Chair and Professor: W. Lucas (PhD), 450-3158
Professor: D. Welky (PhD)
Associate Professor: D. Jones (PhD), M. Kithinji (PhD), D. O’Hara (PhD), R. Pauly (PhD), M. Rosenow (PhD), V. Scribner (PhD), Z. Smith (PhD), S. Toudji (PhD)
Assistant Professor: H. Anderson (PhD), C. Craun (PhD), J. Maefield (PhD)
Lecturer II: B. Foster (PhD), K. Little (PhD)
[1] Purposes
History is at the center of a liberal arts education. It provides us not only with a memory of the past – a sense of how people, groups, states, and nations arrived at where they are now – but also perspectives on other cultures and civilizations, past and present, and an appreciation for the varieties and ambiguities of the human experience. By educating students about their own past and the past of others, using evidence from different times and places, the Department of History seeks to prepare students for responsible citizenship at home and in the world community.
The department stresses the development of critical reading and thinking skills, reasoning, oral and written communication, and the analysis and interpretation of conflicting evidence. Above all, the history program emphasizes the cultivation of sensitivity to human differences and values. Historical study prepares students for careers in teaching, law, journalism, public history, local, state, and national service, business, and graduate study in history or in other disciplines.
[2] Honors in History
Students who major in History and who demonstrate exceptional ability may be invited to enter the Honors in the Major Program. For details, see Honors in the Major Program.
[3] Baccalaureate Degrees
The Department of History offers four baccalaureate degree programs: the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) in Social Studies, History Emphasis; the Bachelor of Arts (BA) with a major in history; the Bachelor of Science (BS) with a major in history; and the Bachelor of Arts (BA) major in African and African-American Studies. The BSE program prepares students for careers in secondary education, and successful completion brings teacher licensure from the Arkansas Department of education to teach social studies. The history major prepares students for a wide variety of careers including public service, law, media relations, museums and libraries, business, information systems, publishing, and education.
[3.1] Bachelor of Arts
[Back to program-of-study links]
The degree of Bachelor of Arts, with a major in history, requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements; (3) major and related course requirements as indicated below; and (4) a minor as worked out with the student’s minor advisor or two twelve-hour interest areas as outlined in § 3.1.1.5. History students with an interest in the humanities or graduate study are encouraged to pursue this degree.
UD = Upper Division
D = Diversity
I = Critical Inquiry
Z = Capstone Experience
[3.1.1] Major in History and Related Requirements (45 hours)
History Core courses are used to satisfy lower-division UCA Core requirements in Critical Inquiry and Diversity, and students can choose history courses to fulfill the upper-division UCA Core requirements in Diversity, Critical Inquiry, Responsible Living, and Communication. Students will take HIST 4300 Seminar as the required UCA Core capstone.
Mathematics Pathway: First-time, first-year students majoring in History enter the Quantitative Literacy Mathematics Pathway and must enroll in MATH 1360 during their first year of study, unless they have been awarded credit that completes their 1000-level math requirements.
[3.1.1.1] Foundational Survey Courses (select any three from the list below: 9 credit hours)
HIST 1310 From Mummies to Mongols: World History from Ancient Times to the Early Modern Period (World History I) [ACTS: HIST1113]
HIST 1320 From Galileo to Gandhi: World History from the Early Modern Period to the Present (World History II) [ACTS: HIST1123]
HIST 1330 Introduction to African and African American History
HIST 1399 A History of Today: The World Since 1945
HIST 2301 The Making of America: US History to 1877 (American Nation I) [ACTS: HIST2113]
HIST 2302 America in the Modern Era: US History Since 1877 (American Nation II) [ACTS: HIST2123] Upper-division US history hours may be substituted with departmental approval.
HIST 2310 Introduction to Asian History
HIST 2360 History of England to 1688
[3.1.1.2] Research Methods and Writing (9 credit hours)
HIST 2390 The Historian’s Craft [See Note 1.]
HIST 3390 Historiography: Reading and Writing History [See Note 2.]
HIST 4300 Seminar [UD UCA Core: Z] [See Note 3.]
Note 1
Note 2
Note 3
[3.1.1.3] History BA Electives (18 credit hours)
Please note: The following HIST courses are specific to the BSE in Social Studies (History Emphasis) and may not be used to complete requirements for the BA in History: HIST 2304, 3310, 4310, 4351, and 4T90.
History electives chosen must include at least 3 hours from United States history [UD UCA Core: I] and—selected from the World History electives—3 hours from European history, and 3 hours from African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern history [UD UCA Core: D]. All elective credit hours must be upper-division. These electives may also satisfy the UCA Core requirements in Communication, Critical Inquiry, Diversity, and Responsible Living (see designations in the History electives lists).
[3.1.1.4] History BA Related Course Requirements (9 credit hours)
Students must select 9 credit hours from the following, of which 3 must be in a foreign language.
- 3–9 hours of foreign language. Students with prior experience in any foreign language taught at UCA should take a placement exam before enrolling in their first language course and begin in the level of their placement. A student may receive university credit by examination under certain conditions. See Placement and Credit by Examination in the School of Language and Literature section of this bulletin. Note that the following language courses will not count toward that requirement: 2V12 and 2340.
- 0-6 hours of Study Abroad/Away (including continuing language immersive Study Abroad courses)
- 0-6 hours of Communications-focused courses (any of the following courses): COMM3303, CRWR 3330, JOUR 3311 , JOUR 3363, JOUR 3373, PRLS 4308, WRTG 3390, WRTG 4320
[3.1.1.5] History BA: Minor or Elective Areas of Interest
Students may select either any existing minor or two 12-hour elective course groups that best match their interests and desired career goals. Students choosing the second option MUST take 12 hours from one of these CAHSS interdisciplinary minors: African/African-American Studies, Asian Studies, Gender Studies, Latin American & Latino Studies, Southern & Arkansas Studies. Then select 12 hours from one of the four interest areas listed below. Check the appropriate course page in this bulletin for details and possible prerequisites.
BA Interest Area 1: Public History (careers in libraries, museums, archives, and historic preservation)
ART: Art History in geographical/chronological area of interest: 2325, 2335, 2336, 3302, 3307, 3311, 3329, 3335, 3385
CRWR 3330 Forms of Creative Nonfiction
FINA 4376 Entrepreneurial and Small Business Finance
IDSN 3340 History of Interiors, Architecture, and Furniture I
IDSN 3341 History of Interiors, Architecture, and Furniture II
JOUR 3311 Digital Imaging
JOUR 3363 Audio Journalism
JOUR 3373 News Documentary and Public Affairs Production
PRLS 4308 Social Media Management
PRLS 4310 Nonprofit Public Relations
WRTG 3310 Technical Writing
WRTG 4308 Writing for Change: Advocacy Writing
BA Interest Area 2: Pre-Law and Public Service (careers in law, politics, public service, community organizing, and nonprofits)
CRIM 2300 Foundations of Criminal Justice
CRIM 3361 Criminal Courts
CRIM 3370 Criminology
CRIM 4385 Global Crime
PADM 3320 Public Policy Analysis
PHIL 2305 Critical Thinking
PHIL 3320 Ethics
PHIL 4320 Applied Ethics
PSCI 3315 International Law and Organizations
WRTG 4308 Writing for Change: Advocacy Writing
BA Interest Area 3: Graduate School (careers in law, higher education, history, editing, and publishing)
CRWR 3330 Forms of Creative Nonfiction
ENGL: Literature class that corresponds to geographical/chronological interest: 2305, 2306, 2312, 2313, 2316, 2319, 2320, 4301, 4305, 4311, 4312, 4321, 4325, 4362 4380, 4383
WRTG 2325 Introduction to Rhetoric
WRTG 3305 Writing as Information Design
WRTG 3307 Introduction to Editing
WRTG 3315 Center for Writing and Communication Practicum
BA Interest Area 4: Business and Media (careers in social media, marketing, sales, consulting, journalism and publishing, entertainment, museum curation, and nonprofits)
ACCT 2310 Principles of Accounting I
ECON 2320 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 2321 Principles of Microeconomics
JOUR 3311 Digital Imaging
JOUR 3363 Audio Journalism
JOUR 3373 News Documentary and Public Affairs Production
MGMT 2341 Basic Management
MKTG 2350 Basic Marketing
MKTG 2376 Business Innovation and Creative Thinking
PRLS 4308 Social Media Management
PRLS 4310 Nonprofit Public Relations
WRTG 3307 Introduction to Editing
WRTG 3310 Technical Writing
[3.2] Bachelor of Science
[Back to program-of-study links]
The degree of Bachelor of Science, with a major in history, requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements; (3) major and related course requirements as indicated below; and (4) a minor as worked out with the student’s minor advisor or two twelve-hour areas of interest as outlined in § 3.2.1.5. Students interested in the social sciences, public history, information systems, environmental sciences, museum curation and archival preservation should pursue this degree.
[3.2.1] Major in History and Related Requirements (45 credit hours)
History Core courses are used to satisfy lower-division UCA Core requirements in Critical Inquiry and Diversity, and students can choose history courses to fulfill the upper-division UCA Core requirements in Diversity, Critical Inquiry, Responsible Living, and Communication. Students will take HIST 4300 Seminar as the required UCA Core capstone.
Mathematics Pathway: First-time, first-year students majoring in History enter the Quantitative Literacy Mathematics Pathway and must enroll in MATH 1360 during their first year of study, unless they have been awarded credit that completes their 1000-level mathematics requirements.
[3.2.1.1] Foundational Survey Courses (select any three from the list below: 9 credit hours)
HIST 1310 From Mummies to Mongols: World History from Ancient Times to the Early Modern Period (World History I) [ACTS: HIST1113]
HIST 1320 From Galileo to Gandhi: World History from the Early Modern Period to the Present (World History II) [ACTS: HIST1123]
HIST 1330 Introduction to African and African American History
HIST 1399 A History of Today: The World Since 1945
HIST 2301 The Making of America: US History to 1877 (American Nation I) [ACTS: HIST2113]
HIST 2302 America in the Modern Era: US History Since 1877 (American Nation II) [ACTS: HIST2123] Upper-division US history hours may be substituted with departmental approval.
HIST 2310 Introduction to Asian History
HIST 2360 History of England to 1688
[3.2.1.2] Research Methods and Writing (9 credit hours)
HIST 2390 The Historian’s Craft [See Note 4.]
HIST 3390 Historiography: Reading and Writing History [See Note 5.]
HIST 4300 Seminar [UD UCA Core: Z] [See Note 6.]
Note 4
Note 5
Note 6
[3.2.1.3] History BS Electives (21 credit hours)
Please note: The following HIST courses are specific to the BSE in Social Studies (History Emphasis) and may not be used to complete requirements for the BS in History: HIST 2304, 3310, 4310, 4351, and 4T90.
History electives chosen must include at least 3 hours from United States History [UD UCA Core: I] and—selected from the World History courses listed below—3 hours from European history, and 3 hours from African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern history [UD UCA Core: D]. All elective credit hours must be upper-division. These electives may also satisfy the UCA Core requirement in Communication, Critical Inquiry, Diversity, and Responsible Living (see designations in the electives lists). Students must also take 6 hours from the Science-Focused History courses category.
[3.2.1.4] History BS Related Course Requirements (6 credit hours)
Students must select 6 credit hours from the following: CISA 3300, CISA 3335, CISA 3339, CISA 3343, CISA 3366, CSCI 1470, CSCI 1480, CSCI 2310, CSCI 2320, GEOG 2330, GEOG 2345, GEOG 2475, GEOG 3306, GEOG 3403, GEOG 3404, GEOG 4309, MATH 1360, MATH 2311, MATH 2441, MATH 3311, MATH 3381, PHIL 3310, PSCI 2312, SOC 2321. Some of these courses have prerequisite requirements (see the appropriate course page in this bulletin for details). Credit will only be granted for one of the following courses: GEOG 2330, MATH 2311, PSCI 2312, SOC 2321.
[3.2.1.5] History BS: Minor or Areas of Interest
Students may select either any existing minor or two 12-hour elective course groups that best match their interests and desired career goals. Check the appropriate course page in this bulletin for details and possible prerequisites.
BS Interest Area 1: Information Systems and Digital Humanities (careers in public history, consulting, business and marketing, or library science)
Introductory statistics: CISA 2330, MATH 2311, PSCI 2312, SOC 2321 (credit will only be granted for one introductory statistics course)
CISA 1300 Business Computing
CSCI 1300 Introduction to Computing
CSCI 1470 Computer Science I
CSCI 1480 Computer Science II
CSCI 2310 Introduction to Data Science
CSEC 2300 Introduction to Cybersecurity
ECON 2320 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 2321 Principles of Microeconomics
GEOG 2331 Research Methods
GEOG 3403 Geographic Information Systems
MATH 1395 Applied Mathematics for Business
MGMT 2341 Basic Management
PRLS 4308 Social Media Management
STEM 3300 Project Based Instruction
BS Interest Area 2: Environmental Sciences (careers in environmental consulting, environmental law, certain nonprofits, parks, or a broader medical profession)
BIOL 1401 Exploring Ecology and the Environment
BIOL 3403 General Ecology
CISA 2330 Business Statistics
COMM 2311 Business and Professional Speaking
GEOG 3301 Conservation in Environmental Science
MATH 1491 Applied Calculus for the Life Sciences
PRLS 2305 Introduction to Public Relations
PRLS 4310 Nonprofit Public Relations
WRTG 3310 Technical Writing
WRTG 4308 Writing for Change: Advocacy Writing
BS Interest Area 3: Parks, Recreation, Land Management (careers in parks, agriculture, public lands, or public history)
ANTH 3340 Environmental Anthropology
BIOL 1401 Exploring Ecology and the Environment
BIOL 3403 General Ecology
ECON 2310 Global Environment of Business
ECON 2320 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 2321 Principles of Microeconomics
FINA 3323 Real Estate
GEOG 2330 Quantitative Methods in Geography
GEOG 3403 Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 3325 Urban and Regional Planning
GEOG 4313 Recreation and Tourism
MGMT 2301 Business Communications
MGMT 2341 Basic Management
PRLS 2305 Introduction to Public Relations
PRLS 4310 Nonprofit Public Relations
PSCI 2312 Statistical Methods for Political Analysis
THEA 1300 Acting for Non-Majors
BS Interest Area 4: Curation and Preservation (careers in museums, archival preservation, conservation, museum security, maintaining/archive objects against pests and environmental damage, or archeological/anthropological museum issues)
ANTH 2325 Approaches to Archeology
ANTH 3350 Museum Anthropology
ANTH 4310 Myths and Moundbuilders
ANTH 4V80 Field Archeology
BIOL 4440 Entomology
COMM 2311 Business and Professional Speaking
CSEC 2300 Introduction to Cybersecurity
MKTG 2350 Basic Marketing
MKTG 2376 Business Innovation and Creative Thinking
MGMT 2341 Basic Management
PRLS 4308 Social Media Management
PRLS 4310 Nonprofit Public Relations
[3.3] History Elective Lists
United States History
HIST 3340 Introduction to American Indian History: 1500-Present [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 3353 African-American History Before 1868 [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 3354 African-American History, 1868 to Present [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 3381 American Military History [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4301 American Environmental History [UD UCA Core: C, R]
HIST 4302 History Of Witchcraft [UD UCA Core: I, C]
HIST 4304 Material Culture: Finding History in Everyday Things
HIST 4305 The United States and the Middle East, 1776 to the Present [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4307 Queer History of the United States [UD UCA Core: I, D]
HIST 4308 Gender in American History [UD UCA Core: I, C]
HIST 4311 American Colonial and Revolutionary History [UD UCA Core: I, C]
HIST 4322 Early National History, 1783-1848 [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4324 Topics in American History [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4327 The American West [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4330 The Civil War and Reconstruction, 1848-1877 [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4333 United States Immigration and Ethnic History from Colonial Times to Present [UD UCA Core: I, C]
HIST 4335 Diplomatic History of the United States [UD UCA Core: I, C]
HIST 4336 Work, Wealth, and Power in United States History [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4338 American History Through Film [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4339 History of Science in America [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 4340 Robber Barons, Radicals, and Reformers [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4341 The Vietnam War [UD UCA Core: I, C]
HIST 4345 The South to 1865 [UD UCA Core: I, C]
HIST 4346 The South Since 1865 [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4350 America in Depression and War, 1920-1960 [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4355 The Role of Arkansas in the Nation [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4356 Nets, Reels, Bows, and Bullets: The History of Hunting, Fishing, and Conservation [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 4358 Recent American History [UD UCA Core: I]
HIST 4359 Civil Rights Movement History [UD UCA Core: I, C]
HIST 4V91 Independent Study in History
HIST 4392 Internship in Public History
World History
HIST 3312 Comparative History of Developing Countries
HIST 3320 History of Christianity I [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 3321 History of Christianity II [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 3351 Ancient Civilization [UD UCA Core: C]
HIST 3360 Pre-Colonial African History [UD UCA Core: D]
HIST 3365 Modern African History [UD UCA Core: D]
HIST 3368 Tools of Warfare: A Study of Global Military Technologies [UD UCA Core: D]
HIST 3383 Modern China [UD UCA Core: D]
HIST 3384 Modern Japan [UD UCA Core: D]
HIST 3385 World Military History: A Survey of Global Conflict Patterns [UD UCA Core: D]
HIST 4306 Atlantic Slave Trade [UD UCA Core: D]
HIST 4317 Age of Wonders: The Natural and Supernatural in the Early Modern World [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 4328 Modern Latin America [UD UCA Core: D]
HIST 4334 Topics in European History
HIST 4343 History of Mexico [UD UCA Core: D]
HIST 4344 Topics in World History [UD UCA Core: D]
HIST 4347 Ideas and Society in Modern Europe
HIST 4360 The Mediterranean World in Late Antiquity, 300-900 AD [UD UCA Core: C]
HIST 4361 The Mediterranean World in the Medieval Period, 900-1400 AD
HIST 4362 Tudor and Stuart England, 1485-1690
HIST 4365 The History of Imperialism: A Review of World Colonial Systems [UD UCA Core: D]
HIST 4369 Victorian Britain
HIST 4370 Europe, 1815-1914
HIST 4372 Pan-Africanism, Anticolonialism, and African Unity [UD UCA Core: D, R]
HIST 4374 The European Renaissance and Reformation
HIST 4376 Europe, 1914-1939
HIST 4377 Europe Since 1939
HIST 4385 French Revolution and Napoleon
HIST 4390 Roman Civilization [UD UCA Core: C]
HIST 4V91 Independent Study in History
HIST 4392 Internship in Public History
HIST 4394 Germany Since 1918
HIST 4397 History of Ireland, 1500-Present
HIST 4398 Gender and Sexuality in East Asia [UD UCA Core: C, D]
Science-Focused History Courses
HIST 3368 Tools of Warfare: A Study of Global Military Technologies [UD UCA Core: D]
HIST 4301 American Environmental History [UD UCA Core: C, R]
HIST 4302 History Of Witchcraft [UD UCA Core: I, C]
HIST 4317 Age of Wonders: The Natural and Supernatural in the Early Modern World [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 4339 History of Science in America [UD UCA Core: R]
HIST 4356 Nets, Reels, Bows, and Bullets: The History of Hunting, Fishing, and Conservation [UD UCA Core: R]
[3.4] Minor in History (18 hours)
[Back to program-of-study links]
(1) Select two from the following list:
HIST 1310 From Mummies to Mongols: World History from Ancient Times to The Early Modern Period (World History I) [ACTS: HIST1113]
HIST 1320 From Galileo to Gandhi: World History from the Early Modern Period to the Present (World History II) [ACTS: HIST1123]
HIST 1330 Introduction to African and African American History
HIST 1375 FYS: Diversity in World Cultures
HIST 1376 FYS: Historical Perspectives on Responsible Living
HIST 1399 A History of Today: The World Since 1945
HIST 2301 The Making of America: US History to 1877 (American Nation I) [ACTS: HIST2113]
HIST 2302 America in the Modern Era: US History Since 1877 (American Nation II) [ACTS: HIST2123] (Upper-division US history hours may be substituted with departmental approval.)
HIST 2310 Introduction to Asian History
HIST 2360 A History of England to 1688
(2) And complete 12 hours of upper-division history electives, excluding HIST 3310, 4310, 4351, 4T90.
[3.5] Bachelor of Science in Education in Social Studies, History Emphasis
[Back to program-of-study links]
Persons wishing to pursue a BSE in social studies (history emphasis) must apply to the Office of Candidate Services and meet the College of Education established criteria for admission to the teacher education program. Minimum requirements that must be met specifically for the History Department [and coincide with Gate 1] before admittance into HIST 4310 (Internship 1) [Gate 2] are as follows:
- A minimum cumulative 2.70 GPA on all coursework attempted OR a minimum cumulative 2.50 GPA with a 3.00 or better GPA for the last 30 credit hours.
- A minimum 2.70 GPA in the following: all social studies content courses attempted; all minor courses attempted, HIST 4310 (Internship I), 4351 (Internship I), and 4T90 (Internship II) are not included in GPA calculation.
- A minimum 2.70 GPA for all Social Studies content courses prior to admittance into Internship I.
- All Social Studies content courses must be passed with a C grade or better prior to admittance into Internship I.
The degree requires completion of the following:
- The UCA Core. Upper-division UCA Core requirements will be met through the following required program components:
US History Electives [UD UCA Core: I]
MSIT 3310 [UD UCA Core: D and R]
MSIT 4325 [UD UCA Core: C]
HIST 4300 [UD UCA Core: Z] - The 18-hour minor in Teaching and Learning
- Fifty-four (54) hours of History/Social Studies:
- Eighteen (18) hours in Social Studies Methods (HIST 4310) and Teacher Internship (HIST 4351 Internship I and HIST 4T90 Internship II).
Note 5
Note 6
Licensure requirements are established by the Arkansas Department of Education and must be met before a teaching license is issued.
Students should refer to the College of Education page in this bulletin to determine specific requirements for admission to the professional education program as well as graduation requirements. Contact the Chair of the Department of History (450-3158), the Chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning (450-5466), or the Office of Candidate Services (450-3131) for additional information.
Mathematics Pathway: First-time, first-year students majoring in the BSE Social Studies with a history emphasis, enter the College Algebra Mathematics Pathway and must enroll in MATH 1390 during their first year of study, unless they have been awarded credit for MATH 1390.
[4] African and African-American Studies
See major/minor requirements in the interdisciplinary African and African-American program page program link.
[5] Courses in History (HIST)
Follow this link for HIST course descriptions: course link.