History
2004-2006 Undergraduate Catalog | Catalogs

Marcus Cicero observed that history “illuminates reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us the tidings of antiquity.” Historical knowledge is fundamental to an appreciation of humanity’s common bonds as well as its distinctive tapestries. An understanding of history illustrates how past values and experiences inform today’s world. This understanding helps people forge a sense of identity and create blueprints from which to construct a community. Perhaps most significantly, an awareness of the past fosters an informed citizenry capable of building and sustaining democratic traditions. In addition to becoming more informed citizens, students who study history develop a set of critical skills that prepare them to enter any number of positions requiring research, writing, and analysis. As a major or a minor, this discipline serves as a foundation for those anticipating careers in teaching, journalism, law, geography, international relations, library science, the arts, policy analysis, museum work, and archival management.

The program focuses on history from a local and national as well as a global perspective and offers undergraduate sequences in the fields of European, African, world and United States history, with individual courses in other fields. A helpful pamphlet, “For Students Who are Majoring in History,” may be obtained from the Liberal Studies Office or online at www.roosevelt.edu/history. Students in the history program may also take advantage of the resources of the University’s Center for New Deal Studies and the St. Clair Drake Center for African-American Studies.

Major in History leading to a BA degree

The major requires eleven courses in history with no grade lower than C. At least 15 semester hours must be taken at Roosevelt and at least 12 semester hours at the 300 level. Students are required to write three term papers in history approved by the faculty, or an undergraduate thesis approved by a faculty sponsor and the history faculty. History has no foreign language requirement, but students intending to do graduate study in history or whose interest is in the study of a foreign culture are strongly advised to take at least two years of a foreign language. Transfer students may substitute a Western civilization survey for Hist 111 and 112.

Minor in History

The minor requires six courses in history, including two courses chosen from: History 106, 107, 111, 112, and four upper-level courses, at least two of which must be at the 300 level. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in each course. At least two courses must be taken at Roosevelt University.