Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Arts
Nature of the Program
The History and Government program has three essential purposes. First, it is designed to provide the student with insights into historical time periods of the nation and the world, with special emphasis upon political, social, economic, and technological changes. Secondly, it provides a strong background for graduate study in history and related fields; for careers in government, services, and some areas of business; and for positions with historical societies and museums. Thirdly, for students interested in attending law school, the program meets and exceeds the criteria for pre-law curricula established by the American Association of Law Schools.
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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 48 | |
| Program Requirements | 9 | |
| History and Government Major Requirements | 63 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, and 6 | 16 | |
| WVUE 191 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Electives | 31 | |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HUMS 480 | Grant Writing and Documentation | 3 |
| or WRIT 305 | Technical Writing | |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (GEF 4) | 3 |
| COMM 270 & 270S | Presentational Speaking and Effective Public Speaking Studio | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
History and Government Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 152 | Growth of the American Nation to 1865 (GEF 5) | 3 |
| HIST 153 | Making of Modern America: 1865 to the Present (GEF 8) | 3 |
| HIST 179 | World History to 1500 (GEF 7) | 3 |
| HIST 180 | World History Since 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 209 | Twentieth Century Europe | 3 |
| HIST 261 | Recent America: The United States since 1918 | 3 |
| HIST 277 | Revolutions in Science and Technology | 3 |
| HIST 484 | Historical Research-Capstone | 3 |
| POLS 102 | Introduction to American Government (GEF 8) | 3 |
| History Electives (must be 300 or 400 level) | 18 | |
| Restricted Electives may be selected from the following subject codes: ACCT, BMAN, CJ, CRIM, ENGL, FIS, FRNX, HIST, PHIL, POLS, PSYC, SOC (must be at the 300-400 level) * | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 63 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| WVUE 191 | 1 | HIST 153 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| HIST 152 (GEF 5) | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| History Program Entrance Exam | General Elective | 3 | |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| GEF 3 | 3 | POLS 102 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| GEF 2 | 4 | ||
| General Elective | 1 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| HIST 179 | 3 | HIST 180 | 3 |
| History Elective | 3 | HIST 277 | 3 |
| SOC 101 (GEF 4) | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| General Elective | 3 | Restricted Elective (must be 300 or 400 level)* | 3 |
| COMM 270 & 270S | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| HIST 209 | 3 | HIST 261 | 3 |
| Restricted Elective (must be 300 or 400 level) | 3 | Restricted Elective (must be 300 or 400 level) | 3 |
| Restricted Elective (must be 300 or 400 level) | 3 | Restricted Elective (must be 300 or 400 level) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| General Elective | 3 | HIST 484** | 3 |
| History Elective (must be 300 or 400 level) | 3 | History Elective (must be 300 or 400 level) | 3 |
| History Elective (must be 300 or 400 level) | 3 | History Elective (must be 300 or 400 level) | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | HUMS 480 or WRIT 305 | 3 |
| History Elective (must be 300 or 400 level) | 3 | Restricted Elective (must be 300 or 400 level) | 3 |
| Assessment Exam*** | |||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
- **
Courses such as History 484 are offered once every four-semester cycle.
- ***
The Assessment Exam must be taken in the student's last semester prior to graduation.
Public Service Administration Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics * | 3 |
| ECON 430 | Collective Bargaining | 3 |
| or ECON 441 | Public Economics | |
| HUMS 320 | Public Administration | 3 |
| POLS 313 | American Constitutional Law | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
- *
Students will need to satisfactorily complete ECON 201 before enrolling in ECON 202.
Major Learning Outcomes
History and Government
Graduates of this program should be able to:
- Demonstrate a general knowledge of the facts, concepts, and approaches of history
- Critically analyze and assess primary sources
- Critically analyze and assess secondary sources
- Conduct original historical research and report results orally and in writing
- Produce historical essays that are coherent, grammatically correct, and use proper historical documentation