Bachelors
The Bachelor’s Degree
The baccalaureate curriculum is organized for students who hope to place their world in historical perspective. Education in history at the University of Illinois at Springfield is broad-based humanities training, providing students with research capabilities, analytical methods, and communication skills that are useful in many fields. The curriculum prepares students for careers in fields such as history, politics, government, business, law, journalism, writing, and administration. Through internships, students are able to test career possibilities where the research and analytical skills of the historian are appropriate.
Advising (All HIS Majors)
Each student is assigned both an academic advisor and a faculty advisor to assist in planning an individual program of study responsive to the student’s interests and goals and designed to meet the requirements of the History Department. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their advisors regularly, especially before enrolling for their first and last semesters. Questions about advising may be directed to the History Department by email (his@uis.edu), or phone at (217) 206-6779. Students who are enrolled in the Teacher Education Program (TEP) must consult regularly with their TEP advisor.
Grading Policy (All HIS Majors)
History courses for which the student has attained a grade of C or better will be applied toward the B.A. degree (grades of C- or lower will not be accepted). History courses taken as CR/NC will be applied toward the degree if a grade of CR is attained. History majors may repeat program courses for grade improvement only once without seeking department approval.
Degree Requirements for All HIS Students
Lower-division Requirements
To pursue a major in history, students must complete two courses from the following list of classes on historical regions and themes (six hours total). The two courses must be from different categories of historical regions and themes. Alternatively, students can transfer equivalent courses from an accredited institution. Comparative Societies courses with an HIS prefix can be used to fulfill both the Comparative Societies requirements and history lower-division requirements provided students graduate with sufficient total credits.
Categories of Historical Regions and Themes (6 Hours)
World History | ||
HIS 118 | Making of the West | 3 |
HIS 119 | Gods & Heroes of Early Europe | 3 |
Comparative Religion | ||
HIS 150 | Topics in Comparative Religion | 3 |
Europe | ||
HIS 202 | European History | 3 |
HIS 212 | History of Russia: Peter I to Putin | 3 |
United States | ||
HIS 204 | U.S. History to 1877 | 3 |
or HIS 205 | U.S. History Since 1877 | |
Middle East | ||
HIS 160 | Topics in Middle Eastern History | 3 |
HIS 161 | Introduction to the Modern Middle East | 3 |
HIS 211 | Women in the Middle East | 3 |
East Asia | ||
HIS 176 | History of Premodern East Asia | 3 |
or HIS 177 | History of Modern East Asia |
Graduation Requirements
Upper-division Core Requirements | ||
HIS 301 | The Historian’s Craft 1 | 3 |
HIS 401 | Senior Seminar 1 | 3 |
Eight hours of non-U.S. History Courses from the following: | 8 | |
Topics in Warfare | ||
ECCE: Culture Wars/Europe | ||
Islamic Civilization | ||
ECCE: Reading Arab Pasts | ||
ECCE: Conflict in the Middle East | ||
ECCE: Christian-Muslim Encounters | ||
ECCE: Democracy and Democratic Theory | ||
Alexander the Great | ||
ECCE: Cleopatra’s Egypt | ||
Rise of Rome | ||
Caesar to Charlemagne | ||
Egyptology | ||
ECCE: Politics and Religion: Culture Wars | ||
Ancient Sport and Spectacle | ||
World Environmental Thought | ||
Europe in the 18th Century: The Enlightenment | ||
ECCE: Conflict in 19th Century Europe | ||
Europe In The 20th Century | ||
Renaissance and Reformation Europe | ||
Topics in 20th Century World History | ||
ECCE: The Pacific War: World War II in East Asia | ||
Imperial Russia | ||
History of the Soviet Union | ||
ECCE: Nationalism and Imperialism | ||
Modern China | ||
Premodern Japan | ||
Modern Japan | ||
ECCE: From Vikings to Hackers: A Pirate’s World History | ||
Topics in Pre-Modern World History | ||
Women in Chinese and Japanese History | ||
Samurai in History and Romance | ||
Anime, History, and Memory | ||
Cold War and the Middle East | ||
History of Christmas | ||
Eastern Christianity | ||
Upper Division Elective History Courses | ||
Options: any 300-level or 400-level HIS course not used to fulfill another HIS degree requirement. | 19 | |
Total Hours | 33 |
1 |
Students must earn no less than a C in HIS 301 as a prerequisite for HIS 401. HIS 301 and HIS 401 may not be taken during the same semester. |
Students should consult with academic advisors in the major for specific guidance regarding completion of general education requirements.
Courses from other departments may count for history credit when they support the student’s degree plan and are approved in advance.