Description
By exploring the past, History enables us to understand the present and shape a better future. The study of History promotes the knowledge, breadth of perspective, intellectual growth, and effective critical thinking, research, communication and problem-solving skills essential to leading a purposeful life, exercising responsible citizenship, and achieving career success. The history major is an excellent launching pad for a wide range of rewarding careers, including law, teaching, business, entrepreneurship, public administration, journalism, information technology/library science, publishing, urban and regional planning, social work, and government.
The Department of History offers students a comprehensive range of courses that covers the world across all time periods and features a diverse array of topics. In addition, it offers a professional development course that helps students reflect on how the study of history can help serve their personal and professional goals after graduation. The History major is flexible, allowing students to select classes that match their interests, and at 36 credits enables students to complete other majors or minors that complement the History degree. This flexibility also allows majors the opportunity to broaden their horizons through study abroad and to explore future career paths through internships coordinated through the Department of History.
In addition to the regular major, the program offers tracks that ensure the breadth of knowledge required for students seeking Childhood Inclusive or Adolescent Social Studies Inclusive teacher certification.
Admission to the Program
Any undergraduate student can declare a major in history.
Program Requirements
General Education Requirements (23-32* credits)
Major Departmental Requirements (36 credits)
Program Requirements
Students in the history major pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree, and must complete the corresponding degree's requirements.
The history major consists of 36 credits of history courses, 18 of which must be 300/400-level courses taken at Brockport. Only courses in which a student earns a grade of "C" or higher will fulfill these requirements. Students entering the College as transfers may be exempted from HST 201 and/or 202 if they have completed corresponding Western Civilization courses at another institution. All other requirements are the same.
History Major
This course of study applies to those students who are pursuing a History major without any teacher certification or with Childhood Inclusive Teacher certification - NOT those pursuing Adolescence Social Studies Inclusive Teacher certification.
- HST 201 Ancient World Seminar*
- HST 202 Modern WorldSeminar*
- HST 211 Seminar in Early America*
- HST 212 Seminar in Modern America*
- ONE course from the following list:
- HST 335 The Roman Empire
- HST 336 Medieval Europe
- HST 337 Early Modern Europe
- HST 343 History of the Soviet Union.
- HST 346 Renaissance and Reformation
- HST 347 Europe in Revolution, 1815-1914
- HST 349 20th Century Europe
- HST 359 European Women*
- ONE course from the following list:
- HST 321 Modern Africa*
- HST 341 Middle East Crisis
- HST 360 Of Silk and Swords: Great Eurasian Empires*
- HST 361 History of Japan: From Samurai to Godzilla
- HST 363 Islam
- HST 365 Medieval Islam
- HST 375 Born in Blood and Fire: Latin America in the Age of Conquest and Empire*
- HST 376 Modern Latin America
- HST 385 Asian Civilizations to 1600
- HST 386 Opium to Hiroshima: Asian Civilizations from 1600
- HST 434 Modern Caribbean History
- HST 438 Women and Gender in Latin-American History
- HST 462 U.S. - Asian Relations
- HST 467 Modern South Asia
- HST 487 Asian Survey
- AAS 320 Pre-Colonial Africa
- HST 390 Research Methods*
- FIVE elective courses in history, including TWO courses at the 400-level, ONE of which must be designated "research intensive"
* Students may apply to substitute one of the required 200-level seminars with a 100-level survey as follows: HST 110 Survey in Early America (Can replace HST 211); HST 120 Survey in Modern America (Can replace HST 212); HST 130 Ancient World Survey (Can replace HST 201); HST 140 Modern World Survey (Can replace HST 202). Students wishing to do so should see their advisor.
History majors pursuing Childhood Inclusive teacher certification must also complete all teaching-related coursework as required by New York State Department of Education and SUNY. Please visit Childhood Inclusive Education Program for current information
History Major - Adolescence Social Studies Inclusive Certification Track
Students intending to prepare for certification as Adolescent Inclusive Social Studies teachers must complete the following track in the History major. History Majors in the Adolescence Social Studies Inclusive Certification Track may count only one 100-level history course towards their degree program.
- TWO courses in World History:
- HST 201 Ancient World Seminar*
- HST 202 Modern World Seminar*
- TWO courses in American History:
- HST 211 Seminar in Early America *
- HST 212 Seminar in Modern America *
- ONE of the following courses in European History:
- HST 335 The Roman Empire
- HST 336 Medieval Europe
- HST 337 Early Modern Europe
- HST 343 History of the Soviet Union*
- HST 346 Renaissance and Reformation
- HST 347 Europe in Revolution, 1815-1914
- HST 349 20th Century Europe
- HST 359 European Women*
- ONE research methods course:
- HST 390 Research Methods*
- ONE of the following courses in Asian History:
- HST 360 Of Silk and Swords: Great Eurasian Empires
- HST 361 History of Japan: From Samurai to Godzilla
- HST 385 Asian Civilizations to 1600
- HST 386 Opium to Hiroshima: Asian Civilizations from 1600
- HST 487 Asian Survey
- ONE of the following courses in Latin American History:
- HST 375 Born in Blood and Fire: Latin America in the Age of Conquest and Empire*
- HST 376 Modern Latin America
- HST 438 Women and Gender in Latin American History
- ONE of the following courses in African or Middle Eastern History
- AAS 320 Pre-Colonial Africa
- HST 321 Modern Africa*
- HST 341 Modern Middle East
- HST 363 Islam
- HST 365 Medieval Islam
- ONE course in Advanced American History:
- HST 420 America from its Centennial to Pearl Harbor
- HST 421 America Since 1929
- Advanced American History Elective
History majors in the Adolescent Inclusive Social Studies track must also complete 12 credits (four courses) of Social Science corequisites:
- ESC 102 Elements of Geography
- PLS 113 American Political Systems*
- ONE course in African-American Studies, Anthropology or Sociology:
- Any course offered by the Departments of African and Afro-American Studies, Sociology, or Anthropology (recommended courses includes ones on Native American or African American history, including ANT 301, AAS 313, and SOC 210)
- ONE course in Economics:
- ECN 100 Contemporary Economic Problems*
- ECN 202 Principles of Macro-Economics
History majors in the Adolescent Inclusive Social Studies track must also complete all teaching-related coursework as required by the New York State Department of Education and SUNY. Please visit Adolescence Inclusive Generalist Education for current information
* Denotes courses that meet both major and general education requirements
Electives (52-61 credits)
Total Credits (120 credits)
Additional Degree Requirements
- History majors must earn a grade of C or better in all required History courses.
- Completion of all college-wide degree requirements
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Articulate a thesis in response to a historical problem
- Advance in logical sequence principal arguments in defense of a historical thesis.
- Provide relevant evidence in defense of a historical thesis.
- Evaluate the significance of a historical thesis by relating it to a broader field of historical knowledge.
- Express themselves clearly in writing that forwards a historical analysis.
- Use disciplinary standards (Chicago Style) of documentation when referencing historical sources.