As an integral part of a liberal arts education, history courses introduce students to different historical eras, diverse cultures, famous and ordinary women and men, and a variety of geographical settings. Our courses challenge students to think critically, express themselves clearly, and become informed and responsible citizens in an increasingly interconnected world. Students majoring or minoring in history may become teachers or seek employment in business or government. History is an excellent background for those who wish later to go to law school or enter journalism.
A student graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in History is required to demonstrate proficiency (beginning, intermediate or advanced) in a foreign language. Proficiency can be demonstrated by:
Core Curriculum - 42 hours
The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculumas outlined below.
The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once.
The courses listed below fulfill core curriculum and major requirements. Students who have completed a core curriculum category with courses other than those listed below will still be required to take the listed course(s) to meet major requirements.
040 Language, Philosophy and Culture - 3 hours
090 Integrative and Experiential Learning - 6 hours
Major Requirements – 36 Hours
Required Courses - 6 hours
History Core
Prescribed Electives - 30 hours
This degree plan includes courses that appear in more than one section of the degree plan. Except for core curriculum courses, such courses can only be used to fulfill one requirement on the degree plan and credit hours will only be applied once.
United States History - 6 hours
Choose from:
| HIST 3320 | Colonial America to 1763 | 3 |
| HIST 3321 | The United States, Revolution, and the New Nation, 1763-1815 | 3 |
| HIST 3322 | Rise of the American Nation, 1815-1848 | 3 |
| HIST 3323 | Era of Sectional Conflict, 1848-1877 | 3 |
| HIST 3324 | The Emergence of Modern America, 1877-1929 | 3 |
| HIST 3325 | Twentieth Century America | 3 |
| HIST 3326 | Indians of North America | 3 |
| HIST 3327 | The American Military Experience | 3 |
| HIST 3328 | History of the American Presidency | 3 |
| HIST 3329 | American Legal History | 3 |
| HIST 3330 | The United States as a World Power | 3 |
| HIST 3331 | Women, Gender, and Sexuality in American History | 3 |
| HIST 3332 | Mexican-American History | 3 |
| HIST 3333 | Texas History | 3 |
| HIST 3334 | History of the American West | 3 |
| HIST 3335 | American Environmental History | 3 |
| HIST 3336 | Spanish Borderlands to 1821 | 3 |
| HIST 3338 | United States-Mexico Borderlands after 1821 | 3 |
| HIST 3339 | Slavery in the Americas, 1492-1888 | 3 |
| HIST 3382 | Asian American History, 1849 to 2001 | 3 |
| HIST 4315 | Discovering the Rio Grande Valley | 3 |
| HIST 4323 | History of the Old South | 3 |
| HIST 4324 | History of the New South since 1877 | 3 |
| HIST 4325 | The United States: War, Prosperity, and Depression, 1917-1945 | 3 |
| HIST 4326 | The United States since 1945 | 3 |
| HIST 4327 | History of the American Family and Childhood | 3 |
| HIST 4329 | Black History and Thought | 3 |
| HIST 4330 | Race and Ethnicity in America | 3 |
| HIST 4331 | Mexican-American Civil Rights | 3 |
| HIST 4332 | Chicano Movement | 3 |
| HIST 4333 | Food and Agricultural History | 3 |
| HIST 4392 | Special Topics in United States History | 3 |
European History, Latin American History, World History, Asian/Middle Eastern History - 6 hours
European History - Choose from:
Latin American History - Choose from:
World History - Choose from:
Asian/Middle Eastern History - Choose from:
Additional History Electives - 18 hours
Choose from additional advanced History (HIST) courses except HIST 3301.
Minor - hours will vary
Minors vary in credit hours required. If applicable, the credit hours in the minor selected may impact the number of free electives required to reach the 120 credit hours needed to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Free Electives - hours will vary
The B.A. in History requires free elective credit hours. The number of free electives required for the B.A. in History is contingent on the credit hours of the minor selected.
Advanced hours will vary to meet the minimum 42 advanced institutional credit hour requirement for a bachelor’s degree.
Total Credit Hours: 42