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WVU Potomac State College Catalog

History, A.A.

  • Overview
  • Faculty
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Major
  • Learning Outcomes

Department website: https://academics.potomacstatecollege.edu/majors/two-year-programs/history

Degree Offered

  • Associate of Arts

Nature of the Program

Why Study History?  To Major in Versatility. 

History is more than names and dates. It’s about learning how we have been shaped by the past and how to apply historical knowledge and analysis to issues facing contemporary societies. 

A history degree prepares you for a modern economy with analytical skills and a deeper understanding of how the world works.

History majors learn to take nothing for granted, and the historical perspective that they acquire enables them to position themselves (professionally and in private life) in ways that enable them to use their acquired skills effectively.

Historians ask: What are the causes of today’s global conflicts? How does technological and economic change affect the lives of ordinary people? How have our institutions and ideas developed over time? By studying history, you’ll probe the how and why of events, and above all ask “so what?” You’ll examine a range of historical perspectives that will help you develop the essential tools for being an effective and engaged citizen of the world. 

Dean Frank Mauzy-Sydney Harris History Award

History majors have the opportunity to win the Mauzy-Harris History Award.  Mr. Sydney Harris is a Pittsburgh businessman who founded the award to honor his history professor and former Dean of Potomac State College, Frank Mauzy.  The award is given to the student who has earned the highest “A” grades in the most history courses, and the winner receives a cash award through their Banner account.

Career Opportunities

A history degree trains you to analyze evidence, develop conclusions based on that evidence, and communicate those conclusions clearly in both written and oral form. These skills (critical analysis, organizing bodies of information, writing succinctly, and effective oral expression) provide a foundation for a variety of public and private sector jobs that value clear thinking and effective communication. 

The federal government employs historians in the National Archives, Smithsonian Institution, and the U.S. Departments of Defense, the Interior and State. Many history majors also go into teaching, law, politics, business, journalism, public administration, nonprofit management, or graduate study, but a range of opportunities exist. Visit the history website for more information. 


Faculty

Chair

  • Cassandra Pritts - M.A. History (Duquesne University)
    Year @ PSC (2011)

Professor

  • Cassandra Pritts - M.A. History (Duquesne University)
    Year @ PSC (2011)

Admissions

Entering freshmen are admitted directly into the major. 

Benchmark Expectations

History majors must earn a C- or better in all required History courses for graduation. All majors must meet with their advisor every semester. Students who do not meet these benchmarks may be removed from their major.

Students planning to continue at WVU-Morgantown must have a 2.2 GPA in History.

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric3-6
ENGL 101
& ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103
Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning3-4
F4 - Society & Connections3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)9
Total Hours31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
A minimum grade of C- is required in all HIST courses.
GEF Elective Requirements (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)18
ENGL 101
& ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research (GEF 1)
6
WVUE 191First Year Seminar1
Select three of the following HIST Introductory courses (GEF 8):9
HIST 101
European History: Antiquity to 1600
HIST 102
European History since 1600
HIST 152
Growth of the American Nation to 1865
HIST 153
Making of Modern America: 1865 to the Present
HIST 179
World History to 1500
HIST 180
World History Since 1500
Select one of the following HIST Concentration Area courses:3
HIST 209
Twentieth Century Europe
HIST 250
West Virginia
HIST 261
Recent America: The United States since 1918
Foreign Language (GEF 7 and 8)6
Elective17
Total Hours60

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
WVUE 1911ENGL 101 (GEF 1)3
HIST Introductory Course (GEF 8)3HIST Introductory Course (GEF 8)3
Foreign Language (GEF 7)3Foreign Language (GEF 8)3
Electives2GEF 23
GEF 23GEF 33
GEF 43 
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENGL 102 (GEF 1)3HIST Concentration Area Course3
HIST Introductory Course3GEF 63
GEF 53Electives9
Electives6 
 15 15
Total credit hours: 60

Major Learning Outcomes

History

Upon successful completion of the A.A. degree, History majors will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate general knowledge of the facts, concepts, and approaches of history;
  2. Critically analyze and assess primary sources;
  3. Critically analyze and assess secondary sources;
  4. Conduct original historical research and report results orally and in writing;
  5. Produce historical essays that are coherent, grammatically correct, and use proper historical documentation.
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  • Physical Education-​Physical Education Teacher Emphasis
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WVU Potomac State College

Information

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P.O. Box 6878
Morgantown, WV 26506
Email: registrar@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-5355

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