History (BA)

Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major: History
Program Code: 3716

About This Major . . .

The study of history prepares the student for understanding present society and culture through a study of the past. The history program familiarizes students with the great historical civilizations and issues that have shaped our present world. History teaches students how to critically analyze information and make a compelling argument; skills that everyone needs to be successful in all their endeavors. Internships are available through museums, historical societies and public agencies. CMU history graduates pursue careers in teaching and public history, as well as private employment, and have also been very successful in gaining entrance to graduate study and law school.

For more information on what you can do with this major, visit Career Services’ What to Do with a Major? resource.

All CMU baccalaureate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus-wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:

  1. Formulate the relationships of cause and effect. (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning);
    2.
  2. Assess the importance of historical context.(Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning);
    3.
  3. Critically analyze an argument based on secondary sources. (Critical Thinking);
    4.
  4. Critically analyze primary sources. (Critical Thinking);
    5.
  5. Formulate a clear and persuasive argument based on evidence. (Communication Fluency);
  6. Construct a clear thesis with strong topic sentences. (Communication Fluency).
    7.
  7. Evaluate how local, national, or global societies have responded to ethical, social, civic, and/or environmental changes in the historical past. (Personal and Social Responsibility)

Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements. 

To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity. 

Institutional Degree Requirements

The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU baccalaureate degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.

  • 120 semester hours minimum.
  • Students must complete a minimum of 30 of the last 60 hours of credit at CMU, with at least 15 semester hours in major discipline courses numbered 300 or higher.
  • 40 upper-division credits (an alternative credit limit applies to the Bachelor of Applied Science degree).
  • 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
  • A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
  • No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
  • Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. A maximum of 15 of the 30 credits may be for cooperative education, internships, and practica.
  • Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
  • Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.
  • The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
  • See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.

Specific to this degree: 

  • A grade of "C" or better must be earned in all required courses, unless otherwise stated.

Essential Learning Requirements

(31 semester hours)

See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below.  If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.

English 1
ENGL 111English Composition I-GTCO13
ENGL 112English Composition II-GTCO23
Mathematics 1
MATH 110Mathematical Investigations-GTMA13
History
HIST 131United States History I-GTHI13
Humanities
Select one Humanities course3
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences course3
Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences course3
Fine Arts
Select one Fine Arts course3
Natural Sciences 2
Select one Natural Sciences course with lab4
Select one Natural Sciences course3
Total Semester Credit Hours31
1

Must receive a grade of “C” or better and must be completed by the time the student has 60 semester hours.

2

One course must include a lab.

Other Lower Division Requirements

Wellness Requirement
KINE 100Health and Wellness1
Select one Activity Course1
Essential Learning Capstone 1
ESSL 290Maverick Milestone3
ESSL 200Essential Speech1
Total Semester Credit Hours6
1

Essential Learning Capstone must be taken after completion of the Essential Learning English and Mathematics requirements, and when a student has earned between 45 and 75 hours. 

Foundation Courses

(6 semester hours)

Select two consecutive courses in the same foreign language6
Total Semester Credit Hours6

Program Specific Degree Requirements

(48 semester hours, must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA or higher in coursework in this area. A grade of "C" or better must be earned in all required courses, unless otherwise stated.)

History Core
HIST 101Western Civilization I-GTHI13
HIST 102Western Civilization II-GTHI13
HIST 132United States History II-GTHI13
HIST 202Introduction to Historical Research3
HIST 404Senior Seminar in Historical Research3
History Electives
European History
Select three of the following:9
HIST 300
History of England to 1660
HIST 301
History of Modern Britain
HIST 302
History of Modern France
HIST 303
History of Modern Germany
HIST 330
History of 19th Century Europe
HIST 331
The 20th Century
HIST 332
History of Modern Warfare
HIST 350
Renaissance and Reformation
HIST 355
Ancient and Medieval Cities
HIST 360
Medieval Europe
HIST 394
Junior Seminar in Historiography
HIST 400
The Soviet Union and Eastern Europe
HIST 430
The Ancient Mediterranean World
HIST 435
Classical Archaeology
HIST 440
Early and Medieval Christianity
HIST 445
The Holocaust
HIST 450
European History and Film
World History
Select two of the following:6
HIST 310
Latin American Civilization
HIST 311
The World Wars
HIST 319
History of the United States-Mexico Borderlands
HIST 333
The International History of the Cold War
HIST 334
History of the British Empire
HIST 340
History Of the Middle East
HIST 403
East Asia and the Modern World
HIST 406
History of the African Continent
United States History
Select three of the following:9
HIST 305
The Old South
HIST 314
African American History
HIST 315
American Indian History
HIST 316
American Slavery
HIST 320
The American West
HIST 342
The Early American Republic
HIST 344
The Age of Industry in America
HIST 345
History of Immigration, Race, and Ethnicity in America
HIST 346
The United States in the 1950's and 1960's
HIST 347
Global America: 1970-2000
HIST 348
The History of Food in America
HIST 370
Early United States Women's History
HIST 371
20th Century United States Women's History
HIST 415
Colonial America
HIST 416
The American Revolution
HIST 420
Civil War
HIST 425
History of Sexuality
HIST 375
American Sport History
HIST 405
Introduction to Public History
HIST 409
Material Culture Studies
HIST 410
Environmental History of the United States
History Specialization
Select three additional Upper Division History courses selected from European, United States, or World History or ANTH 2259
Total Semester Credit Hours48

General Electives

All college level courses appearing on your final transcript, not listed above that will bring your total semester hours to 120 hours. 29 semester hours, 4-7 hours of upper division will be needed.

Select electives29
Total Semester Credit Hours29
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterSemester Credit Hours
ENGL 111 English Composition I-GTCO1 3
HIST 131 United States History I-GTHI1 3
Essential Learning - Natural Science 3
HIST 101 Western Civilization I-GTHI1 3
KINE 100 Health and Wellness 1
 Semester Credit Hours13
Spring Semester
ENGL 112 English Composition II-GTCO2 3
Essential Learning - Humanities 3
MATH 110 Mathematical Investigations-GTMA1 3
HIST 102 Western Civilization II-GTHI1 3
General Elective 3
KINA Activity 1
 Semester Credit Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
HIST 202 Introduction to Historical Research 3
Essential Learning - Fine Arts 3
Foundation Course - Foreign Language 3
Essential Learning - Social and Behavioral Science 3
History Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Semester Credit Hours18
Spring Semester
Essential Learning - Natural Science with Lab 4
Foundation Course - Foreign Language 3
Essential Learning - Social and Behavioral Science 3
HIST 132 United States History II-GTHI1 3
ESSL 290 Maverick Milestone 3
ESSL 200 Essential Speech 1
 Semester Credit Hours17
Third Year
Fall Semester
History Elective (2 courses) 6
General Elective (2 courses) 6
 Semester Credit Hours12
Spring Semester
History Elective (3 courses) 9
General Elective 3
Upper Division General Elective 3
 Semester Credit Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
HIST 404 Senior Seminar in Historical Research 3
History Elective (2 courses) 6
Upper Division General Elective 3
General Elective 2
 Semester Credit Hours14
Spring Semester
History Elective (4 courses) 12
General Elective 3
 Semester Credit Hours15
 Total Semester Credit Hours120

Advising Process and DegreeWorks

Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. The suggested course sequencing outlines how students could finish degree requirements. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters, while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and altering the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree(s).

DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a degree and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.

Graduation Process

Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:

  • Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
  • Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
  • Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
  • Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.

Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found at http://www.coloradomesa.edu/registrar/graduation.html.

If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.