History Degrees Online

THE HISTORY MAJOR: A major requires thirty-two credits in history, including HI 275 Introduction to the History Major, HI 375 Colloquium in History, and nine additional credits at the 300 level.

History courses that ordinarily carry three credit hours may carry four credit hours when they have a fourth contact hour of class or when they qualify as enhanced courses without a required fourth contact hour of class, developing particular student skills and offering a distinctive approach to learning. Enhanced courses are so designated in the master schedule and follow one of the following models:

Research in History (designated HI XXX (R)): Students develop research questions and hone research skills by identifying and assessing primary and/or secondary sources (including scholarly literature), preparing interim analyses (such as thesis statements, bibliographies, drafts), and making written or oral presentations on final research findings.

Writing History (designated HI XXX (W)): Students spend additional time drafting, revising, and critiquing to hone their skills at argumentation and analysis within appropriate historical context. They attend not only to content but also to style and voice in their critical papers.

Critical Perspectives (designated HI XXX (C)): Students study films, listen to public lectures, and read novels, and/or make field trips to enrich their understanding of history, and submit critical reports on what they have learned in written or oral presentations.

In cooperation with the advisor, a student majoring in history should construct a program to include a broad knowledge of history in general, as well as specific knowledge of one area of history in greater depth. The program should include a variety of approaches to the study of history and should demonstrate the ability to work at different levels.

INTERDEPARTMENTAL MAJORS: In conjunction with the relevant departments, the History Department offers majors in government-history and history-philosophy. See Interdepartmental Majors. Other interdepartmental majors can be arranged. The department participates in the Asian studies major and minor, the environmental studies major and minor, the international affairs major and minor, the Latin American studies minor, and the law and society minor.

THE HISTORY MINOR: A minor in history consists of twenty credits in history including nine credits at the 300 level.

Credits toward the minor: Courses successfully completed through Advanced Placement, courses completed at other accredited institutions, and course credit received in programs abroad may, with the permission of the chair, be counted toward history requirements. Of the work submitted for the major, interdepartmental majors, and the minor, the department requires that at least half be credits taught in the Skidmore History Department and listed in the Skidmore catalog.
The department will treat six credits of Advanced Placement in either American or European history accepted by Skidmore College as equivalent to four credits toward the major or minor in history or to the history component of the Government/History and History/Philosophy interdepartmental majors.

First-year students are welcome in all courses numbered 103 through 247.

Students electing a minor in art history are required to take a minimum of five art history courses totaling not less than seventeen credit hours. Of those five courses, at least one must be at the 300 level. Students should consult the director of the Art History Program for approval. (Please note: a total of six studio art and two art history courses constitutes a minor in studio art.)
Note : Please refer to the Academic Information Guide regarding double counting of courses between majors and minors.

For the class of 2010 and beyond, each student major is required to take a minimum of eleven courses according to the following guidelines.

1. Foundation (two courses)
a. AH100 Survey of Western Art
b. One studio art course of your choice (note prerequisites where necessary)

c. AH221: Practices of Art History should be taken by the end of the second year.

2. Breadth AH221 and one course from four of the following five areas:
a. Ancient and Medieval Art in the West: AH222, 223, 232, 233, 330
b. 15th- to 18th-Century Art in the West: : AH241, 252, 254, 268**, 342, 347, 348.
c. Modern and Contemporary Art in the West: AH217, 256, 261, 265, 268**, 315***, 321, 322, 353, 354, 364
d. Arts of Africa and the Americas: AH103, 203, 207, 309 ,310 ,315 ***
e. Asian Art: AH105, 106, 200, 204, 209, 210, 211, 311, 312, 314.

** Fulfills breadth areas “b” or “c,” NOT both
*** Fulfills breadth areas “c” or “d,” NOT both

3. Exploration (at least three courses) Besides the foundation and breadth courses, each student must take a minimum of three additional art history courses including at least one seminar but not including the senior thesis. (The senior thesis is an option students may take beyond the eleven courses required for the art history major.)

4. AH380 Capstone: All second-semester senior majors are required to take AH380.

For the class of 2008 and 2009, each student major is required to take a minimum of ten courses according to the following guidelines:

1. Foundation (two courses)
a. AH100 Survey of Western Art
b. One studio art course of your choice (note prerequisites where necessary).

2. Breadth: AH221 and one course from four of the five breadth areas listed above OR one course from each of the five breadth areas listed above

3. Exploration (at least three courses) Besides the foundation and breadth courses, each student must take a minimum of three additional art history courses including at least one seminar but not including the senior thesis. (The senior thesis is an option students may take beyond the ten courses required for the art history major.)

4. AH380 Capstone (Or Self-Assessment Portfolio): All second-semester senior majors are required to take either AH380 or compile a portfolio of their work in art history and write a brief two-page assessment of their progress through the major. Students are strongly encouraged to fulfill this requirement by taking AH380. For students who choose to complete the portfolio on their own, it must contain: a list of classes taken in art history, studio art, and any related fields that have enriched the student’s understanding of art history; examples of the student’s work in art history at all levels with faculty commentary on the work, including exams, papers and other relevant class materials; work from all four years at college, and from a variety of professors; your best work, your most formative work, even if it wasn’t highly graded; materials that evidence any special projects, study-abroad work, or internship experiences; and a two-page written self-assessment addressing the ways in which the student did or did not meet the goals of the art history major, including comments on growth within the major and comments on your personal intellectual growth as evidenced by the supporting materials in the portfolio. Please clearly indicate on the front of all papers and exams included in your portfolio the course for which it was completed, the semester and year, along with the name of the instructor.

Because advanced research in any aspect of art history requires foreign languages (generally French or Italian and/or German, plus any language appropriate to your area, e.g. Chinese), we recommend language study. We also recommend additional art history courses (including independent studies, museum/gallery internships, and the senior thesis) and/or courses in related fields, such as literature, history, philosophy, anthropology, religion, and studio art.

HONORS: In addition to meeting the College grade-point average for the major, students wishing to qualify for honors in the program must successfully complete an independent project that the art history faculty judge to be outstanding. The project nominated by a member of the art history faculty, must go beyond the work required in our regular art history classes. Examples of types of projects that could qualify are Senior Theses and Independent Study or Internship projects, whether written, in the form of an exhibition, or computer-based.

Art history is distinctive in its direct engagement with art objects through visual analysis and historical study. We use art objects to understand history and culture, and history and culture to understand art objects. Students earning a bachelor of arts in art history explore the varied roles of artists, their art, and their patrons across diverse cultural and historical contexts. In addition, they experience the creative process of making art. Students gain a breadth of knowledge spanning both Western and non-Western subfields in the discipline. Art history majors develop skills in analyzing images of texts that are applicable to a wide range of personal, civic, and professional endeavors; they may also go on to graduate work in art history and professional work in art-related fields.

Tuition and fees: $24,771

Basic Residence Hall Costs: $3,354

Standard Board Charge: $3,634

Total Comprehensive Fee: $31,759

Simpson College accepts applications and grants acceptances to qualified students beginning in the early fall and continuing on a space available basis.

Admission to Simpson College is based on the college’s assessment of the applicant’s potential for success in a rigorous liberal arts curriculum. After the application, transcripts, test scores and recommendations are evaluated, applicants are notified of the admission decision. *

Accepted candidates are required to pay an enrollment deposit of $200 by a specified date. If you are applying for financial assistance, you need not submit the deposit until you have been notified of your award.
First-Year Applicant Checklist
Complete application for admission (no application fee required). Parents or guardian should be consulted.
Request high school transcripts reflecting academic work completed through your junior year be sent to the Simpson College office of admissions. A request form is provided with the high school report /counselor recommendation form.
Official results of the ACT or SAT I should be sent directly to the office of admissions.

Transfer Applicant Checklist
Complete the application for admission (no application fee required).
Request official transcripts from each of the colleges or universities previously attended be sent to the Simpson College office of admissions.
Request official high school transcripts that include rank in class and ACT or SAT I scores.

History - 36 Hours
2007-2009 Catalog

Required Courses:
Hist 101-102 Western Civilization* (6)
Hist 201-202 United States History (6)
Hist 385 Interpretations of History and Historiography (Senior Seminar) (3)
Hist 200 or 300-level Elective (3)

*History majors may substitute HUM 101 Western Traditions for the first half of this sequence.

Elective - take one of the following:
Hist 211 African American History (3)
Hist 222 American Women’s History (3)

History majors seeking an education endorsement in history may substitute Education 321, Human Relations, for this requirement, but they must take another three hour elective in history to complete their twelve courses.

Elective - two 300-level European History courses from:
Hist 305 Renaissance and Reformation 1300-1648 (3)
Hist 308 Nineteenth Century Europe 1789-1914 (3)
Hist 309 Contemporary Europe (3)
Hist 331 History of England to 1688 (3)
Hist 332 History of England Since 1688 (3)
Hist 334 History of France Since 1789 (3)
Hist 336 History of Germany (3)
Hist 341 Russia of the Romanovs (3)
Hist 342 History of Modern Russia (3)
Hist 344 Readings in European History (3)

Elective - two 300-level American History courses from:
Hist 355 History of Iowa
Hist 358 Constitution al History of the United States (3)
Hist 359 Colonial and Revolutionary America (3)
Hist 360 Jefferson and Jackson (3)
Hist 361 American Environmental History (3)
Hist 363 American Civil War (3)
Hist 364 Readings in United States History (3)
Hist 365 Foundations of American Foreign Policy 1776-1945 (3)
Hist 367 Modernizing America 1877-1920 (3)
Hist 368 Recent America (3)

A developing world history course:
Hist 375 History of the Muslim World (3)
Hist 376 History of Latin America (3)

Acceleration to Excellence Program (AEP)
The Acceleration to Excellence Program (AEP) Scholarships are merit awards covering up to the full cost of tuition for outstanding students who apply during the 10th or 11th grade. Home school students with well-documented academic histories and students who have skipped grades are welcome to apply; students fitting these descriptions must be the age of the typical 10th or 11th grader. Our faculty selects recipients based on academic excellence, extracurricular distinction, personal motivation, and character. The AEP application deadline is February 1. By the conclusion of 10th grade, most AEP applicants have completed at least two years each of English, mathematics (including geometry and algebra II), science, social studies, and a foreign language; applicants entering the College after the 11th grade typically have completed three or more years of each subject. The most highly qualified AEP applicants will be invited to attend AEP Day in early April and will have the opportunity to receive one of the College’s most substantial merit awards. Applicants who miss the AEP application deadline can still apply for regular admission.

Elizabeth Blodgett Hall and Livingston Hall Scholarships
Full tuition scholarships awarded through the Acceleration to Excellence Program are named in honor of the College’s founder and her husband. Awards cover the full cost of tuition and fees for two years of attendance at Simon’s Rock. Continuation of the scholarship during the sophomore year is dependent upon maintaining good social standing, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, and satisfactory academic progress. See above for eligibility criteria.

Nadiri AliKhan Memorial Scholarship
Following the graduation of their daughter, Loren ’99, this endowed scholarship was established by Dr. Mahmood AliKhan and his wife, Linda, in memory of his mother. The scholarship is given annually to a first-year student selected through the Acceleration to Excellence Program. Students who continue to meet the requirements of the AEP by maintaining good academic and social standing and making positive contributions to the campus community will automatically retain their scholarships for their sophomore year. Continuation of the scholarship during the sophomore year is dependent upon maintaining good social standing, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, and satisfactory academic progress.
Other Scholarships for New Students

W.E.B. Du Bois Scholarships
The W.E.B. Du Bois Scholarships meet a significant portion of the financial need of eligible students of color who apply during the 10th or 11th grade and have a record of academic achievement and motivation. Du Bois Scholarships are renewable for four years of study at Simon’s Rock. To remain eligible for renewal of the W.E.B. Du Bois Scholarship, a student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 as of the end of each year at Simon’s Rock.

Berkshire Regional Scholarships
The Berkshire Regional Scholarships provide merit-based awards equal to 40 percent of tuition to students from 14 surrounding counties. In Massachusetts, eligible counties are: Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire; in Connecticut: Hartford, and Litchfield; in New York: Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Rensselaer, and Ulster; and in Vermont: Bennington and Windham.

At the time of application, applicants must be in at least the 10th grade or its equivalent, have a strong academic record, and be under age 19. Students whose families reside within commuting distance may choose to live at home. Students are also eligible for federal and state grants and loans that can cover up to the full cost of attendance. To remain eligible for the Berkshire Regional Scholarship, a student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.7 as of the end of each year at Simon’s Rock.

Alumni Referral Scholarships
The Alumni Referral Scholarships are awarded to entering first-year students who were referred to the College by a current student or an alumna/us of Simon’s Rock. These scholarships of $1,000 each are renewable for up to four years of study. A student may receive a maximum of one Alumni Referral Scholarship award, regardless of the number of current students or alumni who referred the incoming student to the College.

Mullaney Scholarship
The Mullaney Corporation Scholarship was established in 2000 by David Mullaney, the general contractor for the Fisher Science and Academic Center, the Alumni Library, and the Kilpatrick Athletic Center. It is awarded annually to a first-year student from Massachusetts on the basis of need and merit.

The Vince Finisdore Family Scholarship Fund
Established in 2006 by Marcia Finisdore, mother of alumna Susan Finisdore Higgins ’81, this endowed scholarship fund provides scholarship assistance to students who qualify under normal College procedures for financial aid and who have a hearing loss as measured by professional audiological testing. The award, which is not intended to pay for legally required services, may be continued from year to year as long as the recipient maintains satisfactory progress toward a Simon’s Rock AA or BA degree.

Reed Scholarship
Reed Scholars are entering students for whom Simon’s Rock represents a particularly life-changing opportunity and who would otherwise be unable to assume the financial burden of paying for college.

Riversville Scholarship
The Riversville Foundation, which partners with select institutions to provide financial support for African American U.S. citizens with solid academic potential and financial need, identified Simon’s Rock in 2007 as the thirteenth institution of higher education with which they will work. The Foundation provides Simon’s Rock with funds to award a small number of scholarships each year.

Simon’s Rock Grants
Simon’s Rock grants are awarded annually to new and returning students on the basis of need. They may be renewed each year provided a student maintains good academic and social standing.

Tuition and Fees: $37,860
Student Activity Fee: $150
Room and Board: $10,600
Health Services Fee: $640
First-Year Orientation Fee: $525