Overview
The History department offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in History, a Master of Arts degree in History, and a Ph.D. in Rural, Agricultural, Technological and Environmental History. Many history majors also pursue a minor in another discipline, a second major, or secondary teacher certification.
The department offers a variety of survey courses (2000 series) for first- and second-year students as either general education courses or as introductions to advanced courses in history or other subject areas. In addition to 2000-level survey courses, it offers advanced undergraduate courses in the history of Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the United States, technology and science, agriculture, and other selected topics.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, students should be able to:
- Display the appropriate level of cognitive knowledge of historical themes and events based upon the student’s course of study.
- Display an understanding of past cultures and social organizations, based on the course of study.
- Develop the fundamental methodological skills of the historical craft: the ability to contextualize and analyze primary source evidence; familiarity with the concepts of historical argument and interpretation, and the ability to formulate effective argumentation in written and oral forms; awareness of the basic historiography in selected research area; and the ability to conduct research and to write a historical essay based upon primary and secondary source research. Students receive an introduction to these concepts in HIST 3010 The Historian's Toolbox.
- Display a sophisticated understanding of the relationship between past events and the present. For purposes of outcomes assessment, History majors must complete three credits from the following list: HIST 4950 Historiography and Research Writing; if qualified and willing, one graduate-level research seminar; or if qualified and pursuing teacher certification HIST 4980 Methods of Teaching History/Social Sciences.
Requirements for the History Major
The B.S. in History requires a minimum 36 total credits of HIST with 2.0 GPA or higher including:
- Maximum 12 credits at 2000-level HIST or below
- Minimum 24 credits 3000+ level HIST including:
- HIST 3010 (minimum grade C)
- HIST 4950, EDUC 4980, or HIST graduate-level research seminar (minimum grade C)
- Maximum 12 credits 3000-level HIST in addition to HIST 3010
- Minimum 9 credits 4000-level HIST in addition to HIST 4950, EDUC 4980 or HIST graduate-level research seminar
- Minimum 15 credits 3000+ level HIST taken at Iowa State University
Communication Proficiency requirement: History majors must receive a grade of C or better in ENGL 2500 (or ENGL 2500H), HIST 3010 and HIST 4950 or HIST 4980.
The B.A. in History requires the equivalent of 2 years of college-level study in the same world language. Six credits of electives may be replaced by 6 additional credits of world language.
Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. cultures and communities and a three-credit course in international perspectives. Check (http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html) for a list of approved courses. Discuss with your advisor how the two courses that you select can be applied to your graduation plan.
LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 3000/4000 level. For a history major, 15 credits of history at the 3000/4000 level must be taken at ISU. You must also complete the LAS world language and career proficiency requirements (LAS 2030 Professional Career Preparation).
As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, History students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated for the major.
Teacher Preparation Focus
History majors seeking teacher certification in History/Social Sciences Education must meet all of the requirements of the History major while taking the specific History classes required for certification by the State of Iowa. Students must also meet the requirements of the Secondary Major in Education including PSYCH 2300 and student teaching EDUC 4170. Students will complete the requirements below, earning a minimum grade of B- in all content courses used for licensure and a minimum grade of C in all other required courses.
Also, students complete the requirements for one additional fifteen-credit endorsement in Political Science, Psychology, Economics, Anthropology or Sociology. Specific requirements of each endorsement are available from the history department. Teacher license requirements are established by the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and are subject to change. Recent changes may not be reflected in this catalog, but advisers and faculty will be aware.
| Requirements to complete endorsements in American History and World History. | ||
| HIST 2010 | Introduction to Western Civilization I | 3 |
| HIST 2020 | Introduction to Western Civilization II | 3 |
| One World History pre-1500 | 3 | |
| Cultural Heritage of the Ancient World | ||
or HIST 3310 | History of the Islamic World to 1800 | |
or HIST 3740 | Sex, Gender, and Culture in the Ancient Mediterranean World | |
or HIST 3840 | Roman Italy: An Introduction | |
or HIST 3850 | Study Abroad: Roman Italy: Building the Empire | |
or HIST 4020 | Greek Civilization | |
or HIST 4030 | Roman Civilization | |
or HIST 4050 | Transformations of the Early Medieval World | |
or HIST 4060 | The Birth of Europe in the High Middle Ages | |
or HIST 4070 | Crises of the Late Middle Ages | |
or HIST 4210 | History of Russia I | |
| One European World post-1500 | 3 | |
| HIST 3200 | History of Modern Europe, 1789 to Present | 3-4 |
| or HIST 3250 | Society and Politics in England, 1525-1700 | |
| or HIST 3820 | History and Philosophy of the Scientific Revolution | |
| or HIST 3830 | Technology, Public Science, and European Culture, 1715-Present | |
| or HIST 3900 | World Military History | |
| or HIST 4100 | The Holocaust in History | |
| or HIST 4140 | European Cultural and Intellectual History | |
| or HIST 4190 | History of Modern France | |
| or HIST 4200 | France's Revolutionary Century, 1715-1815 | |
| or HIST 4220 | History of Russia II | |
| or HIST 4230 | The Russian and Soviet Mind: Intellectual and Cultural Life, 1762-1991 | |
| or HIST 4240 | History of Modern Germany | |
| or HIST 4270 | Crime and Policing in England 1550-1850 | |
| or HIST 4280 | Punishment, Mentalities, and Society in England, 1550-1868 | |
| or HIST 4290 | Monstrous London: London's Histories 1500-1800 | |
| or HIST 4310 | Modern England | |
| or HIST 4890 | The World at War | |
| One Non-European World post-1500 | 3 | |
| Africa under Colonial Rule | ||
or HIST 3100 | Africa to 1880 | |
or HIST 3310 | History of the Islamic World to 1800 | |
or HIST 3360 | Ancient China | |
or HIST 3370 | Modern China | |
or HIST 3390 | US-Asian Relations | |
or HIST 3400 | Colonial Latin America | |
or HIST 3410 | Modern Latin America | |
or HIST 4350 | History of the Modern Middle East | |
or HIST 4410 | History of Modern Mexico and Central America | |
or HIST 4420 | Rebellions and Revolutions in Latin America | |
or HIST 4790 | China and the Cold War | |
or HIST 4960C | Advanced Topics in History: Global | |
| HIST 2210 | Survey of United States History I | 3 |
| HIST 2220 | Survey of United States History II | 3 |
| Nine additional credits of U.S. History at the 3000 level and above | 9 | |
| American Popular Culture | ||
or HIST 3390 | US-Asian Relations | |
or HIST 3530 | History of African Americans I | |
or HIST 3540 | History of African Americans II | |
or HIST 3570 | American Family History | |
or HIST 3630 | U. S. Environmental History | |
or HIST 3650 | American Agriculture I: The Maya to McCormick's Reaper | |
or HIST 3660 | American Agriculture II: Homestead Act to GMOs | |
or HIST 3670 | America Eats | |
or HIST 3700 | History of Iowa | |
or HIST 3710 | Mexican American History | |
or HIST 3720 | Latina/o History | |
or HIST 3800 | History of Women in Science, Technology, and Medicine | |
or HIST 3860 | History of Women in America | |
or HIST 3870 | First Ladies in U.S. History | |
or HIST 3890 | American Military History | |
or HIST 3910 | American Diplomatic History | |
or HIST 3960B | Topics in History: U.S. and North America | |
or HIST 4490 | US Gilded Age, 1877-1900 | |
or HIST 4500 | Colonial America | |
or HIST 4510 | American Revolutionary Era | |
or HIST 4530 | Law and Society in U.S. History: Crime, Race, Family, Work and Property | |
or HIST 4540 | Early American Republic | |
or HIST 4550 | U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction Era | |
or HIST 4570 | History of American Sexualities | |
or HIST 4580 | U.S. 1900 to 1945 | |
or HIST 4590 | U.S. 1945 to the Present | |
or HIST 4600 | The Great Plains | |
or HIST 4610 | The American South | |
or HIST 4650 | The American West | |
or HIST 4730 | Civil Rights and Ethnic Power | |
or HIST 4820 | Birth, Death, Medicine, and Disease | |
or HIST 4880 | American Stuff, Colonial Times to the Present | |
or HIST 4890 | The World at War | |
or HIST 4960B | Advanced Topics in History: U.S. and North America | |
| HIST 3010 | The Historian's Toolbox | 3 |
| EDUC 4260 | Principles of Secondary Education | 3 |
| EDUC/HIST 4980 | Methods of Teaching History/Social Sciences | 3 |
| Total Credits | 42-43 | |
Four Year Plans
History, B.S.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | History Choice - 2000 Level | 3 |
| History Choice - 2000 Level | 3 | Natural Science Choice | 3 |
| Social Science Choice | 3 | Humanities Choice | 3 |
| Humanities Choice | 3 | Math Choice | 3 |
| Natural Science Choice | 3 | Social Science Choice | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | 1 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 2500 | 3 | HIST 3010 | 3 |
| History Choice - 2000-3000 Level | 3 | History Choice - 2000/3000 Level | 3 |
| World Language/Elective | 3-4 | World Language/Elective | 4 |
| Humanities Choice | 3 | Natural Science Choice | 2 |
| Social Science Choice | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| LAS 2030 | 1 | ||
| 16-17 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| History Choice - 3000/4000 Level | 3 | History Choice - 3000/4000 Level | 3 |
| History Choice - 3000/4000 Level | 3 | History Choice - 4000 Level | 3 |
| Elective | 9 | Elective | 8 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| History Choice - 4000 Level | 3 | HIST 4950 | 3 |
| History Choice - 4000 Level | 3 | Elective | 11 |
| Elective | 9 | ||
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Credits: 120-121 | |||
History, B.A.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | History Choice - 2000 Level | 3 |
| History Choice - 2000 Level | 3 | Math Choice | 3 |
| Humanities Choice | 3 | Humanities Choice | 3 |
| Natural Science Choice | 3 | Natural Science Choice | 3 |
| Social Science Choice | 3 | Social Science Choice | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | 1 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 2500 | 3 | HIST 3010 | 3 |
| History Choice - 2000/3000 Level | 3 | History Choice - 2000/3000 Level | 3 |
| Elementary World Language - 1000 Level1 | 4 | Social Science Choice | 3 |
| Humanities Choice | 3 | Elementary World Language - 1000 Level1 | 4 |
| Elective | 1 | Natural Science Choice | 2 |
| LAS 2030 | 1 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| History Choice - 3000/4000 Level | 3 | History Choice - 3000/4000 Level | 3 |
| History Choice - 3000/4000 Level | 3 | History Choice - 4000 Level | 3 |
| Interemediate World Language - 2000 Level | 4 | Intermediate World Language - 2000 Level | 4 |
| Electives | 5 | Electives | 4 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| History Choice - 4000 Level | 3 | HIST 4950 | 3 |
| History Choice - 4000 Level | 3 | Electives | 12 |
| Electives | 9 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
- 1
The BA in History requires the equivalent of 2 years of college-level study in the same world language. Six credits of electives may be replaced by 6 additional credits of world language.
Minor
The department offers a minor in History, which may be earned with 15 credits in History courses, of which at least 9 must be in courses numbered 3000 or above, excluding HIST 4900 Independent Study. A minimum of 9 credits numbered 3000 or above must be taken at Iowa State. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requires students to earn a C or higher in at least 6 of the required 3000-level credits. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement. A student may count a maximum of 3 hours of cross-listed courses originating in another teaching department toward the minor in History. The History minor is most frequently chosen by students majoring in Political Science, English, Journalism, Computer Science, and Business.
Graduate Study
The History Department offers two graduate degrees: an M.A. in History and a Ph.D. in Rural, Agricultural, Technological and Environmental History.
Most history graduate courses are either readings seminars or research seminars. Readings seminars acquaint students with the historical literature of a field and prepare them for careers in teaching and research. Research seminars require students to conduct original historical research and to write research papers reporting the results.
The M.A. in history includes both thesis and non-thesis options. See the departmental website on the M.A. in History for a full discussion of the options and requirements. An M.A. in History serves as the basis for continued study in history, as well as preparation for careers in law, education, business, and government service. Throughout world history human beings have depended on rural and agricultural communities as well as on the technologies developed and employed by these communities to sustain lives. Iowa State's Doctoral Program in Rural, Agricultural, Technological and Environmental History offers a scholarly community and learning environment dedicated to the close examination of pervasive and enduring questions about these basic aspects of human history. Such questions can best be answered through the multi-faceted perspectives provided by rural, agricultural, technological, and environmental history. The result is a dynamic learning experience that leads to comparative and transnational analysis shaped by a broad range of methods drawn from the humanities and social/physical sciences. The Program's aim is to produce students who are excellent researchers and engaging teachers, capable of succeeding in a broad variety of professional positions, both inside and outside of academia.
The Ph.D. in Rural, Agricultural, Technological and Environmental History is designed for students who have completed an M.A. in history. Those who have not yet completed an M.A. will be expected to complete the degree while progressing toward the Ph.D. Thirty semester hours of graduate credit are required for the M.A. and 72 for the Ph.D. Students who continue beyond the M.A. are expected to pass preliminary examinations in four areas of specialization, complete a dissertation, and defend it orally in the Ph.D. final examination. See the departmental website on the program for a full description of requirements.