History (BA)
Program Mission
The mission of the History Program is to build historical knowledge, to develop the methods of historians, to understand the historical record, and to create historical arguments and narratives, thereby influencing students to gain a greater understanding of their own place in history, as well as the significance of the Benedictine order, to appreciate the past of the Catholic faith tradition, to act as informed observers in the world, and to develop critical habits of mind and skills that will serve them in a professional capacity.
Program Outcomes
- Graduates will have knowledge of Western history focused on North America and Western Europe.
- Graduates will have knowledge of non-Western history focused on areas outside of North America and Western Europe or peoples outside of the dominant civilization of either in order to more easily live and work in a multicultural world.
- Graduates will understand and be able to use historical methods, with an emphasis on the analysis of primary sources.
- Graduates will understand and be able to use historical methods, with an emphasis on the analysis of secondary sources.
- Graduates will understand the dynamics of continuity and change over time.
- Graduates will be able to build historical arguments and narratives.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST-1100 | World Civilization to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST-1101 | World Civilization Since 1500 | 3 |
| HIST-1300 | United States History to 1865 | 3 |
| HIST-1380 | United States History Since 1865 | 3 |
| HIST-2000 | History Methods & Historiography | 3 |
| HIST-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| HIST-4000 | Seminar in History | 3 |
| Select one of the following upper-division courses in ancient or medieval history: | 3 | |
| Medieval Travelers | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| Ancient Rome | ||
| Greek & Roman History | ||
| Medieval History | ||
| Byzantine History | ||
| The Renaissance | ||
| Medieval England | ||
| Medieval Lay Religion | ||
| Ancient Egypt | ||
| Select one of the following upper-division courses in early modern or modern European history: | 3 | |
| The Reformation Era | ||
| Early Modern Europe 1600-1800 | ||
| French Revolution & Napoleon | ||
| Ninteenth-Century Europe | ||
| Europe 1954 - Today | ||
| Russian History | ||
| World War I | ||
| World War II | ||
| The Holocaust | ||
| Select one of the following upper-division courses in United States history: | 3 | |
| United States Diplomatic History | ||
| History of Kansas | ||
| United States Military History | ||
| Native America 1492-1864 | ||
| Selected Themes in Early American Histor | ||
| Early American Republic 1789-1828 | ||
| United States Civil War 1828-1865 | ||
| Reconstruction & Reform 1865-1919 | ||
| Prosperity & Depression 1919-1941 | ||
| United States Since 1945 | ||
| History of American Film | ||
| Select one of the following upper-division, non-Western courses: | 3 | |
| Medieval Travelers | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Modern Asian Survey | ||
| Native America 1492-1864 | ||
| History of Latin America | ||
| Byzantine History | ||
| Russian History | ||
| Ancient Egypt | ||
| Electives in history to make up a major of thirty-six hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
The department suggests that history majors should include additional courses in economics, political science, and English as part of their background. The department urges all majors to achieve proficiency in a second language, classical or modern.
Transfer students majoring in history must take a minimum of 40% of the coursework required for the major at Benedictine College. Transfer students pursuing a minor in history must take a minimum of 25% of the coursework required for the minor at Benedictine College.
Requirements for teaching history at the secondary level:
For students who are interested in pursuing a career teaching secondary school history, please consult the requirements listed under the Social Science major.
Suggested Sequence of Courses for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| HIST-1100 | World Civilization to 1500 | 3 |
| ENGL-1010 | English Composition | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| EXSC-1115 | Wellness for Life | 1 |
| PHIL-2100 | Principles of Nature | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| HIST-1101 | World Civilization Since 1500 | 3 |
| Person and Community Foundation | 3 | |
| Philosophical Inquiry Foundation | 3 | |
| THEO-1100 | Introduction to Theology | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Natural World Foundation | 4 | |
| HIST-1300 | United States History to 1865 | 3 |
| HIST-2000 | History Methods & Historiography | 3 |
| Faith Foundation | 3 | |
| Aesthetic Foundation | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Natural World Foundation | 3 | |
| HIST-1380 | United States History Since 1865 | 3 |
| Philosophical Inquiry Foundation | 3 | |
| Faith Foundation | 3 | |
| EXSC Fitness Course | 1 | |
| Select one of the following upper-division early modern or modern European courses: | 3 | |
| The Reformation Era | ||
| Early Modern Europe 1600-1800 | ||
| French Revolution & Napoleon | ||
| Ninteenth-Century Europe | ||
| Europe 1954 - Today | ||
| Russian History | ||
| World War I | ||
| World War II | ||
| The Holocaust | ||
| Hours | 16 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Select one of the following upper-division U.S. courses: | 3 | |
| United States Diplomatic History | ||
| History of Kansas | ||
| United States Military History | ||
| Native America 1492-1864 | ||
| Selected Themes in Early American Histor | ||
| Early American Republic 1789-1828 | ||
| United States Civil War 1828-1865 | ||
| Reconstruction & Reform 1865-1919 | ||
| Prosperity & Depression 1919-1941 | ||
| United States Since 1945 | ||
| History of American Film | ||
| Faith Foundation | 3 | |
| Aesthetic Foundation | 3 | |
| Visual Communication | 3 | |
| Written Communication | 3 | |
| Mathematical Reasoning Foundation | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Select one of the following non-Western History courses: | 3 | |
| Medieval Travelers | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Modern Asian Survey | ||
| Native America 1492-1864 | ||
| History of Latin America | ||
| Byzantine History | ||
| Russian History | ||
| Ancient Egypt | ||
| Select one of the following upper-division ancient/medieval courses: | 3 | |
| Medieval Travelers | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| Ancient Rome | ||
| Greek & Roman History | ||
| Medieval History | ||
| Byzantine History | ||
| The Renaissance | ||
| Medieval England | ||
| Medieval Lay Religion | ||
| Ancient Egypt | ||
| Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| History Electives | 6 | |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HIST-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| HIST-4000 | Seminar in History | 3 |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 128 | |