following courses6
World Civilization to 1500
World Civilization from 1500
Turning Points in United States History 1
Turning Points in United States History 2
Upper Divison Courses
Select nine courses total from groups A (American) and B (World). You must complete at least two courses from each category.27
Group A - American History
American Military History
The Atlantic World 1
Early America
Nineteenth Century America
United States in Crisis: 1900-1945
Introduction to Historic Preservation
Constitutional History of the United States
History of American Sports
History of Women in the United States
The Black Experience in American History
History of Organized Crime in the United States
The Vietnam War 1
Labor in United States History
History of Ohio
The Second World War
Select Problems in American History
Practicum in Historic Preservation
Historic Preservation Internship
American Material Culture
American Architectural History 1
American Architectural History 2
Conservation of the Historic Built Environment
Group B - World History
Ancient History 1
Ancient History 2
Early Medieval Civilization
High Medieval Civilization
Renaissance Europe
The Second World War
Modern Europe, 1715 to the Present
Modern Germany
Global Environmental History: Topics and Methods 1
Russia to 1855
Russia 1855 to Present 1
Britain and Its Empire: 1688 to the Present
The Holocaust
Medieval Britain
The First World War
International Area Study 1
Select Problems in European History
The Atlantic World 1
The Vietnam War
History of African-United States Relations
History of Modern Africa
History of South Africa
Asia to 1500
Global Industrial Revolution
Jewish History
The World since 1945
Genocide and Mass Murder
Middle East 2: The Modern Period
International Area Study
Select Problems in Transnational History
Capstone
HIST 4870Senior Research Seminar3
Minor Requirement12
Students are required to take a minor of their choosing.
Free Electives32
Elective coursework necessary to meet 120 s.h. graduation requirement.
Total Semester Hours120-122
1

All courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. Courses may count in only one category. Seven courses in Groups A and B must be at 3700 level or higher.

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallS.H.
YSU 1500
Success Seminar
or Strong Start Success Seminar
or Intro to Honors
1-2
ENGL 1550
Writing 1
or Writing 1 with Support
3-4
Any TWO from: HIST 1511, HIST 1512, HIST 2605, HIST 2606 6
Gen Ed Math 3
Gen Ed AH 3
 Semester Hours16-18
Spring
CMST 1545 Communication Foundations 3
ENGL 1551 Writing 2 3
Gen Ed AH 3
Gen Ed NS 3
HIST 26XX/37XX 3
 Semester Hours15
Year 2
Fall
Gen Ed NS 4
Gen Ed SPA 3
Foreign Language 1550 4
Minor course 3
HIST 37XX 3
 Semester Hours17
Spring
Gen Ed SPA 3
NAT SCI Gen Ed lecture course 3
FNLG 2600 4
Minor course 3
HIST 37XX 3
 Semester Hours16
Year 3
Fall
HIST 37XX 3
HIST 37XX 3
Minor course 3
Elective 3
Elective 37XX 3
 Semester Hours15
Spring
HIST 37XX 3
HIST 37XX 3
Minor course 3
Elective course 3
Elective course 3
 Semester Hours15
Year 4
Fall
HIST 37XX 3
HIST 37XX 3
Minor course 3
Elective course 2
Elective 37XX 3
 Semester Hours14
Spring
HIST 4870 Senior Research Seminar 3
Minor course 3
Elective 37XX 3
Elective 37XX 3
 Semester Hours12
 Total Semester Hours120-122

Learning Outcomes

  1. (All courses) Students will demonstrate the skills necessary for the historian to analyze information and report findings effectively, by recognizing the difference between primary and secondary resources and being able to critically read and analyze their content; by effectively communicating in written and oral media; and by exhibiting satisfactory critical-thinking and synthesis skills.
  2. (All courses) Students will demonstrate comprehension of the basic concepts that guide the historian’s work, by understanding: the concepts of historiography and that historical interpretation is not fixed but changes over time; the significance of chronologies and the impact of cause and effect; and the importance and impact of cultural diversity on the past and its relevance in the present.
  3. (Applied History Courses only): Students will demonstrate the ability to translate traditional historical scholarship into media meant primarily for non-academic audiences.