Bachelor of Arts, Major in History

The Bachelor of Arts in History degree prepares students to analyze and interpret historical events; to locate and evaluate primary and secondary sources; to appraise change over time; to appreciate the range, texture, and diversity of human experiences; and to assess the complex forces at work in the past. The degree prepares students for careers requiring critical and analytical skills, including but not limited to teaching, policy analysis, government, business administration, public history, and archives/library management. The Bachelor of Arts degree requires 36 hours in History, including:  HIST 1301HIST 1302HIST 2311, and HIST 2312; three advanced hours in American history; three advanced hours in European history; and three advanced hours in world history.  Among the hours students take at the 3000-level in American, European, and world history, at least one course must have a primary focus on pre-modern history. All history majors are required to complete at least one 4000-level history course.  At least 12 advanced hours must be taken in residence. 

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.

Bachelor of Arts, Major in History
Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)6
Component Area II (Mathematics) 13
Component Area III (Natural Sciences)8
Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) 23
Component Area V (Creative Arts)3
Component Area VI (U.S. History) 36
Component Area VII (Political Science/Government)6
Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences)3
Component Area IX (Component Area Option)4
Degree Specific Requirements
Foreign Language 2,414
Fine Arts: ARTS, DANC, MUSI, PHIL 3366, or THEA3
Major: Foundation
HIST 1301United States History to 1876 33
HIST 1302United States History Sn 1876 33
HIST 2311World History to 15003
HIST 2312World History since 15003
HIST: American: Select one of the following: 53
Black Civil Rights Movement
History of American Slavery
Era of Amer Revoltn 1763-1789
The History of the West
Eco His: Ind Rev To Present
Mexican Americans Since 1848
Urban and Suburban History
The U. S. & the Vietnam War
US Religious History to 1865
US Religious History from 1865
Early America to 1783
America in Midpassge 1783-1877
Emergence Mod Amerca 1877-1945
Recent America, 1945 to Presnt
The American Civil War
Immigration Ethnicity Amer His
American Women's History
American Diplomatic History
Military & War In America
Native American History
African-American History
America in the 1960s
American Environmental History
The American South
Texas & the Southwest
HIST European: Select one of the following: 53
Mod France: From Rev To Presnt
Renaissance Europe
Germany & Cen Europe Sn 1815
The Bible & Reform in Europe
Eco His: Ind Rev To Present
French Revol & Napoleonic Wars
Black Europe, 1500 to present
Austria-Hungary and its Legacy
World War I (1914-1918)
Germany at War and Peace
Britain to 1714
Modern Britain 1714-Present
Russian History
Modern European Military Hist
Eur-Age Absoltsm/Rev:1648-1815
European History 1815 1914
Ancient History
Medieval History
British Empire & Commonwealth
World War II
HIST World: Select one of the following: 53
The Historian's Craft
Mesoamerican History
African Civilizations to 1800
History of East Africa
War & Revolution in China
Contemporary Latin America
Modern China and Japan
Modern Asian History
Religion in World History
Middle East Since 1700
Early Christianities
Japan: The Age of the Samurai
Silk Roads to Atlantic World
The Middle East, 500 - 1700
Historiography
Topc in Hist of Sci & Medicine
Africa - Past & Present
Colonial Latin America
Modern Mexico
Major: Prescribed Electives
HIST 4000 Level3
HIST 3000 or 4000 Level 12
Electives: General
General Electives10
Minor: Required 6
Minor 18
Total Hours120
1

MATH 1332 is recommended.

2

Three hours of Foreign Language satisfy Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture). 

3

If HIST 1301 and HIST 1302 are used to satisfy Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History), additional hours will be needed to satisfy the minimum total semester credit hours of 120. 

4

Four courses from the same World language is required. 

5

Pre-Modern History Requirement:  Among the 3000-level courses a student takes in American, European, and World History one course must have a primary focus on content in pre-modern history (content dating to before 1600); this can overlap with other requirements.  Please, see below list of courses that fulfill the pre-modern history requirement: 

6

All minors can be paired with this degree program. 

Pre-Modern History Courses 5
HIST 3310Mesoamerican History3
HIST 3311African Civilizations to 18003
HIST 3334Renaissance Europe3
HIST 3337The Bible & Reform in Europe3
HIST 3350Early Christianities3
HIST 3352The Roman Empire to Byzantium3
HIST 3358Silk Roads to Atlantic World3
HIST 3362The Middle East, 500 - 17003
HIST 3363Britain to 17143
HIST 3370Ancient History3
HIST 3371Medieval History3
HIST 3373Topc in Hist of Sci & Medicine3
HIST 3376Early America to 17833
HIST 3391Colonial Latin America3
HIST 3392Native American History3

Notes 

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

A grade of C or higher in all History courses is required. 

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit. 

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area II13Component Area VIII3
Component Area V3Component Area IX1
ENGL 130123ENGL 130223
Foreign Language34Foreign Language34
HIST 130143HIST 130243
 16 14
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area III4Component Area III4
Foreign Language33Foreign Language33
HIST 23113HIST 23123
PHIL 3366 (ARTS, DANC, MUSI, or THEA)3HIST Advanded Elective3
POLS 230553POLS 230653
 16 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area IX3Component Area VI3
Component Area VI3HIST Advanced Elective3
HIST Advanced Elective3HIST: European 7,93
HIST: American6,93Minor106
Minor103 
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
HIST Advanced Elective3General Elective 4
General Elective6HIST Advanced Elective3
HIST: World8,93Minor 106
Minor 103 
 15 13
Total Hours: 120
1

MATH 1332 is recommended.

2

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communication).

3

Four courses from the same World language is required. Three hours of Foreign Language satisfy Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture). 

4

If HIST 1301 and HIST 1302 are used to satisfy Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History), additional hours will be needed to satisfy the minimum total semester credit hours of 120. 

5

Satisfies both the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government) and the major.

6

See, American History Course list below.  

7

See, European History Course list below.  

8

See, World History Course list below. 

9

Pre-Modern History Requirement:  Among the 3000-level courses a student takes in American, European, and World History one course must have a primary focus on content in pre-modern history (content dating to before 1600); this can overlap with other requirements. Please, see below list of courses that fulfill the pre-modern history requirement.

10

All minors can be paired with this degree program. 

American History Courses 6
Select one of the following:
HIST 3322Black Civil Rights Movement3
HIST 3323History of American Slavery3
HIST 3325Era of Amer Revoltn 1763-17893
HIST 3326The History of the West3
HIST 3338Eco His: Ind Rev To Present3
HIST 3340Mexican Americans Since 18483
HIST 3355Urban and Suburban History3
HIST 3361The U. S. & the Vietnam War3
HIST 3374US Religious History to 18653
HIST 3375US Religious History from 18653
HIST 3376Early America to 17833
HIST 3377America in Midpassge 1783-18773
HIST 3378Emergence Mod Amerca 1877-19453
HIST 3379Recent America, 1945 to Presnt3
HIST 3380The American Civil War3
HIST 3382Immigration Ethnicity Amer His3
HIST 3383American Women's History3
HIST 3385American Diplomatic History3
HIST 3386Military & War In America3
HIST 3392Native American History3
HIST 3393African-American History3
HIST 3394America in the 1960s3
HIST 3395American Environmental History3
HIST 3396The American South3
HIST 3398Texas & the Southwest3
European History Courses 7
Select one of the following:
HIST 3328Mod France: From Rev To Presnt3
HIST 3334Renaissance Europe3
HIST 3335Germany & Cen Europe Sn 18153
HIST 3337The Bible & Reform in Europe3
HIST 3338Eco His: Ind Rev To Present3
HIST 3339French Revol & Napoleonic Wars3
HIST 3341Black Europe, 1500 to present3
HIST 3356Austria-Hungary and its Legacy3
HIST 3357World War I (1914-1918)3
HIST 3359Germany at War and Peace3
HIST 3363Britain to 17143
HIST 3364Modern Britain 1714-Present3
HIST 3365Russian History3
HIST 3366Modern European Military Hist3
HIST 3367Eur-Age Absoltsm/Rev:1648-18153
HIST 3368European History 1815 19143
HIST 3370Ancient History3
HIST 3371Medieval History3
HIST 3381British Empire & Commonwealth3
HIST 3387World War II3
World History Courses 8
Select one of the following:
HIST 3300The Historian's Craft3
HIST 3310Mesoamerican History3
HIST 3311African Civilizations to 18003
HIST 3312History of East Africa3
HIST 3317War & Revolution in China3
HIST 3329Contemporary Latin America3
HIST 3330Modern China and Japan3
HIST 3332Modern Asian History3
HIST 3333Religion in World History3
HIST 3336Middle East Since 17003
HIST 3350Early Christianities3
HIST 3351Japan: The Age of the Samurai3
HIST 3358Silk Roads to Atlantic World3
HIST 3362The Middle East, 500 - 17003
HIST 3369The World In The 20Th Century3
HIST 3373Topc in Hist of Sci & Medicine3
HIST 3389Africa - Past & Present3
HIST 3391Colonial Latin America3
HIST 3397Modern Mexico3
Pre-modern History Courses 9
HIST 3310Mesoamerican History3
HIST 3311African Civilizations to 18003
HIST 3334Renaissance Europe3
HIST 3337The Bible & Reform in Europe3
HIST 3350Early Christianities3
HIST 3352The Roman Empire to Byzantium3
HIST 3358Silk Roads to Atlantic World3
HIST 3362The Middle East, 500 - 17003
HIST 3363Britain to 17143
HIST 3371Medieval History3
HIST 3373Topc in Hist of Sci & Medicine3
HIST 3376Early America to 17833
HIST 3391Colonial Latin America3
HIST 3392Native American History3

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

A grade of C or higher in all History courses is required. 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The BA in History is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • Engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities while promoting civil discourse and civic participation.
  • Express ideas in written, oral, and visual communication.
  • Think critically and analytically.
  • Build an informed belief system by synthesizing knowledge and posing questions about different societies and cultures.