History
Department

Program Overview

Major Requirements | Minor Requirements | Useful Articles

The discipline of history is at the core of a liberal arts education, illuminating the ideas, institutions, and sentiments by which people have attempted to order their world. The St. Mary’s College History Department exposes students to the richness and diversity of human history over time and in different geographic regions. In the course of their studies, students will develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their culture, and humanity in general. To broaden their knowledge, students are expected to take a range of courses in American, European, Asian, African, Latin American, and ancient history. In addition, our classes span the centuries, from the earliest history to the modern day and are based on diverse methodologies, including political, social, intellectual, and cultural history. Students also enjoy opportunities to gain hands-on experience in colonial history, archeology, and museum studies at Historic St. Mary’s City, which is affiliated with the College. The practice of history relies heavily on critical reading and many forms of analytical and narrative writing. Carrying out historical research and reporting their discoveries both in written form and orally, students develop their ability to listen and think critically and to communicate effectively. Students will also learn to think historically and to appreciate the contested nature, limits, and possibilities of historical knowledge as they explore the ways in which historians have interpreted the past. The study of history at St. Mary’s College thus lays a sound foundation for the future pursuit of a wide range of careers, including law, public policy, foreign service, library science, public history, academia, journalism, and international business.

Degree Requirements for the History Major

To earn a bachelor of arts degree with a major in history, a student must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

1.    General College Requirements.

2.    A total of 48 semester-hours of history courses, 36 of which must be at the 300 or 400 level.

3.    4 semester-hours from one of the following courses:
      HIST 104, Historical Foundations of the Modern World to 1450
      HIST 105, Western Civilization
      HIST 108, History of the Modern World

4.    8 semester-hours of 200-level history courses.

5.    Area Studies: At least 4 semester-hours in each of the following areas:
   a.   United States (HIST 200, 219, 310, 311, 316, 317, 319, 371, 375, 392,     415, 419, 431)
   b.   Europe (HIST 268, 272, 274, 321, 328, 329, 334, 342, 343, 345, 381, 382,     384, 385, 386, 390, 393, 435, 447)
   c.   Asia, Africa, Latin America (HIST 206, 253, 280, 351, 352, 353, 360, 361, 369, 378, 379, 383, 394, 401, 455, 461)
   d.   Comparative, Thematic, Global (HIST 264, 276, 324, 336, 396, 400, 432, 475)
Cross-listed courses will be assigned to an area studies group by the department chair in consultation with the instructor.

6.    At least 4 semester-hours of an upper-level history course with substantial course content from before the modern era.
       Such courses include HIST 328, 343, 351,   360, 381, 382, 383, 384.

7.    HIST 395, Theories and Uses of History

8.    Senior Project: This requirement may be satisfied by either (a) or (b) below:
    a.  HIST 493/494, St. Mary’s Project in History (8 credits). Students choosing to do a St. Mary’s Project are strongly encouraged to take at least one    400-level history class prior to undertaking their SMP. With the permission of the chair of the History Department, students may do a St. Mary’s Project in anothe department, provided that the project topic is related in content and methodology to the discipline of history.   
    b.  Two 400-level history courses.

9.    A grade of C- or better must be received in each course of the major and the cumulative grade-point-average of courses used to satisfy the major must be at least 2.0.

The student will plan a program with an adviser to make a meaningful combination of courses.  In their final two years, students should seek a balance between 300-level classes and 400-level classes, the latter of which include a 15-page research paper as part of the course requirements.  The following model is suggested as a possible basic program in the major to satisfy the above stipulations:

First Year:

One 100-level class listed under 3 above and one 200-level class.

Sophomore Year:

One 200-level class and 8 semester-hours in two of the fields listed in 5 above.

Junior Year:

HIST 395 in the second semester and 8 semester-hours distributed among the required fields, including at least one 400-level class.

Senior Year:

Either HIST 493/494 and two additional upper-level electives or two 400-level classes and two additional upper-level electives.

Degree Requirements for the Minor

To earn a minor in history, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Completion of General Education Curriculum requirements.
2. At least 24 semester-hours in history, 16 of which must be taken at the 300 or 400 level. History courses should be drawn from at least two of the six areas of study: the United States; Europe; Asia; Africa; Latin America; and Comparative, Thematic, Global.
3. A grade of C- or better must be received in each course of the minor and the cumulative grade-point-average of courses used to satisfy the minor must be at least 2.0.