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  • Program Overview

    Studying history will help you understand the root causes of contemporary issues and problems, and develop a skill set useful in a range of careers.

    As a history major, you will come to understand the dynamics of political and social change. You'll delve into the factors, processes, and contingencies that combine to create change over time - and learn about the distinct and intersecting histories of groups in the United States and abroad differentiated by race, gender, ethnicity, class, religion, sexuality, and culture.

    Through courses that range in scope from the local to the national to the international, from New England to the American West to modern China, you will learn different approaches to historical research and will be introduced to recent trends within the discipline. A long list of interesting elective courses allows you to personalize your program to pursue your interests.

    We also offer an optional secondary education concentration within the history degree program.

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  • Curriculum

    Curriculum Requirements - Total Credits Required: 125-126

    Note: A HST course can be taken to satisfy the World Cultures thematic category, but cannot also count towards completing a history elective.

    First Year - Credits: 32-33

    • World Languages  (Cr: 6)
    • History Survey Sequence   (Cr: 6)
    • Individual and Society General Education Requirement   (Cr: 3)
    • Quantitative Reasoning General Education Requirement   (Cr: 3)
    • Science and Technology General Education Requirement   (Cr: 3-4)
    • ENG 111 - Critical Reading and Writing I (Cr: 3)
      Satisfies the Writing Designated Core requirement.
    • ENG 112 - Critical Reading and Writing II (Cr: 3)
      Satisfies the Writing Designated Core requirement.
    • HST 201 - Contemporary Approaches to History (Cr: 3)
    • INT 100 - Internship I (Cr: 2)

    Sophomore - Credits: 32

    • Aesthetic Awareness and Creative Expression General Education Requirement   (Cr:3)
    • Global Issues General Education Requirement   (Cr: 3)
    • Literary Perspectives General Education Requirement   (Cr: 3)
    • U.S. History Requirement    (Cr: 3)
    • World Cultures General Education Requirement   (Cr: 3)
    • World History Requirement    (Cr: 3)
    • Electives    (Cr: 6)
    • INT 200 - Internship II (Cr: 2)
    • ENG 218 - Argument Based Writing (Cr: 3)
    • HST 235 - Public History (Cr: 3)
      Satisfies the Values & Ethical Reasoning General Education Requirement

    Junior - Credits: 31

    • Diverse Perspectives Requirement    (Cr: 3)
    • General Education Electives   (Cr: 9)
      (one must be above the 100 level)
    • History Electives    (Cr: 9)
      (two must be above the 300 level)
    • Electives   (Cr: 6)
    • HST 379 - Semester Internship Strategies (Cr: 1)
    • IDS 302 - Methods of Inquiry in the Humanities (Cr: 3)
      Satisfies the Writing Designated Requirement

    Senior - Credits: 30

    • Electives    (Cr: 9)
    • General Education Elective  (Cr: 3)
      (must be above the 100 level)
    • HST 480 - Semester Internship (Cr: 12)
    • HST 489 - Senior Research (Cr: 3)
    • HST 490 - Senior Thesis (Cr: 3)
      Or
    • HST 491 - Senior Capstone (Cr: 3)

    History Survey Sequence

    History majors are required to complete a history survey sequence (United States History I and II, Western Civilization I and II, or World History I and II).

    History Major Requirements

    To meet the History Major's U.S. History, World History, and Diverse Perspectives requirements, students must choose one course from each of the following lists. At least two of the three courses must be taken at the 300 or 400 level.

    United States History

    • HST 217 - Immigrants and Refugees in World and United States History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 225 - The Salem Witch Trials (Cr: 3)
    • HST 226 - Early American History and Literature (Cr: 3)
    • HST 227 - Boston History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 229 - The American West (Cr: 3)
    • HST 230 - African-American History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 306 - New England History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 317 - Civil Rights Movement (Cr: 3)
    • HST 330 - History of Sexuality in the United States (Cr: 3)
    • HST 340 - Women in American History and Culture (Cr: 3)
    • HST 380 - Environmental History (Cr: 3)
    • REL 251 - Religion in American Life (Cr: 3)

    History Electives

    To meet the History Electives requirements, students must choose four courses with the HST prefix (excluding HST 201 Contemporary Approaches to History). Students must take at least two of these courses at the 300 or 400 level.

    World History

     

    • HST 217 - Immigrants and Refugees in World and United States History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 218 - Topics in World History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 220 - African History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 222 - Modern Irish History and Literature (Cr: 3)
    • HST 232 - Modern European History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 245 - The History of Modern China (Cr: 3)
    • HST 260 - Modern Latin American History and Culture (Cr: 3)
    • HST 280 - Middle East History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 302 - Russia: From Revolution to the Post-Soviet Era (Cr: 3)
    • HST 310 - Economies and Peoples (Cr: 3)

    Diverse Perspectives

    • HST 217 - Immigrants and Refugees in World and United States History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 220 - African History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 229 - The American West (Cr: 3)
    • HST 230 - African-American History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 245 - The History of Modern China (Cr: 3)
    • HST 260 - Modern Latin American History and Culture (Cr: 3)
    • HST 280 - Middle East History (Cr: 3)
    • HST 317 - Civil Rights Movement (Cr: 3)
    • HST 340 - Women in American History and Culture (Cr: 3)
    • HST 380 - Environmental History (Cr: 3)
    • REL 251 - Religion in American Life (Cr: 3)

    Learning Outcomes

    Upon completion of the history program, students will:

    • Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary approaches to the study of history.
    • Communicate effectively in written form within the conventions of the discipline of history.
    • Interpret primary sources and use them to develop historical arguments.
    • Explain the historical roots of various contemporary issues.
    • Trace the broad contours of US history, the history of western civilization, or world history (after meeting the two-course survey sequence in one of these areas and taking other courses in the major).
    • Explain the histories of groups in the United States and abroad, as differentiated by race, gender, ethnicity, class, and culture.
    • Demonstrate the critical inquiry and analysis skills needed to engage constructively in intellectual discourse within the discipline.
    • Make connections between their major and professional opportunities through a variety of internships.

    View academic catalog and learning outcomes
  • Internships and Careers

    An Endicott education means you'll graduate with a degree and a resume.

    Whether you pursue graduate school right away, or embark on your career after graduation, we believe that your time at Endicott will prepare you for the next step. Take a look at what our graduates have been up to lately.

    Recent Internships

    • Governor's Office-Massachusetts State House
    • Massachusetts Historical Society
    • Peabody Essex Museum
    • Merrimack College Student Affairs Office
    • Phoenix Media Communications Group

    Alumni Employment

    • Natick Public Schools
    • Creedon and Company, Inc.
    • Luzerne County Historical Society
    • Boston University School of Law

    Graduate School Acceptances

    • Providence College
    • Boston University Law School
    • Suffolk Law School
    • Endicott College Van Loan School of Graduate and Professional Studies