Academic Catalog

History: General Track (BA)

Program Description

The History major and minor programs at SPU invite students to discover the complex worlds of the past across the globe, exploring cultural, political, and economic connections within and among societies. Our program emphasizes the usefulness of History in understanding social and economic inequalities and challenges, and the role that History can play in crafting solutions. As we study the past, we cultivate the practice of empathy and foster Christian hope for the future.

Entering and Completing the Major

In order to earn a degree, you must complete at least one academic major. SPU encourages students to explore various academic paths, so if you change your mind about a major, or want to include an additional program, you are able to do so, as outlined below.

Note that the University encourages you to enter your chosen major(s) as soon as you have determined it and are eligible to join it, especially by the start of your junior year. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should enter a major within their first two quarters at SPU.

If this is your first quarter at SPU and you identified a major in this department as your first choice on your application for admission to the University, you have gained entry to the major. To change or add a major, follow these instructions.
If you are an SPU student with an SPU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, follow these instructions to enter a major in this department.
The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
To advance in this program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major or minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major.
You must complete the major requirements that are in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year you enter the major.

History: General Track (BA)

60 Credits Minimum, Including 30 Upper Division (UD)

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Thinking Historically
HIS 2857	Historiography: World Historians	3
Select one of the following:		5
HIS 1357	The Game of Life: World War II
HIS 1490	Life and Death in World Cities
HIS 1734	War on Terror: History of Our Lives
Section Credits Required		8
Understanding Systems in History
UCOR 2000	The Emergence of the Modern Global System	5
Select one of the following:		5
HIS 2502	The United States to 1876
HIS 2503	The United States Since 1876
Section Credits Required		10
Doing History ¹
HIS 2881	Careers in History: What to Tell My Parents	1
Select one of the following:		3
HIS 3358	Race, Sexuality, and Religion in Postwar Europe
HIS 3725	Women and Gender in the Middle East
HIS 3767	Religion, Revolution and Social Changes in China
HIS 3813	History Online
Section Credits Required		4
Structured Electives Before 1800 ²
Select one of the following:		5
HIS 2417	Religious Traditions of Asia
HIS/CLA 3100	Ancient Civilization
HIS/CLA 3170	Classical Civilization
HIS 3200	Ancient and Medieval Worlds
Section Credits Required		5
Structured Electives After 1800 ³
Select one of the following:		3
HIS 2418	Modern Expressions of Asian Religions
HIS 3366	The Holocaust in Prague: Jewish Experiences
HIS/POL 3440	War, Peace World Order
HIS 3600	History of the Pacific Northwest
HIS/POL 3670	History of United States Foreign Relations
Section Credits Required		3
Structured Electives: World Regional Surveys ⁴
Select two from the following:		10
HIS 3720	Rise of Islamic Civilization
HIS 3730	History of the Modern Middle East
HIS/SOC 3750	Latin America
HIS 3765	Family, State and Patriarchy in East Asia
HIS 3785	Trade, War, and The Making of East Asian Modernities
HIS 3786	Nation, City and Identity in China: From Opium Wars to Megacities
HIS 3790	History of Africa
Section Credits Required		10
Structured Electives: Christian Perspectives in History ⁵
Select one of the following:		3
HIS 3387	Christianity in Asia
HIS 3406	Christianity in America
or THEO 3303	Christianity in America
HIS 3444	Humanitarianism: Promises and Problems
HIS 3445	Genocide: A Comparative Study
HIS 3448	Refugees and Human Trafficking: History of Forced Migration and the Law
HIS 3788	Pandemics, Empire and Survival of Asia and the World
Section Credits Required		3
General History Electives ⁶
Select credits 10-14 credits to reach 60 total and at least 30 UD		14
HIS 2870	Introduction to Museum Studies and Public History
HIS 3861	Presenting History
HIS 4905	Museum Appreciation and Critical Encounter
HIS 4940	History Internship
HIS 4970	Independent Research
Section Credits Required		14
Capstone
HIS 4899	History Capstone	3
Section Credits Required		3
Total Credits		60

¹: Counts for Doing History if not used elsewhere: HIS 3861, HIS 4940, HIS 4970
²: Counts for Before 1800 if not used elsewhere: HIS 3403, HIS 3405, HIS 3720, HIS 3765, HIS 3382, THEO 3405
³: Counts for After 1800 if not used elsewhere: HIS 3406, HIS 3444, HIS 3445, HIS 3448, HIS 3496, HIS 3730, HIS 3750, HIS 3785, HIS 3786, HIS 3790, THEO 3303
⁴: Counts for World Regional if not used elsewhere: HIS 2417, HIS 2418, HIS 3387
⁵: Counts for Christian Perspectives if not used elsewhere: HIS 3366, THEO 3301, THEO 3302
⁶: Any HIS course not already used can count here

Suggested Course Sequence

Note: There is flexibility in this program. We also provide completion checklists for all History students.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman		Credits
Select one of the following WKSS course:		5
HIS 1357	The Game of Life: World War II
HIS 1490	Life and Death in World Cities
HIS 1734	War on Terror: History of Our Lives
HIS 2881	Careers in History: What to Tell My Parents	1
Lower Division Elective		5-10
	Credits	11-16
Sophomore
HIS 2857	Historiography: World Historians	3
UCOR 2000	The Emergence of the Modern Global Systems	5
HIS 2502 or HIS 2503	The United States to 1876 or The United States Since 1876	5
Structured Electives		5-10
	Credits	18-23
Junior
Select one of the following Junior-Level Research Seminar Courses ¹		3
HIS 3358	Race, Sexuality, and Religion in Postwar Europe
HIS 3387	Christianity in Asia
HIS 3725	Women and Gender in the Middle East
HIS 3767	Religion, Revolution and Social Changes in China
Structured Electives		10-15
	Credits	13-18
Senior
HIS 4899	History Capstone ²	3
Structured Electives		10-15
	Credits	13-18
	Total Credits	55-75

¹: All but HIS 3358 Race, Sexuality, and Religion in Postwar Europe are 3credits
²: Note: Offered in Autumn Quarter