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History

FACULTY Professor Williams; Associate Professors Brown (chair), Gates, Hawkins, Scott, Toxqui; Assistant Professors Nielsen, Tronnes.

The history faculty believes that students should view history as a study of human contributions from all parts of the world. For history majors, a curriculum is planned to provide an opportunity for more detailed study of human civilizations in Europe, the Americas, and the non-Western world.

After college, history majors take their advanced skills and knowledge to work in many fields. For some, their degree becomes a stepping stone to jobs in the foreign service, government agencies, international business, journalism, law, library science, non-profit organizations, and a host of other positions. For others, interpreting the past for a broader public becomes an essential part of their daily life as archaeologists, archivists, curators at museums, and teachers in high schools, community colleges, or at other universities. Faculty advisors are available for conversations about their career opportunities.

Major Requirements

Students desiring to earn a history degree must complete a minimum of 30 hours of history credit, 24 of which must be above the 100 level and 15 of which must be above the 200 level. Students must achieve a minimum grade point average in courses in the major of no less than 2.0 in order to graduate. Specific requirements for the history degree are as follows:

    1. Successful completion of 3 hours of Western Civilization (not counted as part of the 30-hour history minimum)
    2. Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East, or Russia (6 hours, 3 of which must be 300 level or above)
    3. 6 hours of U.S. history, including either 203 or 204 and 3 hours of 300 level
    4. 6 hours of European history at the 300 level
    5. HIS 350 Historical Methods Seminar (Prerequisite: 3 hours of history or consent of instructor.)
    6. 6 hours of electives from History Department.
    7. HIS 450, 451, or 452 Research Seminar
    8. Cross-cultural component. In addition to the 30 hours, all History majors must complete one of the four following options:
      1. An approved international study experience selected from a variety of Bradley programs including international internships, Bradley Summer Semester abroad, and directed programs at selected international institutions. A minimum of 6 hours must be taken abroad. (If a student studies abroad at one of the Bradley-directed Study Abroad programs other than the Bradley European Summer Semester, the requirement of 24 hours of the last 30 hours on campus is modified to 30 of the last 60 hours. Courses taken in a Bradley-directed program during the senior year will count towards fulfilling the requirements of having 24 of the last 30 semester hours on campus).
      2. Successful completion of the equivalent of 202 in any foreign language.
      3. At least 6 hours drawn from the following courses: AAS 200, 300; HIS 304, 305, 316, 317, 333, 339, 375, 382; WGS 200, ENG 129, 190, 329, 330, 331, SOC 313, 314, 315. History courses in this category may also count towards the major.
      4. History majors can fulfill this requirement by taking one of the courses listed in category c above plus three hours of international study credit.
      5. Secondary Education students can fulfill this requirement through ETE 280 and one of the approved courses in category c, or through ETE 280 and three hours of international study credit.

History majors may earn either a B.A. or B.S. degree.

History/Social Studies Education (9-12) Major

This course of study is designed to provide graduates with the education and training to teach history/social studies at the secondary school level (grades 9-12).  Students must complete a minimum of 33 hours of history credit, as well as a minimum of 21 hours of Social Studies courses within the Psychology, Economics, Sociology, and Political Science departments, as follows:

  1. Successful completion of 3 hours of Western Civilization (not counted as part of the 30-hour history minimum).
  2. 6 hours of world history/geography survey courses (336 and 337).
  3. 12 hours of U.S. history, including 203 and 204; either 307, 315, or 316; and 3 additional hours at the 300 level.
  4. 3 hours of European history upper-level survey courses, chosen from 320, 340, 342, 343, or 382.
  5. HIS 385.
  6. An additional 3 hours of either European or Non-Western history, chosen from 314, 320–327, 329, 331, 332, 334, 335, 338–343, 345, 346, 375, or 382.
  7. HIS 350 Historical Methods Seminar.
  8. HIS 450, 451, or 452 Research Seminar.
  9. Cross-cultural component. In addition to the 33 hours, all History Social Studies Secondary Education majors must complete one of the four following options:
    1. An approved international study experience selected from a variety of Bradley programs including international internships, Bradley Summer Semester abroad, and directed programs at selected international institutions. A minimum of 6 hours must be taken abroad. (If a student studies abroad at one of the Bradley-directed Study Abroad programs other than the Bradley European Summer Semester, the requirement of 24 hours of the last 30 hours on campus is modified to 30 of the last 60 hours. Courses taken in a Bradley-directed program during the senior year will count towards fulfilling the requirements of having 24 of the last 30 semester hours on campus).
    2. Successful completion of the equivalent of 202 in any foreign language.
    3. At least 6 hours drawn from the following courses: AAS 200, 300; HIS 304, 305, 316, 317, 333, 339, 375, 382; WGS 200, ENG 129, 190, 329, 330, 331, SOC 313, 314, 315. History courses in this category may also count towards the major.
    4. Secondary Education students can fulfill this requirement through ETE 280 and one of the approved courses in category c, or through ETE 280 and three hours of international study credit.
  10. A minimum of 21 hours of Social Studies courses within the Psychology, Economics, Sociology, and Political Science departments, as follows: SOC 100; SOC 101 or SOC 300; ECO 100; PSY 101; PLS 105; PLS 202; PLS 208 or SOC 326.

In addition to the requirements described above, to receive a secondary grades (9-12) teaching endorsement in the State of Illinois, students must also complete all the education requirements as mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education, which includes 44 hours of course work in the Teacher Education - High School Education program. 

To meet the requirements of the Teacher Education - High School Education program, MTH 111 must be completed. 

For more information, see Teacher Education - High School Education program in the College of Education and Health Sciences section of this catalog.

History Major – Business Minor

This program is for the student who wishes to combine a background in both history and business for the goal of immediate employment opportunities or entrance to an MBA program. In addition to the courses in history the minor requires 30 hours in the Foster College of Business in the following courses: ATG 157, 158; ECO 221/100, 222; QM 262, FIN 322, MIS 173, BLW 342, M L 350; and MTG 315. Students for the minor should also complete MTH 115. The dean of the Foster College of Business must approve students for the minor.

History Minor

This minor is designed for students who wish to pursue a coherent and balanced program of study of history, with equal emphasis upon United States, European, and non-Western history. Students from outside or inside the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences should find this concentration of study in a traditional humanities/social sciences discipline to be especially useful in preparing for law school, graduate work in library science, civil service employment, or museum and archival management. The minor requires 18 hours total, distributed in the following manner:

        • One non-Western civilization course to be chosen from HIS 205, HIS 206, HIS 207, HIS 208- 3 hrs.
        • U.S. history, 200 or 300 level - 6 hrs.
        • European history, 200 or 300 level - 3 hrs.
        • Non-Western history, 200 or 300 level - 3 hrs.
        • History elective - 3  hrs.

This is the official catalog for the 2019-2020 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.