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History

What is a B.A./B.S. in History?

History is a major within the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences that permits study in nearly all aspects of human life and interaction.  One of the benefits of a History degree is that it intersects all other fields of academic inquiry.  While investigating the evolution of human interaction, students learn about war, economics, politics, gender, culture, geography, sociology, science, and many more other areas since each of them have a unique history of there own.  Our faculty has diverse areas of expertise whether it is a geographic interest in the Americas, Europe, Africa, or the Far East, or a temporal interest in the Medieval, Early Modern, or Modern Ages.  A degree in history is not just about memorizing dates and places either.  By analyzing historical documents in order to come to a greater understanding regarding the interpretation of previous events, students develop a broad range of skills that translate into real world success due to the versatile nature of the field’s strengths.  Developing a proficiency in critical thinking/analysis, communication, writing, and technology assists students both professionally and personally as they navigate their way through the myriad of choices available in modern life.

Am I a good candidate for the History major at West Liberty?

If you are driven to understand how the world works, how it came to its present situation, and more importantly how to take the lessons of the past and apply them towards solving the problems of the future, then a degree in history might be for you.  You will be required to read a variety of styles of literature, work hard, question authority, and learn how to think for yourself rather than simply repeating the information of the past.  Historical scholarship requires self-discipline and a dedication to “reading between the lines” in order to uncover the hidden meaning behind authors’ intentions.  Furthermore, an eye for detail, a creative mind, and a desire to understand the results of human interaction are keys to success in history.

Program Requirements

There are no entry requirements to join the History degree program here at West Liberty University.  However, every student must successfully finish a capstone research course before the degree will be conferred.  This course entails the completion of a journal length research article and presentation of this paper before a faculty committee.

Depending upon each student’s area of interest, prospective History degree seekers will work individually with the faculty members whose research areas intersect those of the student.  This individual attention by the faculty permits greater guidance and support in an effort to meet the professional standards of the discipline of History.

Students must also have an overall G.P.A. of 2.0 or higher in all of their completed courses.

What are the opportunities within the field of History?

The list of potential careers for historians is almost endless since the versatility of the degree and skills associated with it lend themselves to creating a number of opportunities.  Traditional avenues of employment for historians are as educators, researchers, and authors.  Yet more and more history degrees are seen as the foundation for legal, governmental, and consulting jobs as well.  A Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in History can lead to any one of the following careers:

  • Elementary and Secondary school teacher
  • Preservationist of historical sites
  • Museum curator
  • Journalist
  • Author
  • Documentary editor
  • Archivists
  • Librarians
  • Lawyers and Paralegals
  • Intelligence analyst
  • Television/Movie consultant
  • Politics

Highlights of the History degree program at West Liberty University

Diverse Faculty – West Liberty maintains a faculty with diverse research interests who stay current with recent scholarship.  American, European, and Global studies are all components of the curriculum.

Curriculum Flexibility – The list of required courses for a History degree is minimal.  This permits students greater opportunity to craft the degree they want by focusing on historical topics related to their specific interests.

Phi Alpha Theta – The Sigma Psi chapter of the national history honor society here at West Liberty provides numerous opportunities for students of history.  Phi Alpha Theta holds a multitude of conferences and has a plethora of awards/scholarships available to its members.

History Club –The social aspects of the History Club involve promoting a broad range of interest in history by hosting movie nights, historically based game nights, and field trips to areas of historical interest.  Educationally, students can engage in material history, learning not only what clothing, arms, and armor the people of history had, but also how to make these items themselves and then take this information into the community.

Individual attention – Many of our classes, especially the upper level ones, enroll less than 10 people per class.  This allows the opportunity to have one on one instruction directly with the faculty.

SAMPLE CURRICULUM

General Studies…….……………………………………………………..48 cr

Social Science Core (30 cr)

  • Econ 101 – Principles of Macroeconomics
  • GEO 205 – Introduction to Geography
  • GEO 206 – World Regional Geography
  • HIST 104 – History of Civilization II
  • HIST 211 – History of US, since 1876
  • POLS 101 – Basic Concepts of Sociology
  • POLS 201 – American Government
  • SOC 150 – Basic Concepts of Sociology
  • SS 250 – Statistics in the Social and Behavioral Sciences or
  • SS 251 – Qualitative Research Methods
  • SS 480 – Social Science Capstone

History Major (24 cr)

  • HIST 103 – History of Civilization I
  • HIST 210 – History of US, till 1876

Upper-Level Electives in American History (6 cr)

  • HIST 302 – West Virginia and the Appalachian Region
  • HIST 401 – The American Colonies and the New Nation
  • HIST 410 – The American Civil War Era
  • HIST 416 – US in the Progressive Era
  • HIST 420 – The US in the 20th Century
  • HIST 422 – African-American History
  • HIST 426 – Twentieth Century US Foreign Policy
  • HIST 436 – History of American Labor
  • HIST 441 – American Constitutional History
  • HIST 442 – History of the American Presidency
  • HIST 444 – native American History

Upper-Level Electives in European History (6 cr)

  • HIST 308 – History of Ancient Western World
  • HIST 309 – Medieval History
  • HIST 317 – Early Modern Europe
  • HIST 318 – The Long Nineteenth Century
  • HIST 319 – An Age of Extremes: 2oth Century Europe
  • HIST 331 – History of the British Isles to 1688
  • HIST 335 – History of the British Empire
  • HIST 337 – Modern Germany
  • HIST 341 – Twentieth Century Russia
  • HIST 418 – The Renaissance and the Reformation
  • HIST 419 – The Holocaust in History and Memory
  • HIST 451 – Ancient and Medieval Gender

Upper Electives in Non-Western History (6 cr)

  • HIST 371 – South and Southeast Asian History
  • HIST 373 – East Asian History
  • HIST 380 – History of the Middle East
  • HIST 385 – History of Africa
  • HIST 390 – History of Latin America

Additional electives to total 120 cr

For more information, contact Dr. Owens (US History), Dr. Reigel (Non-Western/World History), Dr. Cox (Ancient/European History) or Ms Czernek (US & Ancient History)