History - Degrees

You are in the official 2008-2009 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.

Department of History

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
History Major

A grade of C or higher is required for all courses to be counted toward the major.

Major requirements (45 units)
Lower-division requirements: HIST 1, 2, and 4 (9 units)
Select two: HIST 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 (6 units)

Upper-division requirements:
HIST 100 (3 units)
Select nine courses from the fields listed on this page (27 units)

General Education requirements (51 units)

Electives and remaining degree requirements* (27 units)
(see Degree Requirements); may be used toward a double major or minor

Total (120 units)

Advising Notes

HIST 4 is required before enrollment in HIST 100 for all students catalog year 2004-05 to present.
It is strongly recommended that history majors take both HIST 11 and 12.
No General Education Integration or Multicultural/International course offered by the Department of History may be used to satisfy the General Education requirements for history majors.
History majors are not permitted to take history courses by CR/NC grading.
General Education and elective units may be used toward a double major or minor (see double major or departmental minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for further information.
Students who are planning to do graduate work in history are advised to take a foreign language as an undergraduate in consultation with the History Department.
HIST 100 should be scheduled in consultation with the undergraduate adviser.
All majors must take a total of 27 units from the three fields listed below, taking into account the following requirements:
--- Students must take a minimum of two courses (6 units) in each field, with at least one from A and one from B in the European History Field.
--- Up to 3 units of HIST 190 may be applied toward the major.
--- HIST 190 may not be taken in lieu of a course offered by the department. Students should have taken courses in the appropriate field prior to taking HIST 190.
---No more than 3 units of HIST 193 can be applied to any one field.

Fields

United States History: HIST 101, 102T, 137, 158, 159, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179T, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 190, 193.

European History: (A) HIST 103, 111, 112, 116, 119T, 121, 122, 124T, 125, 126, 127, 130, 131, 144, 150, 190, 193. (B) HIST 104, 129T, 132, 133, 134, 135, 138, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 149T, 151, 152, 190, 193.

World Regions: HIST 105, 106, 107, 108A, 108B, 109T, 110, 114, 115, 157, 160, 162, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169T, 190, 191, 192, 193, 199T.

History Minor

The History Minor consists of 18 units of upper-division history courses, which should be chosen in conjunction with an adviser in the History Department. History minors are not permitted to take history courses by CR/NC grading.

Note: The History Minor also requires a 2.0 GPA and 6 upper-division units in residence.

Credential Program

See the Social Sciences credential adviser, Social Science Building, Room 102, for advising, and refer to Secondary Teaching Credential under Social Science Programs.

American History Requirement

The American history requirement for graduation may be fulfilled by passing (a) the Advanced Placement Examination (see Advanced Placement) or (b) HIST 11 or 12.

Graduate Program

The Master of Arts program in History is designed to extend the competence of persons engaged in a wide variety of fields requiring a broad grasp of historical knowledge, techniques, and interpretation. Within this degree program, students may choose to complete either a traditional track or a teaching option. The traditional track, which offers both thesis and examination as possible culminating experiences, best satisfies the needs of those interested in public service, teaching at the community college level, or pursuing advanced graduate study in history. The teaching option best satisfies the needs of those interested in enhancing their teaching of history primarily at the secondary level.

Prerequisites. Admission to the Master of Arts degree program in History assumes undergraduate preparation equivalent to this university's major in history. Majors from other disciplines may qualify for admission depending on grade point average and other factors deemed pertinent for success in historical studies. The department determines in each case whether the applicant needs additional preparation before receiving classified standing. Applicants to the Teaching Option must have either a teaching credential or special approval from the graduate coordinator prior to applying.

Graduate Writing Requirement. The graduate writing requirement will be met by submission of a 15- to 20-page research paper formatted according to disciplinary style. The graduate writing committee will meet twice a year - November 15 and March 14 - to assess student writing. Detailed guidelines can be found in the Department of History's Graduate Student Handbook or by consulting the graduate coordinator.

Master of Arts Degree Requirements

(See Division of Graduate Studies.)

The History Department offers a 30-unit Master of Arts program with a traditional track and a teaching option. The traditional track offers two different Culminating Experience choices, as described below:

Traditional Track

A. Core (15 units)
HIST 200A, 200B, 210T, 220T, 230T
Note: HIST 200A/B must be taken within the first year of enrollment in the history program.

B. Electives (6 units)
Students will select 6 additional units from HIST 210T, 220T, 230T. (Students may repeat course numbers but may not repeat topics.)

C. Independent Study (3 units)
Students will select 3 units of either HIST 290 or 292.

D. Culminating Experience (6 units)

I. Thesis option: 6 units of HIST 299A-B.

II. Examination option: 6 additional units from HIST 210T, 220T, or 230T, plus a written comprehensive examination in three fields chosen from among the following. (No more than two fields may be taken from any group.)

Group I: (a) Ancient History, (b) Medieval History, (c) Early Modern Europe to 1815, (d) Modern Europe since 1815.

Group II: (a) The United States to Reconstruction, (b) The United States since Reconstruction.

Group III: (a) Latin America, (b) Asia, (c) Africa.

Total (30 units)

No more than two examinations may be taken from any group. Not all fields will be available at all times.

Comprehensive examinations are given during the first week in November and the first week in April of each year. If students fail an exam they will be allowed to retake it once. For other specifics, consult the department graduate adviser; for general requirements see the Division of Graduate Studies and Research.

Teaching Option

A. Core (15 units)
HIST 200A, 200B, 210T, 220T, 230T
Note: HIST 200A/B must be taken within the first year of enrollment in the history program.

B. Electives (6 units)
Students will select 6 additional units from HIST 210T, 220T, 230T. (Students may repeat course numbers but may not repeat topics.)

C. Practicum (6 units)
HIST 296 and 297

D. Culminating Experience (3 units)
Project: HIST 298

Total (30 units)

Foreign Language Requirement. Students on the traditional track (either Thesis or Examination choice) must pass a reading competency examination in at least one foreign language approved by the graduate adviser before being advanced to candidacy. With the prior approval of the graduate adviser, a foreign language readings course may be substituted for the exam.

Graduate Writing Requirement. History graduate students in all tracks/options must fulfill the Graduate Writing Requirement (see graduate program coordinator for more information.)