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History

FACULTY Associate Professors Jones, Robertson (chair), Williams; Assistant Professors Brown, Gates, Scott, A., Toxqui; Temporary Assistant Professors Faber, Kidd, Smith.

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.

While some history majors prepare themselves to teach in secondary schools, junior colleges, or colleges, many other careers are open to students who have become competent in historical analysis. Professions such as business, law, library science, archaeology, museum and archival work and a variety of local, state and federal government positions are open to students majoring in history. Faculty counselors will talk with students desiring information on career opportunities.

Major Requirements

Students majoring in history must complete a minimum of 30 hours of history credit, 24 of which must be above 100 level and 15 of which must be above the 200 level. Majors, in consultation with their history advisor, must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Successful completion of Evolution of Western Civilization, a core course required of all Bradley students (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 (Western Civilization is a prerequisite for all European history courses)
  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, 211, 300; HIS 304, 305, 339, 375, 382; WMS 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.

Students desiring to earn a teaching certificate in Illinois must have a minimum of 8 hours in U. S. History and 8 hours in European or World History. They also need a total of 36 hours of history and must complete the certification requirements listed under the Department of Teacher Education (Secondary Education).

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

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 Administration in the following courses: ATG 157, 158; ECO 221/100, 222; QM 262, FIN 322, BMA 172, 342, 352; and MTG 315. Students for the minor should also complete MTH 115. The dean of the Foster College of Business Administration 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 103, HIS 104, HIS 105, HIS 107 3
  • U.S. history, 200 or 300 level 6
  • European history, 200 or 300 level 3
  • Non-Western history, 200 or 300 level 3
  • History elective 3