Majors, minors & more
History
College of Arts and Sciences
- Offered as:
- Major
- Minor
- Graduate program
Overview
History is the ongoing effort to understand the diverse people, institutions, and cultures of the past. Historical inquiry builds knowledge of past events and in doing so helps inform the decisions we make about our future. At WSU, faculty specialize in many areas of historical research and teaching, including environmental, world, American west, religious, gender, military, and diplomatic history.
Degree options
Bachelor of arts in history:
- General History
- History Pre-Law
- History Education
- Social Studies Education
- Asian Studies
- History
- Asian Studies
Specialization tracks available
- Strengths of the program
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- Learn from history professors who enhance their professional development through extensive travel, research, and teaching abroad.
- Faculty members are distinguished for considering teaching as their primary mission.
- Several history professors have won major teaching awards.
- Many opportunities for studying abroad.
- The Pre-Law Resource Center helps students prepare a path to law school.
- Numerous internships are available.
- Requirements and core courses
-
Certification requirements:
- 24 completed semester credits
- 2.5 minimum grade point average
Suggested classes for freshmen
General History:
Work on UCORE requirements. If interested in a second major, try a UCORE class from that area.History Pre-Law:
UCORE classes such as Phil 201, EconS 101/102, PolS 101.History/Social Studies Education:
UCORE classes such as Hist 120, PolS 101, EconS 102. Begin working on History sequence: Hist 101/102, Hist 110/111.Suggested classes for transfer students
Complete WSU UCORE requirements if possible. If your AA degree is complete, work on upper division history courses.
For teaching certification: T&L 301, Pol S 101, English 201, Econ S 102.
Math requirement
Any UCORE, most commonly:
- Math 105: Exploring Mathematics
- Phil 201: Elementary Logic
Core courses
- Hist 300: Writing about History
- Hist 469: Seminar in History
- 6 hours of U.S. History
- 6 hours of European History
- 9 hours of non-Western/Global History
- 12-hour non-history field concentration
Graduation requirements
See the WSU Catalog for degree requirements and talk with your academic advisor about planning and scheduling your courses. All students must meet requirements as outlined in the catalog in order to graduate.
- Scholarships and financial aid
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For students in history
The history department has a number of scholarships available to the program's students, who averaged awards of $1,300 during 2008-09. All history majors also may apply for University-level scholarships and more than $50,000 in scholarships awarded by the College of Liberal Arts.
For all students
A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs. Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.
Students should complete the Washington State University general scholarship application and the FAFSA to ensure their eligibility for the widest range of scholarships and needed-based financial aid.
For information or to apply for financial aid and scholarships from WSU, see the Scholarships and Finances section of the WSU website.
- Careers in history
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What you can do with a degree in history
• Public history, cultural resource management, park management, interpretation of historical sites
• Primary and secondary education
• Information sciences, library sciences
• Curating, archiving
• Research and analysis for intelligence operations, government services
• Nonprofit management
• Business management, personnel management, and marketing
• Law
• Journalism, technical writing, and editing
Skills you can market with a degree in history
• Ability to view events in context
• Clear and persuasive writing
• Ability to plan and conduct independent research
• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to assess conflicting interpretations
• Insight into human nature and civilization
• Knowledge of past peoples, societies, and cultures around the globe
• Ability to recognize and assess changes over time
• Capacity to make clear and fair arguments based on appropriate evidence
- Alumni
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Jessie Harris (B.A. 1996), an associate at Paine, Hamblen, Coffin, Brooke & Miller LLP of Spokane, the largest independent law firm between Seattle and Minneapolis.
William Lang (M.A. 1967), director of the Montana State Historical Society and editor of the Montana Magazine (state history journal).
Michael Malone (Ph.D. 1996), recipient of an endowed assistant professorship at Montana State University and author of a book nominated for the Bancroft Prize (the most prestigious award in history after the Pulitzer Prize).
Robert Swartout (Ph.D. 1978), chair and professor at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, and recipient of several Fulbright scholarships for research in Korea.