History is a foundational academic discipline providing perspective and context for meaningful citizenship and considered lives. The YSU Program in History provides outstanding preparation for rewarding careers in education and research, law, media and journalism, business and consulting, museum curation and historic preservation, and much more. The study of History also offers something even more valuable: vital skills and perspectives not tied narrowly to specific and often transient jobs, technologies, or circumstances, but broadly applicable and always relevant in an ever-changing world. These include critical thinking, analytical and research skills, cogent argumentation, and communication in both traditional and digital formats, historical imagination, and a deeper understanding of the human condition. Our programs emphasize hands-on, experiential learning in methodology and research – as well as in traditional content – at all curriculum levels.
Program requirements are simple and flexible, allowing timely completion and student-driven choice of content focus. Students will take two introductory level courses (from a choice of seven), nine upper division courses (mixing American and World offerings, with at least two from each), and a Capstone project.
Beyond the Major itself, it is recommended that students consider choosing elective courses across other disciplines in the social sciences and the humanities. Particular attention is called to courses offered in Anthropology, Geography and GIS, Political Science, Philosophy, and Sociology. Students contemplating graduate work in history should consult early and often with History faculty and the Program Coordinator.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or YSU 1500S | Youngstown State University Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Mathematics Requirement | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities (6 s.h. total. HIST 2650 fulfills 3 cr of this domain) | 3 | |
| HIST 2650 | CL History of American Democracy Grade of C or better needed for this to count toward History Major or Minor | 3 |
| Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) (6-7 s.h.) | 7 | |
| Social and Behavioral Science (6 s.h.) | 6 | |
| General Education Electives (9 s.h. Select three courses) | 9 | |
Major Requirements | ||
| Introductory Courses | ||
| Select any ONEof the following courses. Minimum grade of C required. | 3 | |
| Discovering World History | ||
| World Civilization to 1500 | ||
| World Civilization from 1500 | ||
| Turning Points in United States History 1 | ||
| Turning Points in United States History 2 | ||
| Upper Divison Courses | ||
| Select nine courses total spread between groups A (American) and B (World). You must complete at least two courses from each category. Courses that appear in both groups can only be counted in one or the other. Minimum grade of C required for each course to count. | 27 | |
Group A - American History | ||
| The Atlantic World 1 | ||
| American Military History | ||
| Early America | ||
| Nineteenth Century America | ||
| United States in Crisis: 1900-1945 | ||
| Constitutional History of the United States | ||
| History of Women in the United States | ||
| The Black Experience in American History | ||
| The Vietnam War 1 | ||
| History of Ohio | ||
| The Second World War | ||
| Select Problems in American History | ||
| Practicum in Historic Preservation | ||
| Historic Preservation Internship | ||
| American Material Culture | ||
Group B - World History | ||
| Ancient History 1 | ||
| Ancient History 2 | ||
| Early Medieval Civilization | ||
| High Medieval Civilization | ||
| Renaissance Europe | ||
| The Second World War | ||
| Modern Europe, 1715 to the Present | ||
| Modern Germany | ||
| Global Environmental History: Topics and Methods 1 | ||
| Russia to 1855 | ||
| Russia 1855 to Present 1 | ||
| How to Conquer the World: Britain and Its Empire, 1688 to the Present | ||
| The Holocaust | ||
| Medieval Britain | ||
| The First World War | ||
| International Area Study 1 | ||
| Select Problems in European History | ||
| The Atlantic World 1 | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
| Africa and the US in Global Connections | ||
| History of Modern Africa | ||
| History of South Africa | ||
| Asia to 1500 | ||
| Global Industrial Revolution | ||
| Jewish History | ||
| The Cold War World | ||
| International Area Study | ||
| Select Problems in Transnational History | ||
Capstone | ||
| HIST 4870 | Senior Research Seminar | 3 |
| Minor Requirement | 12 | |
| Students are required to take a minor of their choosing. | ||
| Free Electives | 37 | |
| Elective coursework necessary to meet 120 s.h. graduation requirement. | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
- 1
All courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. Courses may count in only one category. Seven courses in Groups A and B must be at 3700 level or higher.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Youngstown State University Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| Any ONE of the following History Surveys: HIST 1500, HIST 1511, HIST 1512, HIST 2605, HIST 2606 | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Math | 3 | |
| Gen Ed SS | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 13-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Gen Ed SS | 3 | |
| Gen Ed NS | 3 | |
| HIST 2650 CE History of American Democracy | 3 | |
| HIST 37XX | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Gen Ed NS with Lab | 4 | |
| Gen Ed Elective | 3 | |
| Elective course | 3 | |
| Minor course | 3 | |
| HIST 37XX | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Gen Ed Elective | 3 | |
| HIST 37XX | 3 | |
| Minor course | 3 | |
| HIST 37XX | 3 | |
| Elective course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| HIST 37XX | 3 | |
| HIST 37XX | 3 | |
| Minor course | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Elective | 3 | |
| Elective 37XX | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIST 37XX | 3 | |
| HIST 37XX | 3 | |
| Minor course | 3 | |
| Elective course | 3 | |
| Elective course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| HIST 37XX | 3 | |
| HIST 37XX | 3 | |
| Minor course | 3 | |
| Elective course | 4 | |
| Elective 37XX | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIST 4870 | Senior Research Seminar | 3 |
| Minor course | 3 | |
| Elective 37XX | 3 | |
| Elective 37XX | 3 | |
| Elective 15XX | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
Learning Outcomes
- (All courses) Students will demonstrate the skills necessary for the historian to analyze information and report findings effectively, by recognizing the difference between primary and secondary resources and being able to critically read and analyze their content; by effectively communicating in written and oral media; and by exhibiting satisfactory critical-thinking and synthesis skills.
- (All courses) Students will demonstrate comprehension of the basic concepts that guide the historian’s work, by understanding: the concepts of historiography and that historical interpretation is not fixed but changes over time; the significance of chronologies and the impact of cause and effect; and the importance and impact of cultural diversity on the past and its relevance in the present.
- (Applied History Courses only): Students will demonstrate the ability to translate traditional historical scholarship into media meant primarily for non-academic audiences.