Bachelor of Arts Language Track

History Major Requirements (36 credits)

Minimum GPA for Graduation: 2.75, Major; 2.0, Cumulative

Number of Required Credits: 36

History majors must complete at least three introductory survey courses, two required methods courses, and a number of upper-division electives. Students may count up to 12 credits of lower-division coursework in history toward the history major. Major requirement courses may not be taken pass/fail.

History Major Lower-Division Requirements

Complete the following lower-division survey course requirements in sections A, B and C with a grade of C or better in each class, for a total of 9 credits.

History Major Methods Requirements

After satisfying the lower-division major requirements, students will complete two required methods courses (HIST 3000  and HIST 4990 ), and they must earn a grade of C+ or better in each class to earn credit toward the major. 

• HIST 3000 - History Research Methods 3

• Prerequisite: Two HIST courses with a grade of C or better. NOTE: HIST 1700  does not count toward the prerequisite.

• HIST 4990 - Undergraduate Research Capstone (CI) 3

• Prerequisite: HIST 3000  with a grade of C+ or better is required as well as senior standing. 

History Upper-Division Course Electives

Students take their remaining 21 credits in 3000- and 4000-level history courses (with a grade of C or better in each class). The upper-division classes provide a more focused, detailed and rigorous examination of historical periods and themes. 

Any course with a HIST prefix at the 3000 level or above is acceptable as an elective. No more than 3 credits of HIST 4930  may be applied toward the major.

Bachelor of Arts Language Track

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in history requires a minimum of proficiency in a foreign language. This proficiency may be established in one of the following ways:

1. 16 credits in a single language; or
2. Documentation of the equivalent of a foreign language course 2020-level or higher through an examination administrated by the USU Department of Languages, Philosophy, and Speech Communication; or
3. Completion of any upper-division foreign language course constituting a third-year course of study with a grade of C or better.

For non-native English-speaking students only, the following options are available:

1. Successful completion of the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) program for international students; or
2. TOEFL, Michigan, or IELI placement scores high enough to meet the University admission criteria.

Note: Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language will not meet the foreign language requirement for the BA degree in History.

Requirement for a Minor

Since the study of history requires an understanding of many fields of human behavior, students majoring in history must select a minor. These may include related disciplines such as religious studies, literature, economics, geography, anthropology, political science, sociology, classics, philosophy, and foreign languages, or students may choose a minor in any other program on campus.