Go Back to 1st Year Requirements for All Majors
History
First Year Advising 2008-2009
The Department offers Liberal Arts majors, including the option of a Public History Emphasis, and a Teaching major. All are standard majors, 36 credits, and are similar but not identical in organization. Many students preparing to teach history are Broadfield Social Studies comprehensive majors.
Liberal Arts majors have a lot of flexibility. They can begin with any three-credit, 100 or 200 level history course. They should take two three-credit history courses at the 100 level and two three-credit history courses at the 200 level during their first four semesters. During the third or fourth semesters, students will take Hist 288 (Sophomore Seminar: Methods). Generally, they will not begin upper-division history courses until the fourth or fifth semesters. Hist 488 (Proseminar in History) and Hist 489 (Research Seminar) should be taken sequentially, generally beginning not before the sixth semester.
Public History students must take Hist 386 (Introduction to Public History), Hist 486 (Seminar in Public History) and Hist 498 (Internship) as part of their 300 and 400 level course work in history. Generally, they will begin these courses during their fourth or fifth semesters.
If possible, students with a Teaching or Social Studies major should begin with Hist 124 (World History to 1500). In the second through fourth semesters they should take Hist 125 (World History Since 1500), and two introductory courses in U.S. history. One of these must be Hist 201 (United States History to 1877).The other can be Hist 202 (United States History Since 1877), Hist 210 (African American History 1865 to Pressent), Hist 205 (American Women's History) or Hist/AIS 240 (American Indian History). If scheduling requires, students with a Teaching or Social Studies major may begin with an introductory course other than Hist 124.
COURSE SELECTION
UW-Eau Claire respects individual differences. This guide
complements rather than substitutes for individual advising.
ESSENTIAL COURSES
There are no absolutely essential courses for Liberal Arts majors, but to stay on track History majors should take one course each semester their freshman year and take Hist 288 their sophomore year.
Teaching majors have a more restricted schedule. They must ensure that all their General Education courses meet School of Education and Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction requirements. If they do so, it is possible to graduate in 4.5 years.
PROGRAM READINESS
Students with AP or IB credit will follow accelerated programs. However, they should begin with a three-credit 100 or 200 level history course (as long as they have not received credit for that specific course). These students will generally take Hist 288 in their third semester and an upper division history course in their fourth semester.
Students with weak ACT reading scores (below 20) will probably encounter difficulty in history courses, and may not want to select a history course as part of their first-semester program.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
History Teaching majors must be admitted into the College of Education and Human Sciences. See the Early Adolescence to Adolescence First Year Advising sheet or the University Catalogue for requirements. To be eligible for the pre-program, in which a student should be enrolled their sophomore year, (CI 210, Secondary School Participation and 211, Middle Level Participation), a student must pass the Pre-professional Skills Test (PPST), earn a C or higher in Engl 110 (Introduction to College Writing) or equivalent, have at least a 2.75 resident and total GPA and have earned 14 credits by the time they register for the courses.
In addition, students must take the Praxis II subject assessment in Social Studies: Content Knowledge before assignment to student teaching.
COURSES TO BE AVOIDED
Teaching majors: Psyc 100 (Introduction to Psychology); all 100 level courses in Political Science except 110 (American National Politics) and 122 (Introduction to World Politics); and all 100 level courses in History except Hist 124 or Hist 125.
COURSES NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE
FIRST SEMESTER
History majors generally should take no more than one history course each semester during their first year.
GENERAL EDUCATION
Liberal Arts History majors choose a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree within the College of Arts and Science. The General Education requirements differ depending on the degree, so the student should consult the Catalogue.
History majors planning for academic careers should obtain a reading knowledge of at least one modern foreign language. Foreign language coursework also may be required to meet General Education requirements, depending on degree selected and test score on foreign language proficiency exam.
Teaching majors follow the requirements outlined in the "Early Adolescence to Adolescence" advising sheet and in the Catalogue. In addition, History teaching majors have the following specific General Education requirements:
| Category II: | Geog 178 (Conservation of the Environment) or Biol 180 (Conservation of the Environment) |
| Category III: | Econ 103 (Principles of Microeconomics), Pols 110 |
NOTE: History majors automatically fulfill the western/non-western requirement and the foreign culture requirement for the College of Education and Human Sciences.
TYPICAL SCHEDULE
(Note: the schedule below is typical of a Teaching or Social Studies major. Liberal Arts majors can take Hist 124 and Hist 125 or they can substitute any other three-credit 100 or 200 level history courses.)
| Freshman Year | |
| First Semester | Credits |
| Hist 124 | 3 |
| Engl 110 (Introduction to College Writing) | 5 |
| General Education: Category III | 3 |
| General Education: Category II or IV (not history) | 3-4 |
| Physical Activity or Wellness theory | 1 |
|
15-16 |
| Freshman Year | |
| Second Semester | Credits |
| Hist 125 | 3 |
| Math XXX, depending on Math placement | 4 |
| General Education: Category II or IV (other than Hist) | 3-4 |
| General Education: Category III | 3 |
| Physical Activity or Wellness theory | 1 |
|
14-15 |
MESSAGES FOR NEW MAJORS
- Meet with your adviser early in the first semester.
- Check out our Online Adviser at http://www.uwec.edu/history/onlineadviser/
- Phi Alpha Theta is the History honorary society open to those who meet criteria set by the national organization.
- Information about careers in history can be found at the following Web sites:
http://www.historians.org/pubs/careers/
http://www.historians.org/pubs/Free/why/blackeyintro.htm
http://history.chass.ncsu.edu/
- A helpful link to many history related sites is: http://www.oah.org/announce/links.html
MINORS
History Teaching minors often are majoring in a foreign language, English or a social science.
Liberal Arts History minors are included in the program of students with almost every major in the College of Arts and Sciences.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
-
History Teaching majors who are not Broadfield Social Studies comprehensive majors also must complete one of 23 certifiable teaching minors (or a second certifiable major). Students interested in the Coaching minor (970-400) need to be aware that many courses in that program carry prerequisites. In particular, History Teaching majors with a Coaching minor should take Biol 151 (Biology of Humans) and Phys 100 (Physical Science) as part of their General Education programs, if possible.
-
History Liberal Arts majors may select from any minor or second major offered by the University. At least 90 credits towards graduation must be earned in the College of Arts and Sciences. Liberal Arts majors also may create their own individualized Topical Minor to meet their own interests and scholarly objectives.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Dr. Kate Lang
Hibbard Humanities Hall 718
UW-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
(715) 836-5501
langkh@uwec.edu
For frequently asked questions, please refer to History's online adviser: http://www.uwec.edu/history/onlineadviser/
To learn how to declare this major, visit http://www.uwec.edu/registrar/chgofmajor/procedures/index.htm
Academic requirements change every year. For the most current information, refer to your catalogue and degree audit.