History Degrees Online

The single honours history degree provides a high standard of training in history as an academic discipline and develops in students an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the history of Africa and Asia.

Students specialise in one of seven pathways: Africa; Near and Middle East; South Asia (the Indian subcontinent); East Asia; Asia-Pacific; the Islamic World; and the modern Third World.

The BA History course offers students different approaches to historical subject matter, interpretation and methodology—from the different perspectives of, for instance, economic history or the history of religion and culture. Undergraduate courses also follow a principle of progression.

The SOAS History Department is one of only a handful of universities to achieve the highest 5* rating in the 2001 government assessment of research in UK universities and unique in its expertise in African and Asian history.

Programme Code: V100BA/H
Department

Department of History
Entry Requirements

A levels: ABB IB: 32 points with 5/4/4 at Higher Level points UCAS: 280 points (from 3 A-Levels excluding General Studies)

Subjects Preferred: No

Interview Policy: Candidates with ‘non-standard’ qualifications usually invited

Duration:
3 or 4 years

Programme Specification: Learning Outcomes (pdf; 35kb)
Description
Degree Profile
The single honours history degree provides a high standard of training in history as an academic discipline and develops in students an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the history of Africa and Asia.

Students specialise in one of seven pathways: Africa; Near and Middle East; South Asia (the Indian subcontinent); East Asia; Asia-Pacific; the Islamic World; and the modern Third World.

The BA History course offers students different approaches to historical subject matter, interpretation and methodology—from the different perspectives of, for instance, economic history or the history of religion and culture. Undergraduate courses also follow a principle of progression.

The SOAS History Department is one of only a handful of universities to achieve the highest 5* rating in the 2001 government assessment of research in UK universities and unique in its expertise in African and Asian history.
Structure
Click to display programme structure
The learning outcome of this degree is cumulative in terms of knowledge, and the courses aim at enabling students with cognitive skills essential to the understanding of the subject.

Year 1: Single-subject students normally take 3 or 4, and two-subject degree students 2, of a number of introductory courses. These include ‘Approaches to History’ (compulsory for single-subject students), and courses designed to introduce the student to the history of a specific region: Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and South East Asia. Students may also choose to take a suitable course in another department.

Years 2 and 3: Students choose from a range of intermediate and advanced courses. Intermediate courses may cover a broad theme or period of time. Advanced courses are on more narrowly defined topics, and involve the examination of
primary evidence. Single-subject students in their final year are required to take an advanced course unit, which is combined with a 10,000-word essay that requires the use of primary sources and historical evidence. In the final year, all students have the choice of doing an Independent Study Project (ISP: 10,000-word essay on an approved topic). So long as they take the required minimum number of History courses, students may take courses in other departments.

Single Honours
Year 1
Approaches to History
2 further introductory histories (100-level)
Or,
1, plus an approved floater
1 Regional History (200-level)

Year 2
1 Regional History (200-level)
1 Thematic Unit (300 or 400-level)
2 other units from:
200/300/400 level
A Group Study Project
An approved ‘floater’

Year 3
A Special Subject (a 400-level taught course plus a linked 500-level Study Project)
2 units from:
200 to 400-level
An Independent Study Project
An approved floater
Year abroad
Students combining history with a language in a 4-year degree spend a year abroad.
Teaching & Learning
Department Teaching Quality Assessment Score: Satisfactory
Research Assessment Exercise Score: 5*

Teaching is normally provided by lecture or seminar and students are required to attend such classes. Most courses involve a 50-minute lecture as a key component with linked tutorial classes.
Learning Resources

SOAS Library is one of the world’s most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Whether you major or minor, your program will focus on American history and the history of Western Civilization, and also select from a wide variety of elective courses dealing with the histories of: Europe, East Asia and Africa; American and European women; American Indians and African Americans; colonialism, race and empire; and particular events that have shaped social, political and economic systems. As a major and/or minor the program invites you to explore historical narratives through the lens of race, class, gender, ethnicity and place. Majors study the theory and empirical methods of the history discipline and master the techniques of historical research and writing. The history degree emphasizes critical thinking, equipping students with knowledge and skills that prepare them for field work or graduate study.

The international relations major

This interdisciplinary major equips you for national and transnational careers in government, law, public policy, business and more. Objectives include the promotion of historical understanding; the ability to identify the political needs and social problems confronting modern society; and the development of personal skills in research, writing and criticism. By integrating the curriculum of a collective of departments, you will be exposed to a range of subjects and academic discipline perspectives.
The political science major and minor
The material offered in political science is intended to acquaint you with the many principles, institutions and problems that have historically shaped society and the state. Courses are offered in the fields of comparative politics, international politics and American politics, and the focus is on policy-making processes both in America and abroad. The curriculum will prepare you for a range of opportunities in advanced study or a professional career.

As a major and/or minor in history, you will undertake a rigorous analysis and criticism of historic documents and scholarship. You will have opportunities to learn outside the classroom, through original research projects, January Term travel courses and participation in the activities carried out and sponsored both by the department as well as Phi Alpha Theta, the history honors society, debates, lectures and discussions. You may also choose to participate in our Model United Nations program held in New York during the spring of each year. In addition, you and other students will have opportunities to present original research at national undergraduate student conferences.

Our faculty members are both teachers and scholars who conduct their own research and publish and present in scholarly journals and academic conferences. They will encourage you to challenge yourself academically and personally. Small class sizes and a faculty dedicated to teaching create strong student-teacher relationships in the Department of History and Political Science. Our faculty act as mentors who use both their professional expertise and experience to guide their students through the program while also preparing them for their professional lives afterwards.

As a history major or minor, you will graduate with exemplary skills in research, critical thinking and communication, while being versed in your discipline(s). Degrees in history, international relations and political science will prepare you for law school and other graduate programs.

With a major and/or minor in history, you will join other Salem graduates who are now working as professional historians, preservationists and museum workers; in local, state and national governments; in not-for-profit and nongovernmental organizations; and in primary, secondary and higher education.

The History Education Major and Minor at Saginaw Valley State University are designed to provide prospective teachers with a firm grounding in history as an academic discipline in preparation for a career in education. Such a grounding includes substantial and diverse content knowledge in American, European and World History, analytical and interpretive skills, the writing and evaluation of historical argumentation, and the instructional skills needed to teach history on the secondary school level. The curriculum summarized below is directly aligned with the Michigan State Board of Education’s 2001 Standards and Benchmarks for History and reflects substantial coordination between the Departments of History and Teacher Education.
Program Description

Foundation courses: 15 credits
Elective courses: 24 credits
Capstone: 3 credits
Total credits in content major = 42

Students must also complete a certifiable minor and secondary education professional studies course work.

All history courses teach students to formulate historical questions and to construct narratives and interpretations. Issues of diversity, including race, ethnicity, class, and gender are not only addressed in individual classes on both the survey and upper division level, but also by the structure of the program which requires that students take courses across three regional/global content categories.

Basic Objectives The History Major and Minor at Saginaw Valley State University are designed to provide students with a firm grounding in history as an academic discipline. Such a grounding includes substantial and diverse content knowledge in American, European and World History, analytical and interpretive skills, the writing and evaluation of historical argumentation.

Program Description

Foundation courses: 9 cr
Elective courses: 30 cr
Capstone: 3 cr
Total credits: 42

All history courses teach students to formulate historical questions and to construct narratives and interpretations. Issues of diversity, including race, ethnicity, class, and gender are not only addressed in individual classes on both the survey and upper division level, but also by the structure of the program which requires that students take courses across three regional/global content categories.

The study of History is designed to develop an understanding of the varied and complex factors that have combined to produce modern society. Intelligent and responsible citizenship demands insight into the struggles and achievements of the past. Political, economic, and cultural factors, and all of humanity’s accomplishments, are within the scope of historical investigation.

Political Science offers opportunities to know and understand the complex political world of the twenty-first century. Through the use of historical studies, comparative government, and the latest in computer analysis, the department provides a foundation for those graduates who wish to pursue interests in government, law, law enforcement, and other forms of public service.

Socrates said that the unexamined life is not worth living; Philosophy encourages us to live the examined life. It is the search for meaning and truth, and includes the study of the history of ideas as well as critical thinking about contemporary issues. Philosophy is an academic discipline in that it is the study of the history of thought. Philosophy is also a way of thinking, encouraging a rational and critical approach to all of our experience.

With the exception of the teaching major and to a limited extent government and public administration, majors in the department do not lead directly to professional careers. However, this should not be interpreted as meaning that history, political science, and philosophy are not helpful toward career goals. The skills learned in the department are those sought by leaders in business and government. Great emphasis is placed on research, writing, and communication — skills needed in all facets of life.

If the past, as is often said, is a foreign country, the modern traveler needs to know something of its language, geography, and customs. Everyone and everything has a past, and close, systematic study of these pasts can yield important insights about the present and, sometimes, clues about the future. As members of La Salle’s History department, we therefore see our discipline as the one that provides the contextual glue for the other liberal arts and sciences. For this reason it is an important foundation of La Salle’s core curriculum.

While intended as a general guide for History majors and minors, we hope that this website will also help those interested in the past, regardless of academic discipline. Thus, in addition to course descriptions, faculty biographies, publications, and contact information, we consider it vital to mention the many activities of our students and their organizations.

Our Historical Society, chartered in 1936, is one of the oldest and most active student organizations on campus. In addition to running trips, films, and other activities with historical themes, it publishes an award-winning student academic journal, The Histories, twice a year. The Society also sponsors an annual fall symposium featuring top scholars such as James McPherson on topics ranging from American foreign policy during the Civil War to the question of German responsibility for the outbreak of World War I.

The Department hosts the Nu Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society. Nu Psi had the distinction of winning a national honorable mention for its work during the fortieth anniversary of the Marshall Plan.

More recently, with the help of a generous grant from alumnus John McHale, the Department has sponsored an annual competition for the Leo Award, which highlights the best student essays on the history of Philadelphia. Winners receive generous cash awards for their efforts.