Prof. John Aden

Goals of the History Department

A. Content: to acquire a degree of mastery of both factual and conceptual (or thematics) knowledge in several geographical areas, diverse cultures and different time periods in human history, with particular sensitivity to change over time of a diverse, global society.

B.  The Craft of History: to acquire the habit of the many analytical skills which historians use in recovering, researching, and writing about the past.

C.  Historical Thinking: to develop habits of thinking like an historian, which means: appreciation for the complexity of both change and continuity over time and in different ages, cultures and areas of the world; an awareness of the inevitability of historical interpretation and of historiographical schools of thought; and an understanding of how events and ideas from the past affect the present.

D.  Self-Expression: to become competent and confident in the oral and written skills needed to speak and write about historical questions with facility and sensitivity.

E. Self-Development: to become an independent intellectual inquirer into the past, as well as a lifelong learner of history; and to locate oneself and one’s family, community, and cultural traditions in history.

	A student reads about Malcolm X

Comprehensive Examinations: The Written Comprehensive Exam in History is a two day exam that is designed to evaluate the students’ mastery of the core goals of the department. The first day generally consists of a take-home essay that asks students to discuss some aspect of history, approach to historical studies, or theories of history with respect to those areas of history the student has studied. The second day generally asks students to act as historians using a selected set of texts provided ahead of time.

Requirements for a Major: Students majoring in history must complete three courses (at least one of which must be at the 300 level) in two of the following areas, and at least one course in the other area:

World (second digit 0, 6, or 7)
Europe (second digit 1, 2, or 3)
Americas (second digit 4 or 5)
Advanced (300 level) courses may include independent studies.

In addition, majors must take History 497 and 498, and must maintain a portfolio of selected papers they have written for history courses (details are available in a handout from the Department Chair). Evaluation of portfolios will be an aspect of comprehensive exams in the history major.

History majors, especially those planning to pursue graduate historical studies, are urged to gain a proficiency in at least one foreign language. Proficiency is here defined as the ability to read, without undue difficulty, historical works in the appropriate foreign language.

Requirements for a Minor: A minimum of five courses to be distributed over at least two of the three areas offered by the department.