History

Sharon A. Roger Hepburn, Chairperson

http://www.radford.edu/content/chbs/home/history.html

Undergraduate Program

The History Major is designed to give students both a broad background in American, European, and Global history and the ability to choose specialized courses from a wide-range of upper-division electives. Students become acquainted with historical research and writing and with historical thought through the sophomore-level seminar, The Historian’s Craft, HIST 295 and the Senior Seminar, HIST 495. The History Major prepares students to think critically about change and continuity in a variety of societies and cultures in order to help them to understand our increasingly global, cosmopolitan, and diverse world. It offers courses organized along thematic, geographical, or temporal lines that provide students with historical perspectives and insights into the world and the forces and events that shaped it. Students are offered the opportunity to read analytically, think critically, and write effectively. A major in history helps you hone skills that employers want most in their workers–critical thinking and communication. The History Major is a 40 credit program consisting of HIST 101 , HIST 102 , HIST 111 , HIST 112 , HIST 295 , HIST 495  along with a selection of courses from each of the program designation groups: United States, Europe, and Global.

History majors may earn either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts degree. The Bachelor of Science degree prepares students for varied employment opportunities in business, law, or government. The Bachelor of Arts prepares students for similar careers and is recommended specifically for students planning graduate work in history or other social science fields. Careful planning of the undergraduate program, with supplementary courses in other fields, can equip the student for future positions in libraries, museums, archives or similar institutions and for research oriented occupations.

REAL Curriculum

This major fulfills the E and A areas of the REAL Curriculum. Students develop an understanding of the diverse ideas present in humanistic inquiry and the expression evident in historical sources. This occurs through the acquisition and application of knowledge, research and analytical skills, and critical reflection on primary and secondary source evidence. Students develop cultural and behavioral analysis competencies by examining the interaction of cultures, behaviors, and beliefs. This occurs through thinking critically and analytically about historical issues themes, personalities, and events. Students need additional majors and/or minors to fulfill the R and L areas to complete the REAL Curriculum requirements.

Honors Program

For a general description of the Honors Academy at Radford, click here .

The History Department offers a departmental honors program. History majors will be granted the award of Honors in History upon graduation if they meet the following criteria:

• GPA of 3.5 or higher in all courses taken with a HIST prefix
• Earn a B or higher in HIST 295 (not a B-)
• Earn an A or A- in HIST 495

For further information concerning the Honors in History, contact the department chairperson.
 

Academic Programs

History, B.A. (E, A)  

History, B.S. (E, A)  

Applied History Minor (L)  

History Minor (E, A)