UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2023-2024

Program Description

The History department offers a B.A. in History for undergraduate students. In the History major, students take a mix of larger survey classes, upper-level classes on more specific topics and several required seminars teaching skills in historical research and critical analysis. Students have many choices of courses and are encouraged to develop areas of interest. The History major is designed to develop skills in critical thinking, research and writing.

Completion of the degree in History will provide students with knowledge of the political, economic, social and intellectual development of the world’s principal civilizations, notably United States civilization, Western civilization and the civilization of one other area of the world. Included also are the principal personalities, events, ideas and relationships that are the basis of historical studies, as well as a knowledge of various historical methods and historiography that will lead to a better understanding of: (a) how historians approach the past; (b) the value and limitations of various kinds of historical writings; and (c) how to explore the evolution of history as an academic discipline.

Social Science Subject Matter Program for the Single Subject Credential

History majors interested in teaching social studies at the middle school or high school level may combine their major program with the Single Subject Social Science Subject Matter Program to meet requirements for entering a Single Subject Credential Program. View Social Science Subject Matter Program for Secondary School Teachers (.pdf) for more information. The departmental advisor also can provide assistance in coordinating the completion of both the major and the subject matter program simultaneously. See also the disclosure statement regarding Programs Leading to Licensure and Credentialing.

Program Requirements

1. General Core Curriculum (15 units)

Choose one course from each of the following:

A.

HIST 110 World History to 1500 (3)
HIST 150 Western Civilization to 1500 (3)
HIST 303 Themes in Western Civilization Before 1500 (3)

B.

HIST 111 World History Since 1500 (3)
HIST 151 Western Civilization since 1500 (3)
HIST 302 Western Cultural Heritage, Modern Age (3)
HIST 304 Themes in Western Civilization After 1500 (3)

C.

HIST 270 The United States to 1865 (3)
HIST 370 Questions in American History to the Civil War (3)

D.

HIST 271 The United States Since 1865 (3)
HIST 371 Questions in American History Since the Civil War (3)

E.

HIST 145 African Civilization to Modern Times (3)
HIST 161 The History of Latin America from Pre-Columbian Times to Today (3)
HIST 185 Middle East from 600CE to the Present (3)
HIST 191 History of Eastern Civilization I (3)
HIST 192 History of Modern East Asia (3)

2. Research Core Curriculum (9 units)

  1. HIST 301 The Historian’s Craft (3)
    (Must be taken in the first 75 units of the major’s college program.)
    (A grade of “C” or better is required for graduation.)
  2. HIST 497A-Z Proseminar (3)
    (Prerequisite HIST 301; a grade “C” or better is required for graduation.)
  3. HIST 498 Tutorial in History (3)
    (A grade “C” or better is required for graduation.)

3. Upper Division Curriculum (24 units)

All units in this section must be upper division. HIST 302, 303, 304, 370 or 371 may not be applied to satisfy these requirements. A minimum of 12 of these 24 upper division elective units must be at the 400- or 500-level.

  1. Upper division European History (3 units)
  2. Upper division U.S. or Canadian History (3 units)
  3. Upper division Asian, African, Middle Eastern or Latin American History (3 units)
  4. Other upper division courses (15 units)

4. General Education (48 units)

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog, including 3 units of coursework meeting the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement.

3 units are satisfied by one of the following courses in the major: HIST 270, HIST 271, HIST 370 or HIST 371 satisfies C3 American History, Institutions and Ideals. (HIST 370 or HIST 371 also fulfills the Information Competence requirement.)

If taken, HIST 150, HIST 151, HIST 303 or HIST 304 satisfies C2 Humanities; HIST 110 and/or HIST 111 satisfies 3-6 units of D1 Social Sciences; and HIST 161, HIST 185 or HIST 192 satisfies 3 units of F Comparative Cultural Studies. (HIST 161 or HIST 192 also fulfills the Information Competence requirement). Some upper division History electives may satisfy General Education requirements. Refer to course descriptions for application in General Education.

Total Units in the Major: 48

General Education Units: 45

Additional Units: 27

Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120

Contact

Department of History
Chair: Jeffrey Auerbach
Sierra Tower (ST) 610
(818) 677-3566
history@csun.edu

Program Learning Outcomes

Students receiving a Bachelor of Arts in History will be able to:

  1. Analyze and explain problems of historical interpretation.
  2. Comprehend, articulate and apply the various approaches to historical analysis.
  3. Learn to read and interpret historical sources critically and analytically.
  4. Express orally and exchange historical ideas.
  5. Select a research problem and search for relevant primary and secondary sources.
  6. Write a research essay using a scholarly format that includes footnotes and bibliography.
  7. Demonstrate a complex understanding of the history of the U.S., Europe and one other region or culture over a period of time.
  8. Understand historical subjects that transcend regional boundaries.

ADT/STAR Act Degree Road Maps

Students who have graduated with a verified Associate Degree for Transfer and have been admitted to a CSUN program that has been deemed similar will be able to complete the baccalaureate degree within 60 semester units. For additional information, see ADT/STAR Act Degree Road Maps.

History - AA-T in Global Studies (2023-Present)

History - AA-T in History (2023-Present)

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