DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

Undergraduate Department of History

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

Chair: Koslow; Associate Chair (Graduate Studies): Mooney; Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies): Dodds; Professors: Blaufarb, Culver, Frank, Gellately, Grant, Jones, Koslow, McClive, Mooney, Sinke, Upchurch; Associate Professors: Creswell, Dodds, Doel, Hanley, Herrera, Hicks, Liebeskind, Ozok-Gundogan, Palmer, Piehler, Renfro, Scholz, Williamson; Assistant Professors: Ajibade, Conti, Lauersdorf, Luo; Teaching Faculty: Rizzi, Robbins, Vos; Professors Emeriti: Betten, Conner, Garretson, Halpern, Keuchel, Ripley, Rubanowice, Singh, Stoltzfus, Turner

Studying history is exciting and rewarding, but it is also a strategic investment in your future. FSU's history degree provides you with a broad liberal arts education and helps you to become an informed citizen. Students who major in history prepare for the future by cultivating knowledge, experiences, and skill sets sought after in a range of occupations. A history degree will give you exposure to thought-provoking history courses covering many areas of the world. You can choose courses ranging from bandits to wars, exploring topics such as imperialism, immigration, or terrorism. The history major at FSU prides itself on both its breadth and depth, allowing you to focus on the themes or areas that interest you the most. Completing a degree in history will equip you with world cultural literacy and the tools to compete effectively in today's job market.

History is the best major to acquire and develop the critical-thinking skills that are sought by today's employers and necessary for graduate programs. Throughout your course work you will research, analyze, and communicate your findings. You will decipher unknown materials, contextualize them, and offer coherent analyses of their meaning. You will work alone and in collaboration with other students, conducting semester-long research projects, posing and refining the questions you ask, and presenting—and justifying—your findings in oral and written format to your peers. Employers today are looking for people who can think about and solve problems, do so in a collaborative fashion, have the skills to master digital technologies, and present their findings verbally and in writing. If you enjoy learning about anything historical and are interested in finding employment in the public or private sectors directly after graduation or continuing with graduate school, the history major at FSU is the best option to prepare for your future.

The department participates in the undergraduate programs in Asian studies, Middle Eastern studies, humanities, international affairs, Latin American and Caribbean studies, Russian and East European studies, and in the honors in the major program.

Digital Literacy Requirement

Students must complete at least one course designated as meeting the Digital Literacy Requirement with a grade of “C–” or higher. Courses fulfilling the Digital Literacy Requirement must accomplish at least three of the following outcomes:

Evaluate and interpret the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of digital information
Evaluate and interpret digital data and their implications
Discuss the ways in which society and/or culture interact with digital technology
Discuss digital technology trends and their professional implications
Demonstrate the ability to use digital technology effectively
Demonstrate the knowledge to use digital technology safely and ethically

Each academic major has determined the courses that fulfill the Digital Literacy requirement for that major. Students should contact their major department(s) to determine which courses will fulfill their Digital Literacy requirement. Undergraduate majors in history satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of “C–” or higher in IDS 2681, HIS 4164, CGS 2060, CGS 2100, or EME 2040.

State of Florida Common Program Prerequisites for History

The Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) houses the statewide, internet-based catalog of distance learning courses, degree programs, and resources offered by Florida's public colleges and universities, and they have developed operational procedures and technical guidelines for the catalog that all institutions must follow. The statute governing this policy can be reviewed by visiting https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/1006.73.

FLVC has identified common program prerequisites for the degree program in History. To obtain the most up-to-date, state-approved prerequisites for this degree, visit: https://cpm.flvc.org/programs/381/286.

Specific prerequisites are required for admission into the upper-division program and must be completed by the student at either a community college or a state university prior to being admitted to this program. Students may be admitted into the University without completing the prerequisites but may not be admitted into the program.

Requirements for a Major in History

Please review all college-wide degree requirements summarized in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Major

Fall 2012 and After

Thirty-nine credit hours, including WOH 2023, 2030; AMH 2010, 2020 (for the application of test credit to the major, see below); and a minimum of 27 additional credit hours in history (above 2999) distributed as follows:

Six credit hours of American history
ix credit hours of European history
Six credit hours of Latin American, Asian, African, or Russian history
Six additional credit hours of history of any area
Three credit hours of HIS 4935 Senior Seminar

Note: Senior seminar is not offered during the Summer terms. Directed individual studies and tutorials may not be counted toward the major.

At least 21 of the 39 required credit hours must be earned at Florida State University.

Prior to Fall 2012

Thirty-three credit hours, including WOH 2023, 2030; AMH 2010, 2020 (for the application of test credit to the major, see below); and a minimum of 21 additional credit hours in history (above 2999) distributed as follows:

Six credit hours of American history
Six credit hours of European history
Six credit hours of Latin American, Asian, African, or Russian history
Three credit hours of HIS 4935 Senior Seminar. Note: Senior seminar is not offered during the Summer terms. Directed individual studies and tutorials may not be counted toward the major.
At least 18 of the 33 required credit hours must be earned at Florida State University.

Minor Requirement for History Majors

A minor of 12 credit hours beyond CoreFSU Curriculum requirements in an approved departmental field or 15 credit hours in an interdepartmental area is required. Individual departments and interdepartmental areas may impose additional requirements. The student should consult the appropriate departmental chapter to see if the department has further requirements.

The student may not count toward the major or minor any course in which a grade below “C–” is received. A minimum GPA of 2.0 within both the major and the minor is required.

Double Majors

Students pursuing a double major must meet the program requirements of both majors, with the following exceptions: (1) No more than six credit hours may be overlapped (i.e., counted toward both majors); and (2) no minors are required for the double major.

Honors in the Major

Honors work in the major is offered to encourage talented juniors and seniors to undertake independent and original research as part of the undergraduate experience. For requirements and other information, see the “Discipline-Specific Honor Societies” tab of the Honors chapter and the associate chair for undergraduate studies in history.

Certification in Social Science Education with History Concentration

All undergraduates interested in certification in social science education should take the core courses as part of their CoreFSU Curriculum requirements; therefore, they are urged to consult an advisor in the College of Education as early as possible. Students seeking certification must also apply for admission to teacher education.

Requirements for a Minor in History

Twelve credit hours beyond CoreFSU Curriculum requirements in history courses numbered above 2999 are required. A grade of “C–” or better must be earned in each course counted toward the minor. At least six of the 12 credit hours must be earned at Florida State University. Directed individual studies, tutorials, and test credit may not be counted toward the minor.