History
What is a B.A./B.S. in History?
History is a major within the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences that permits study in nearly all aspects of human life and interaction. One of the benefits of a History degree is that it intersects all other fields of academic inquiry. While investigating the evolution of human interaction, students learn about war, economics, politics, gender, culture, geography, sociology, science, and many more other areas since each of them have a unique history of there own. Our faculty has diverse areas of expertise whether it is a geographic interest in the Americas, Europe, Africa, or the Far East, or a temporal interest in the Medieval, Early Modern, or Modern Ages. A degree in history is not just about memorizing dates and places either. By analyzing historical documents in order to come to a greater understanding regarding the interpretation of previous events, students develop a broad range of skills that translate into real world success due to the versatile nature of the field’s strengths. Developing a proficiency in critical thinking/analysis, communication, writing, and technology assists students both professionally and personally as they navigate their way through the myriad of choices available in modern life.
Am I a good candidate for the History program at West Liberty?
If you are driven to understand how the world works, how it came to its present situation, and more importantly how to take the lessons of the past and apply them towards solving the problems of the future, then a degree in history might be for you. You will be required to read a variety of styles of literature, work hard, question authority, and learn how to think for yourself rather than simply repeating the information of the past. Historical scholarship requires self-discipline and a dedication to “reading between the lines” in order to uncover the hidden meaning behind authors’ intentions. Furthermore, an eye for detail, a creative mind, and a desire to understand the results of human interaction are keys to success in history.
Program Requirements
There are no entry requirements to join the History degree program here at West Liberty University. However, every student must successfully finish a capstone research course before the degree will be conferred. This course entails the completion of a journal length research article and presentation of this paper before a faculty committee.
Depending upon each student’s area of interest, prospective History degree seekers will work individually with the faculty members whose research areas intersect those of the student. This individual attention by the faculty permits greater guidance and support in an effort to meet the professional standards of the discipline of History.
Students must also have an overall G.P.A. of 2.0 or higher in all of their completed courses.
What are the opportunities within the field of History?
The list of potential careers for historians is almost endless since the versatility of the degree and skills associated with it lend themselves to creating a number of opportunities. Traditional avenues of employment for historians are as educators, researchers, and authors. Yet more and more history degrees are seen as the foundation for legal, governmental, and consulting jobs as well. A Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in History can lead to any one of the following careers:
- Elementary and Secondary school teacher
- Preservationist of historical sites
- Museum curator
- Journalist
- Author
- Documentary editor
- Archivists
- Librarians
- Lawyers and Paralegals
- Intelligence analyst
- Television/Movie consultant
- Politics
Highlights of the History degree program at West Liberty University
Diverse Faculty – West Liberty maintains a faculty with diverse research interests who stay current with recent scholarship. American, European, and Global studies are all components of the curriculum.
Curriculum Flexibility – The list of required courses for a History degree is minimal. This permits students greater opportunity to craft the degree they want by focusing on historical topics related to their specific interests.
Phi Alpha Theta – The Sigma Psi chapter of the national history honor society here at West Liberty provides numerous opportunities for students of history. Phi Alpha Theta holds a multitude of conferences and has a plethora of awards/scholarships available to its members.
History Club –The social aspects of the History Club involve promoting a broad range of interest in history by hosting movie nights, historically based game nights, and field trips to areas of historical interest. Educationally, students can engage in material history, learning not only what clothing, arms, and armor the people of history had, but also how to make these items themselves and then take this information into the community.
Individual attention – Many of our classes, especially the upper level ones, enroll less than 10 people per class. This allows the opportunity to have one on one instruction directly with the faculty.
SAMPLE CURRICULUM
General Studies…….……………………………………………………..48cr
Social Science Core………………………………..………………………24 cr
ECON 101 – Principles of Macroeconomics
GEO 205 – Intro to Geography
HIST 104 – History of Civilization II
HIST 211 – History of US Since 1865
POLS 101 – Basic Concepts of Politics and Government
POLS 201 – National Government
SOC 150 – Introduction to Sociology
SS 100 – Global Issues
History Concentration…………………………………………………….34 cr
HIST 103 – Hist of Civilization I
HIST 210 – Hist of US to 1865
21cr of History Electives
SS 450 – Research Design
SS 451 – Research Design Lab
SS 480 – Social Science Capstone
Additional Electives to total……………………………………………128cr
For more information, contact Dr. Owens (US History), Dr. Reigel (World History), Dr. Cox (Ancient/European History) or Ms Czernek (US & Ancient History)
