History B.A.

Degree Requirements

A major in History is achieved by completion of the following requirements, in addition to the General Education and electives required for a degree:

Required Core Course

HIS 200

Intro to Historical Study

1 Course Credit

Required Capstone Course

HIS 406

Senior Seminar in History

1 Course Credit

NOTE: In extraordinary circumstances, a student may petition to substitute HIS 490A or HIS 490B for HIS 406

Required Distribution Courses

Seven (7) additional HIS course credits selected by the student in consultation with the Academic Advisor and ensuring that the following distributive criteria are met:

Minimum of four (4) HIS courses at the 200- to 400- level, two of which must be at the 300- or 400- level. (Neither HIS 200 nor 406 may be used to fulfill any of these.)

Minimum of one (1) course credit each from American, European, and Non-Western areas (see list below)

Minimum of one (1) course credit in which the bulk of the course content is pre-1700 (see list below)

Approved Required Distribution:

The following courses have been approved to satisfy specific Required Distribution Courses.

(NOTE: Students may petition to have transferred courses, independent studies, team initiated studies, internships, directed studies, and other academic experiences counted toward the distribution courses within the major.)

It is the intention of the Program that a single course can meet one or more of these distributive requirements. For example, HIS/REL 215: History of Christianity to 1600 could serve as a 200-level class and meet the European and pre-1700 requirements, thus fulfilling three of the seven required distribution courses.

American:

HIS 161	American History to 1865	1 Course Credit
HIS 162	American History Since 1865	1 Course Credit
HIS 165/AFR 165	Intro to Afr Amer His(AFR)	1 Course Credit
HIS 201/PSC 201	Amer Political Thought(PSC)	1 Course Credit
HIS 253/APS 253	Appalachian America (APS)	1 Course Credit
HIS 310	Seminar in U. S. History	1 Course Credit
HIS 355	Sem in American Rel Hist (REL)	1 Course Credit
HIS 356/AFR 356	Sem: African-Amer History(AFR)	1 Course Credit

European:

HIS 101	Western Civilization I	1 Course Credit
HIS 102	West Civ II:Std in Gendr (WGS)	1 Course Credit
HIS 130	Albion & Eire: British Isles	1 Course Credit
HIS 131	Britain & the Emp, 1688 to Pre	1 Course Credit
HIS 140/SPN 140	History of Spain (SPN)	1 Course Credit
HIS 209	Classical Greek Civilization	1 Course Credit
HIS 210/LAT 210	Classical Roman Civ (LAT)	1 Course Credit
HIS 215	Christianity to 1600 (REL)	1 Course Credit
HIS 311	Seminar: Medieval History	1 Course Credit
HIS 314	Renaissance and Reformation	1 Course Credit
HIS 315	19th Cent Europe:Rev&Indus Nat	1 Course Credit
HIS 316	20th Cent Europe:Div & Recon	1 Course Credit
HIS 335	Topic Sem-Modern European His	1 Course Credit

Non-Western:

HIS 122/AST 122	History of China (AST)	1 Course Credit
HIS 123/AST 123	History of Japan (AST)	1 Course Credit
HIS 175/PSC 175	His & Pol of Arab-Isr (PSC)	1 Course Credit
HIS 223	Hist of Pre-Modern Middle East	1 Course Credit
HIS 224	20th Century World History	1 Course Credit
HIS 240/REL 240	Islam (REL)	1 Course Credit
HIS 260/AFR 260	Survey of African His (AFR)	1 Course Credit
HIS 270	Recent History of Middle East	1 Course Credit
HIS 322/AST 322	Sem in Chinese History (AST)	1 Course Credit
HIS 323/AST 323	Sem in Japanese History (AST)	1 Course Credit

Pre-1700:

HIS 101	Western Civilization I	1 Course Credit
HIS 130	Albion & Eire: British Isles	1 Course Credit
HIS 202/REL 202	Christians & Pagans (REL)	1 Course Credit
HIS 209	Classical Greek Civilization	1 Course Credit
HIS 210/LAT 210	Classical Roman Civ (LAT)	1 Course Credit
HIS 215	Christianity to 1600 (REL)	1 Course Credit
HIS 223	Hist of Pre-Modern Middle East	1 Course Credit
HIS 240/REL 240	Islam (REL)	1 Course Credit
HIS 311	Seminar: Medieval History	1 Course Credit
HIS 314	Renaissance and Reformation	1 Course Credit

Required Collateral Courses

A foreign language through the third (103) level. Any student who has taken the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) examination and been admitted to Berea College is not required to take further course work in foreign languages. Students who have proven proficiency through the 103 level also are exempted. Students who have taken the TOEFL examination, and those who have proven proficiency through the 103 level, are required to meet the International Perspective either through further language study or through the World Culture option for that Perspective.

Exploring the Major — Students considering History as a major should begin exploring the discipline through any of the several introductory courses by choosing one or more that appeals to them. Most 100-level can serve this purpose. Students also should begin the study of at least one foreign language as early as possible.

Admission to the Major — Successful completion with a C or higher of foreign language to 102 level (or equivalent).

Course Sequencing Considerations (in order to complete degree requirements within eight terms) — HIS 200 should be taken in the Fall Term of the sophomore year. HIS 406 requires senior standing and is offered only once a year.

Proficiency Requirements for Retention in and Completion of the Major — In addition to completing specified course requirements, each student must satisfy program standards for effectiveness in written and oral communication.