Program Overview

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History - Bachelor of Arts Degree Map

The History - Bachelor of Arts degree map outlines the requirements for completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.

Requirements

The requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in History include:

• General Education Requirements
• Degree Requirements
• Major Requirements
• University Writing Requirements
• Race and Ethnic Studies Requirements
• Credit Requirements and Limits

Degree Maps and Advising

Degree maps show one possible course plan for earning a degree in four years. To graduate in four years, students need an average of 45 credits per year to reach 180 total credits, including 62 upper-division (300/400 level) credits. Students may need to take electives to reach these totals. Most courses at PSU are 4 credits each.

Bulletin or Catalog Year

The Bulletin or Catalog year defines the specific set of requirements students need to complete a degree. Requirements occasionally change, so it may benefit students to follow a different catalog. Typically, the catalog year is the year students began at PSU, but transfer students may be able to use an earlier catalog.

DARS System

Students are highly encouraged to run their own Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) report to track their progress through their program. Students need to know which catalog year they want to use for their audit request. DARS audits are advising tools and are not an official record of earning a degree, major, minor, or certificate.

Course Plan

The course plan for the History - Bachelor of Arts degree is outlined below:

First Year

• Fall:
  • First Year Inquiry or Honors (5 credits)
  • BA Second Language 101 (3-5 credits)
  • HST Lower Division Elective (4 credits)
  • Total: 12-14 credits
• Winter:
  • First Year Inquiry or Honors (5 credits)
  • HST Lower Division Elective (4 credits)
  • BA MTH/Science (3-4 credits)
  • BA Second Language 102 (3-5 credits)
  • Total: 15-18 credits
• Spring:
  • First Year Inquiry or Honors (5 credits)
  • BA Second Language 103 (3-5 credits)
  • HST Lower Division Elective (4 credits)
  • General Elective (1 credit)
  • Total: 13-15 credits

Second Year

• Fall:
  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors (4 credits)
  • BA Second Language 201 (3-5 credits)
  • HST Lower Division Elective (4 credits)
  • BA Fine & Performing Arts (3-4 credits)
  • Total: 14-17 credits
• Winter:
  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors (4 credits)
  • BA Second Language 202 (3-5 credits)
  • HST Elective (4 credits)
  • General Elective (2 credits)
  • Total: 13-15 credits
• Spring:
  • Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (3-4 credits)
  • BA Second Language 203 (3-5 credits)
  • HST Upper Division Western Elective (4 credits)
  • General Elective (4 credits)
  • Total: 14-17 credits

Third Year

• Fall:
  • Upper Division Cluster or Honors (4 credits)
  • Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (3-4 credits)
  • HST 300 (4 credits)
  • General Elective (4 credits)
  • Total: 15-16 credits
• Winter:
  • Upper Division Cluster or Honors (4 credits)
  • HST Upper Division Western Elective (4 credits)
  • General Elective (4 credits)
  • General Elective (4 credits)
  • Total: 16 credits
• Spring:
  • Upper Division Cluster or Honors (4 credits)
  • HST Upper Division Non-Western Elective (4 credits)
  • General Elective (4 credits)
  • General Elective (4 credits)
  • Total: 16 credits

Fourth Year

• Fall:
  • HST Upper Division Non-Western Elective (4 credits)
  • HST 490 (4 credits)
  • General Elective (4 credits)
  • General Elective (4 credits)
  • Total: 16 credits
• Winter:
  • HST 400 Level Elective (4 credits)
  • HST 491 (4 credits)
  • Total: 12 credits (note: students may need to add additional general elective credits to reach 180 total credits)
• Spring:
  • Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis (6 credits)
  • HST 492 (4 credits)
  • HST 400 Level Elective (4 credits)
  • Total: 14 credits

Additional Map Notes

• Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
• Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement: Two courses required, each minimum 3 credits: one course must focus on the U.S. experience; the second course must center the experiences of groups under European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism beyond the United States.
• HST 490: May be taken any term in Senior year.
• With the approval of the department Chair, up to 8 credits of elective coursework in non-History courses, taken at PSU, may be applied to the History Major. Non-History elective credits may not be applied to the History Department's requirement of a minimum of 20 credits in History coursework at the 400-level or its regional distribution requirements.
• Students may need to add additional general elective credits to their plan to reach 180 total credits.