History, Pre-Law BA

History Major

College of Arts and Sciences
Degree BA, History
Department Chair David C. Wright, Jr., PhD

Faculty

Allan W. Austin, Professor of History and Government, BA, MA Bowling Green State University; PhD University of Cincinnati

Jennifer M. Black, Assistant Professor of History and Government, BA, MA Western Michigan University; PhD University of Southern California

Brian F. Carso, Jr., Associate Professor of History and Government, BA, MA University of Rochester; JD State University of NY at Buffalo, School of Law; PhD Boston University

Paul Andrew Fetzer, Visiting Instructor of History and Government, BA Misericordia University; MA Lehigh University

Donald O. Fries, Professor Emeritus of History and Government, BA, MA, University of Michigan; PhD Michigan State University

Thomas Hajkowski, Associate Professor of History and Government, BA Seton Hall University; MA Villanova University, PhD Northwestern University

Louis Maganzin, Professor Emeritus of History and Government, BA St. Bonaventure; MA, PhD Georgetown University

Rebecca Padot, Assistant Professor of History and Government, BA Eastern University; MGA, MPA Fels Institute of Government, University of Pennsylvania; MA , PhD University of Pennsylvania

Christopher A. Stevens, Assistant Professor of History and Government, BA University of Massachusetts-Amherst; MA University of Delaware; PhD Brandeis University

Robert Williams, Assistant Professor of History and Government, BA University of Alabama at Birmingham; MA, PhD University of Houston

David C. Wright, Jr., Professor of History and Government, BA Kenyon College; MA, PhD University of Wisconsin-Madison

Following a major course of study in history provides a student with a strong liberal arts background.  The study of history can broaden a student’s perspective on local, national, and international issues. It fosters an understanding of the complexity of human motivation and action, providing a critical approach to looking at the past. The history program cultivates the ability to think, write, and speak clearly with thoroughness and independence; it includes introductory courses at the 100-200 levels, advanced history electives at the 300-400 levels, advanced political science electives at the 300-and 400 levels, and advanced English electives at the 300-400 levels.

General Requirements

Incoming first-year students seeking admission as history majors must meet the general and specific admissions requirements of the university as stated in this catalog. In cases where the student does not fully meet them, a personal interview is required.

Continuation as a history major requires that the student maintain a minimum of a 2.0 or “C” average in the major and a similar total grade point average. A student on academic probation for two consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the major.

Transfer students must complete all the history requirements as listed in the sequence of courses in this catalog.

Internship

Internships for history majors are assigned on the basis of availability. Pre-law internships are required as a part of the pre-law specialization. Majors who desire to pursue internships must receive prior approval of the department chair or work out the details with the pre-law advisor. Internships may only be taken if the student has a “B” average in the major and is a fully accredited junior or senior.

Recommendation

To receive a recommendation for graduate study or law school, the student must maintain the minimum of a “B” in the major, pre-law specialization, and total grade point average.

Program Goals and Outcomes

The following are program goals for the History major, in which students will:

1. Broaden perspectives on local, national, and international issues
2. Understand the complexity of human motivations
3. Provide a critical approach to looking at the past
4. Cultivate research, writing and oral communication skills
5. Foster cultural understanding

The History major program goals are realized in the following student learning outcomes:

1. Students will identify major events and issues in local, national, and international history and/or politics
2. Students will identify different historical and theoretical perspectives
3. Students will be able to analyze primary and secondary sources
4. Students will be able to use primary and secondary sources to make an argument
5. Majors will write a research paper that asks a significant historical or political science question
6. Majors will present historical, policy, or political arguments and analysis in an oral presentation
7. Majors will identify key attributes of global regions

Pre-Law Specialization
For information contact Brian F. Carso, JD, PhD

The pre-law specialization was developed in accordance with the Association of American Law Schools, which recommends that prospective law students have a broad liberal arts background. The program provides sound preparation for the Law School Admission Test and the graduate study of law.