History

History Major

By engaging in the fascinating study of how people in the past understood their worlds, graduates from the Department of History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies will be prepared to comprehend and think critically about the present by understanding how it has been shaped by the past. In their studies they will learn how to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of alternative explanations for historical events, how to interpret primary and secondary materials to form valid conclusions, how to analyze components of historical events, and how to synthesize and apply their knowledge in an original research project.

The Department of History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies offers both a B.A. and a B.S. degree in History. The B.A. degree requires the completion of two years of a modern language at the college level and is recommended for students desiring a rich liberal arts education or planning for graduate school or law school (see Bachelor of Arts Requirement using a Second Language). The B.S. degree does not have a modern language requirement but, instead, requires an appropriate minor. Students transferring to NDSU must complete at least 50 percent of their history credits at North Dakota State University. A History Education program of study also is offered between the Department of History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies and the School of Education.

History majors can prepare themselves for careers in secondary education by completing a double major with either a B.A. or B.S. in History with a second major in History Education. The department advises students to choose History as their primary major.

Lists of approved courses for the distribution and sequence requirements and courses recommended for History Education majors are at the department web site.

History Minor

Students who minor in History are required to complete nine credits of 100-200 level History courses and nine credits of 300-400 level History courses.

Plan of Study

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This guide is not an official curriculum. This guide is a sample four-year degree plan of how students might plan this major with other degree requirements to complete their education in four years.Student plans will vary from this sample due to a variety of factors, such as, but not limited to, start year, education goals, transfer credit, and course availability. To ensure proper degree completion, enrolled students should utilize Degree Map and Schedule Planner in Campus Connection and consult regularly with academic advisors to ensure graduation requirements are being met.