Department of History
Location: 200 Archer Building, Phone: (409) 880-8511
Chair: Mary L. Scheer, mary.scheer@lamar.edu
The purpose of the Department of History is to impart a knowledge and understanding of the past to the students enrolled in the university. This objective is based upon the belief that such knowledge and understanding improve the quality of life of individuals and contribute to the welfare of our society. The department seeks to accomplish this objective through a program of continued study and research by its members and its students. Research interests of the department encompass the world.
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Arts in History -120 hrs
Minor in History -18 hrs
Teacher Certification in History, Option 1 (126 hrs)
Teacher Certification in History, Option II, Social Studies Composite, 7-12 (123 hrs)
Master of Arts in History - thesis (30 hrs), non-thesis (36 hrs)
Bachelor of Arts – History Major
The degree of Bachelor of Arts in History will be awarded upon the completion of the following requirements:
- General Requirements: See Core Curriculum posted in degree plans. In addition, students must complete an additional 9 semester hours of the same foreign language, a 2000-level literature course, COMM 1315, and an elective from the approved list.
- Major: HIST 1301, 1302 - American History Surveys — six semester hours; HIST 3321, 3322 - World History — six semester hours; HIST 3390 - Historical Research — three semester hours; Advanced US History — six semester hours; Advanced World History — six semester hours; Advanced US/World History - three semester hours; HIST 4391 - Capstone
- Minor: An approved minor of at least eighteen semester hours. Nine hours must be at the 3000/4000 level.
- Electives: Sufficient approved electives to complete a total of 120 semester hours. Within the 120-semester-hour program there must be a minimum of at least 119 semester hours of courses that may not include physical activity courses, health and wellness courses, music performance classes, and other non-history intern program courses. Nine hours must be at the 3000/4000 level.
- No grade below "C" in ENGL 1301/1302, HIST 1301/1302 and History major requirements.
Recommended Minimum Program of Study
| First Year | |||
| First Semester | Second Semester | ||
| HIST 1301 | 3 | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| ENGL 1301 | 3 | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| MATH 1314 | 3 | ARTS 1303 | 3 |
| ELEM LANG I | 3 | ELEM LANG II | 3 |
| SOCIAL SCI 3 | 3 | COMM 1315 | 3 |
| LIBR 1101 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| HIST 3321 | 3 | HIST 3322 | 3 |
| ENGL LIT 1 | 3 | ENGL LIT 1 | 3 |
| INTERM LANG I | 3 | INTERM LANG II | 3 |
| SCIENCE 2 | 4 | SCIENCE 2 | 4 |
| POLS 2301 | 3 | POLS 2302 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| HIST 3390 | 3 | HIST (ADV WORLD) | 3 |
| HIST (ADV AMER) | 3 | MINOR | 6 |
| MINOR | 3 | Electives | 6 |
| ELECTIVE 4 | 3 | ||
| ELECTIVE | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| HIST (ADV AMER) | 3 | HIST (ADV AMER) | 3 |
| MINOR | 6 | HIST (ADV WORLD/AMER) | 3 |
| ELECTIVE | 6 | MINOR | 3 |
| HIST 4391 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| (120 Total hours) | |||
|
NOTES: 1 ENGL 2300, 2310, 2320, 2322, 2326, 2331, 2371, or 2376 2 BIOL 1406, 1407, 2401, 2402; GEOL 1403, 1404; PHYS 1405, 1407, 1411; or SPSC 1401 3 ECON 1301, 2301, 2302; PSYC 2301; or SOCI 1301 4 ARTS 1301; COMM 1375; DANC 2304; MUSI 1306; PHIL 1330; any course listed in note 3; ENGL 2331 or 2371; or PSYC 2317 |
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Minor in History
Students from other disciplines who wish to minor in history must complete 18 semester hours, consisting of 1301 and 1302, either 3321 or 3322, and 9 semester hours of any 4000 level courses. No grade below a “C” will be counted toward the minor.
Teacher Certification – History
Students wishing to secure a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and the curriculum requirements for a Texas teaching certificate with a teaching field in history may do so by choosing either a B.A. in History, Option I or a B.A. in History, Option II. For information concerning these programs, the student should consult with the undergraduate advisors in the Department of History.
Fast-Track B.A./M.A. Degree in History:
The fast-track B.A./M.A. degree in history is designed to allow truly exceptional, talented, and motivated undergraduate history majors to complete 15 credit hours of graduate study while still an undergraduate and earn both degrees in as little as five years. This is achieved by allowing qualifying undergraduate majors to take a total of five graduate courses in their junior and senior years. Students' graduate coursework earns them dual credit for both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. For information on this program, the student should consult with the undergraduate advisors in the Department of History.
Graduate Program
Applicants for the Master of Arts in History must meet all Graduate College entrance requirements. Their background in history must include two semesters of American history, two semesters of world or western civilization, one advanced course in each area and a course in historical research and writing.
Applicants shall achieve a minimum verbal score of 153 and a minimum analytical score of 3 on the GRE. Two letters of recommendation and one sample of academic writing are also required.
Degree Requirements
- Thesis Option. The thesis option is strongly recommended for those who plan to continue graduate study beyond the masters. The thesis program requires completion of 24 semester hours of coursework; HIST 5300 (Historiography) is required and a minimum of 12 hours must be taken in Seminar, Readings or Directed Readings courses. The student may take 6 graduate hours (class or seminar) in a supporting (minor) field. Six additional hours credit will be given for completion of the thesis. Thesis students must also demonstrate a reading knowledge of one classical or modern foreign language. This requirement may be satisfied by completing the 2312 course in a language OR by passing a nationally recognized standardized language proficiency test OR by completing a reading project administered by the faculty of the Department of History.
- Non-Thesis Option. The non-thesis option is intended to provide a strong foundation in a wide range of historical areas and periods. It is designed for those who do not intend to seek a higher degree. Non-thesis students must complete 36 hours in history. HIST 5300 (Historiography) is required and a minimum of 18 hours must be in Seminar, Readings, or Directed Readings courses. The student may take six hours in an approved minor field. After completing their classwork, students must take a comprehensive written examination which is defended orally. A foreign language is not required for the non-thesis Master of Arts in History.