History, General History Concentration, B.A.

This program is excellent preparation for a wide range of careers. The emphasis on broadly applicable skills such as research, writing, face-to-face communication, and critical thinking prepare graduates for any number of jobs. More specifically, history graduates are especially well suited to work not only as archivists, academic historians, public historians and curators, but also as diplomats, editors, law clerks, librarians, publicists, and writers. A history degree is also superb academic preparation for graduate studies in law, business, and many academic disciplines.

In high school take history, English, geography, government, and foreign languages.

Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree requires a total of 120 units. Students must fulfill General Education & All-University Requirements , residency, unit, and GPA requirements as outlined in the Bachelor’s Degree Requirements . This major includes a Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) certified course.

Major Academic Plans, History, B.A., General History Concentration

Program MAPs represent recommended or possible pathways toward degree completion in four years (or two years for transfer students). Please see an advisor and use the DARS planner to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs.

History, General History Concentration, B.A. MAP

History, General History Concentration, B.A. Transfer MAP

Requirements for the Major (55 Units)

All major courses must be passed with a grade of C- or better.

Core Courses (31 Units)

The following core courses are required for all concentrations.

HIST 209 - Critical History: Theory and Historiography Units: 3
HIST 210 - Historical Methods Units: 4

Survey Courses (12 Units)

Complete 12 units from the following list in consultation with a major advisor.

HIST 104 - Western Civilization to 1650 Units: 3
HIST 105 - Western Civilization, 1650 to Present Units: 3
HIST 106B - Islamic Societies: The Making of the Muslim Middle East Units: 3
HIST 107 - East Asian History to 1644 Units: 3
HIST 108 - East Asian Civilization Since 1644 Units: 3
HIST 109 - Colonial Latin American History Units: 3
HIST 109B - Modern Latin America Units: 3
HIST 110 - United States History to 1877 Units: 3 (Required for the General History and History Education Concentrations)
HIST 111 - United States History from 1877 Units: 3 (Required for the General History and History Education Concentrations)
HIST 200 - World Cultures and History: Prehistory to 1500 CE Units: 3 (Required for the History Education Concentration)
HIST 201 - World Cultures and History: 1500 CE to the Present Units: 3 (Required for the History Education Concentration)
RS 105 - World Religions Units: 3

History Areas (12 Units)

Students must enroll in HIST 210 before enrolling in History Area courses. Complete 12 units from the following list in consultation with a major advisor.

ECON 323 - Economic History of the US Units: 3
ECON 323D - Economic History of the US - Additional Depth Units: 1
HIST 300 - The Era of World War I Units: 3
HIST 300R - The Era of World War I, Research Seminar Units: 1
HIST 301 - The Era of World War II Units: 3
HIST 301R - The Era of World War II, Research Seminar Units: 1
HIST 302 - Environmental History of China Units: 4
HIST 303 - Three Revolutions: Haiti, Mexico, Cuba Units: 3
HIST 303R - Three Revolutions: Depth Experience Units: 1
HIST 304 - Drinking and Drunkenness in the Early Modern Atlantic World Units: 3
HIST 304R - Drinking and Drunkenness Research Seminar Units: 1
HIST 305 - The American West Units: 3
HIST 305M - The American West Depth Experience Units: 1
HIST 307A - History of Science from the Renaissance to Alexander von Humboldt Units: 3
HIST 307B - History of Science Since Alexander von Humboldt Units: 3
HIST 307R - History of Science: Research Seminar Units: 1
HIST 308 - History of Women in the United States Units: 3
HIST 308R - History of Women in the United States, Research Seminar Units: 1
HIST 309 - Environmental History of Latin America Units: 3
HIST 309R - Environmental History of Latin America Depth Experience Units: 1
HIST 314 - Ancient Greek Civilization and History Units: 4
HIST 315 - History and Civilization of Rome Units: 4
HIST 319 - Emergence of the Modern Middle East Units: 4
HIST 322 - The Age of Knights and Monks Units: 4
HIST 323 - Gender and Sexuality in East Asian History Units: 4
HIST 324 - The Arab-Israeli Conflict: History, Narratives and Nationalism Units: 4
HIST 326 - History of Mexico Units: 4
HIST 327 - History of Brazil Units: 4
HIST 328 - Women and Gender in Latin America Units: 4
HIST 329 - Imperial China Units: 4
HIST 338 - Modern Chinese History Units: 4
HIST 339 - Modern Japanese History Units: 4
HIST 342 - Musketeers, Witches and Kings Units: 4
HIST 343 - French Revolution and Napoleon Units: 4
HIST 345 - Imperialism Units: 4
HIST 348 - Modern Germany Units: 4
HIST 349 - Renaissance and Reformation Units: 4
HIST 350 - History of the Soviet Union Units: 4
HIST 353 - Modern Britain Units: 4
HIST 368 - Colonial and Revolutionary America Units: 4
HIST 369 - Age of Jefferson and Jackson Units: 4
HIST 371 - Civil War and Reconstruction Units: 4
HIST 372 - Rise of Modern America, 1877- 1929 Units: 4
HIST 374 - Contemporary America, 1929 to the Present Units: 4
HIST 375A - US Foreign Relations, 1789-1943 Units: 4
HIST 375B - US Foreign Relations, 1943-Present Units: 4
HIST 377 - Vietnam Wars Units: 4
HIST 383 - California History Units: 4
HIST 391 - Special Topics and Interdisciplinary Studies in History Units: 1-4
HIST 392 - Special Topics in European History Units: 1-4
HIST 393 - Special Topics in Non-Western History Units: 1-4
RS 300W - Living Myths: War and Peace Units: 3
RS 301 - Religion in America Units: 3
RS 302W - Cults, Clubs, and New Religious Movements Units: 3
RS 304 - Cultural and Religious Heritage of Africa Units: 3
RS 306 - Gods and Kings in the Ancient Near East Units: 4
RS 332 - Introduction to Islam Units: 3
RS 341 - Spiritual Traditions of India Units: 3

General History Concentration (24 Units)

Area Courses (16 Units)

16 units of “Area” courses, at least eight units of which must be 3+1 ”R” courses.

Practicum (4 Units)

Complete 4 units from the following (all are repeatable):

HIST 387 - International Education Week (IEW) Colloquium Units: 1
HIST 394 - History Conference Units: 1
HIST 395 - Classroom Observation for History Day Units: 1
HIST 396 - International Latino Film Seminar Units: 1
HIST 397 - Weekend Workshops: Variable Topics Units: 1
HIST 320 - Career Workshop Units: 1
HIST 482 - Internship in History Units: 1-3
HIST 491 - Mentoring Units: 1-3

Capstone (4 Units)

HIST 490W - Senior Seminar in History Units: 4

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program.

Locate diverse types of historical evidence; evaluate credibility, position or perspective; and determine how to use appropriately.
Place primary and secondary sources in appropriate historical and historiographical context, with attention to the chronology, geography (local, national, and global), culture and methodology.
Develop a body of historical knowledge that recognizes the causes and consequences of continuity and change over time and analyzes their consequences.
Understand and evaluate different perspectives and arguments, engage with the ideas of other historians and cite them appropriately.
Create a research question, conduct effective and wide-ranging research to procure evidence to support it, formulate a persuasive analytical argument,and communicate it effectively in a written or oral format.
Understand the history of contemporary issues. Understand the dangers of presentism.