History

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 (200 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 200-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:

1. Display the appropriate level of cognitive knowledge of historical themes and events based upon the student’s course of study
2. Display an understanding of past cultures and social organizations, based on the course of study
3. 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 301 The Historian's Toolbox.
4. 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 495 Historiography and Research Writing; if qualified and willing, one graduate-level research seminar; or if qualified and pursuing teacher certification HIST 498 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:

1. Maximum 12 credits at 200-level HIST or below
2. Minimum 24 credits 300+ level HIST including:
3. HIST 301 (minimum grade C)
4. HIST 495, EDUC 498, or HIST graduate-level research seminar (minimum grade C)
5. Maximum 12 credits 300-level HIST in addition to HIST 301
6. Minimum 9 credits 400-level HIST in addition to HIST 495, EDUC 498 or HIST graduate-level research seminar
7. Minimum 15 credits 300+ level HIST taken at Iowa State University

Communication Proficiency requirement: History majors must receive a grade of C or better in ENGL 250 (or ENGL 250H), HIST 301 and HIST 495 or HIST 498.

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. diversity 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 300/400 level. For a history major, 15 credits of history at the 300/400 level must be taken at ISU. You must also complete the LAS world language and career proficiency requirements (LAS 203 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 230 and student teaching (EDUC 417).  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 201	Introduction to Western Civilization I	3
HIST 202	Introduction to Western Civilization II	3
One World History pre-1500		3
HIST 304	Cultural Heritage of the Ancient World
or HIST 331	History of the Islamic World to 1800
or HIST 374	Sex, Gender, and Culture in the Ancient Mediterranean World
or HIST 384	Roman Italy: An Introduction
or HIST 385	Study Abroad: Roman Italy: Building the Empire
or HIST 402	Greek Civilization
or HIST 403	Roman Civilization
or HIST 405	Transformations of the Early Medieval World
or HIST 406	The Birth of Europe in the High Middle Ages
or HIST 407	Crises of the Late Middle Ages
or HIST 421	History of Russia I
One European World post-1500		3
HIST 318	History of Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789
or HIST 320	History of Modern Europe, 1789 to Present
or HIST 325	Society and Politics in England, 1525-1700
or HIST 382	History and Philosophy of the Scientific Revolution
or HIST 383	Technology, Public Science, and European Culture, 1715-Present
or HIST 390	World Military History
or HIST 410	The Holocaust in History
or HIST 414	European Cultural and Intellectual History
or HIST 419	History of Modern France
or HIST 420	France's Revolutionary Century, 1715-1815
or HIST 422	History of Russia II
or HIST 423	The Russian and Soviet Mind: Intellectual and Cultural Life, 1762-1991
or HIST 424	History of Modern Germany
or HIST 427	Crime and Policing in England 1550-1850
or HIST 428	Punishment, Mentalities, and Society in England, 1550-1868
or HIST 429	"Monstrous London": London's Histories 1500-1800
or HIST 431	Modern England
or HIST 489	The World at War
One Non-European World post-1500		3
HIST 311	Africa under Colonial Rule
or HIST 310	Africa to 1880
or HIST 331	History of the Islamic World to 1800
or HIST 336	History of Modern China I
or HIST 337	History of Modern China II
or HIST 339	US-Asian Relations
or HIST 340	History of Latin America I
or HIST 341	History of Latin America II
or HIST 435	History of the Modern Middle East
or HIST 441	History of Modern Mexico and Central America
or HIST 442	Rebellions and Revolutions in Latin America
or HIST 479	China and the Cold War
or HIST 496C	Advanced Topics in History: Global
HIST 221	Survey of United States History I	3
HIST 222	Survey of United States History II	3
Nine additional credits of U.S. History at the 300 level and above		9
HIST 307	American Popular Culture
or HIST 339	US-Asian Relations
or HIST 353	History of African Americans I
or HIST 354	History of African Americans II
or HIST 357	American Family History
or HIST 363	U. S. Environmental History
or HIST 365	American Agriculture I: The Maya to McCormick's Reaper
or HIST 366	American Agriculture II: Homestead Act to GMOs
or HIST 367	America Eats
or HIST 370	History of Iowa
or HIST 371	Mexican American History
or HIST 372	Latina/o History
or HIST 380	History of Women in Science, Technology, and Medicine
or HIST 386	History of Women in America
or HIST 387	First Ladies in U.S. History
or HIST 389	American Military History
or HIST 391	American Diplomatic History
or HIST 396B	Topics in History: U.S. and North America
or HIST 449	US Gilded Age, 1877-1900
or HIST 450	Colonial America
or HIST 451	American Revolutionary Era
or HIST 453	Law and Society in U.S. History: Crime, Race, Family, Work and Property
or HIST 454	Early American Republic
or HIST 455	U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction Era
or HIST 457	History of American Sexualities
or HIST 458	U.S. 1900 to 1945
or HIST 459	U.S. 1945 to the Present
or HIST 460	The Great Plains
or HIST 461	The American South
or HIST 465	The American West
or HIST 468	History of Rural America
or HIST 473	Civil Rights and Ethnic Power
or HIST 482	Birth, Death, Medicine, and Disease
or HIST 488	American Stuff, Colonial Times to the Present
or HIST 489	The World at War
or HIST 496B	Advanced Topics in History: U.S. and North America
HIST 301	The Historian's Toolbox	3
EDUC 426	Principles of Secondary Education	3
EDUC/HIST 498	Methods of Teaching History/Social Sciences	3
Total Credits		39

Four Year Plans

History, B.S.

Freshman
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
ENGL 150	3	History Choice - 200 Level	3
History Choice - 200 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 160	1
	15		16
Sophomore
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
ENGL 250	3	HIST 301	3
History Choice - 200-300 Level	3	History Choice - 200/300 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 203	1
	16-17		15
Junior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
History Choice - 300/400 Level	3	History Choice - 300/400 Level	3
History Choice - 300/400 Level	3	History Choice - 400 Level	3
Elective	9	Elective	8
	15		14
Senior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
History Choice - 400 Level	3	HIST 495	3
History Choice - 400 Level	3	Elective	11
Elective	9
	15		14
Total Credits: 120-121

History, B.A.

Freshman
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
ENGL 150	3	History Choice - 200 Level	3
History Choice - 200 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 160	1
	15		16
Sophomore
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
ENGL 250	3	HIST 301	3
History Choice - 200/300 Level	3	History Choice - 200/300 Level	3
Elementary World Language - 100 Level1	4	Social Science Choice	3
Humanities Choice	3	Elementary World Language - 100 Level1	4
Elective	1	Natural Science Choice	2
LAS 203	1
	15		15
Junior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
History Choice - 300/400 Level	3	History Choice - 300/400 Level	3
History Choice - 300/400 Level	3	History Choice - 400 Level	3
Interemediate World Language - 200 Level	4	Intermediate World Language - 200 Level	4
Electives	5	Electives	4
	15		14
Senior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
History Choice - 400 Level	3	HIST 495	3
History Choice - 400 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 300 or above, excluding HIST 490 Independent Study. A minimum of 9 credits numbered 300 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 300-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.