History (BS)

The program is designed for history majors who want to pursue a general degree in History that will develop the information literacy, critical analysis, and writing skills needed for a variety of careers, including libraries and archives, management, education, sales, entrepreneurialism, law and legal-related fields, museum work, social activism, military, and public service, among others. Social Studies Education majors who double major in History can get more experience with historical research and writing methods. 

Program Requirements

Major Common Core

In this capstone course required for all history majors, students will study historical methods, professional standards, and ways to communicate history to diverse audiences. Students will actively engage in historical inquiry to complete a polished research project. Permission of the department and instructor is required.

Prerequisites: none

Major Restricted Electives

Courses may not double-count between categories.

Introductory - Choose 8 Credit(s).

Prerequisites: none

Practicum - Choose 4 Credit(s).

Students will apply historical skills and knowledge through a practical work experience at a non-profit organization, governmental agency, for-profit business, or other institution. P/N only.

Prerequisites: none

Organization and presentation of social studies in secondary schools. Preparation of units for teaching purposes, examination of materials useful to the social studies teacher. Application of national and state standards to teaching social studies. Prereq: Concurrently with KSP 420

Prerequisites: Concurrently with KSP 440

Upper-Division World - Choose 4 Credit(s).

Review of World History as a field of study.

Prerequisites: none

The history of Greece and Rome stressing political, social and economic institutions and cultural and intellectual achievements.

Prerequisites: none

A history of western monotheistic religions and their interactions with the secular world and each other from the beginnings of Judaism to the Crusades.

Prerequisites: none

A history of the Middle Ages stressing political, social and economic interactions and cultural achievements.

Prerequisites: none

European history from the later Middle Ages to the end of the Thirty Years' War (c. 1300-1648). Students will examine the intellectual, religious, and cultural developments in Western-Europe, with special attention given to social life and popular culture.

Prerequisites: none

The history of Europe from the Treaty of Westphalia to the eve of the French Revolution (1648-1789). Course emphasizes absolutism and constitutionalism, the construction of European empires, the scientific revolution and Enlightenment, and social and economic changes.

Prerequisites: none

A history of women from Classical Greece and Rome to the modern era. An analysis of the changing concepts of gender relations within a study of women as individuals and as members of socio-economic, ethnic, kin, and religious groups.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

A history of the witchcraft phenomenon in Europe from the Middle Ages to 1800. The course examines the rise and decline of the European witch hunts through the history of religion, politics, law, gender, sexuality, and social life.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

England from ancient times to the death of Elizabeth I.

Prerequisites: none

Political, social and economic development of England and Great Britain since the death of Elizabeth I.

Prerequisites: none

Review of French history from the Revolution of 1789 to the present, including such topics as origins and course of the Revolution, Napoleon, Louis XVIII to Third Republic, World War I, World War II and France since 1945.

Prerequisites: none

Political, economic, social, cultural, and immigration history of the Scandinavian countries, including major themes in the mass migration and history of Scandinavians in America. Emphasis on the period, 1500-present.

Prerequisites: none

This seminar course will deal with a specific aspect of European history as announced by the department.

Prerequisites: none

This seminar course will deal with a specific aspect of World History as announced by the department.

Prerequisites: none

A comparative history of the Chinese and Japanese nations from the 19th century to 1945.

Prerequisites: none

A comparative history of the rise of the Chinese and Japanese nations from 1945 to the present.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

History of relations of major East Asian countries with the United States from the late 18th century to the present.

Prerequisites: none

Investigation of historical developments across the African continent from pre-history through the eighteenth century. Topics will include ancient empires of West Africa, the Swahili coast, the spread of Islam, the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the formation of South Africa's multi-racial society.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Investigation of historical developments in Sub-Saharan Africa during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Topics will include trade with Europe and America, European colonization and African resistance, life in colonial Africa, independence movements, South Africa's apartheid state and the Rwanda genocide.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course traces the rise and fall of the Spanish and Portuguese Empires in America. Specific focus is given to the interactions between the European, African, and indigenous populations as they formulated societies in the Americas.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course traces the history of Latin America from the late colonial period through the present as the various countries in the region attempted to transcend their colonial past and confront the pressures of modernization and globalization.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

How do we define the Middle East? In our popular culture and media sources that we are exposed to daily, the Middle East is one of the more discussed and yet, one of the most misunderstood topics. Our goal is to both to unlearn misconceptions and to create an accurate representation of the region. Our class will start with an introduction to the region and its history and the misconceptions that are attached to it. It will then proceed from the late 18th century to the revolutionary events of recent years dubbed the Arab Spring and their aftermaths.

Prerequisites: none

An examination of the major factors influencing U.S. diplomacy since 1900. Students will examine how influential policy makers defined their diplomatic goals, and how both domestic and external factors have contributed to America's reaction to wars and revolutions around the world.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course will discuss slavery and emancipation in the Atlantic World (Africa, Latin America, and the United States). Students will discover how slavery and emancipation differed in different regions and over time.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course will examine the Vietnam War. Students will discover how and why the U.S. became involved in Vietnam, examine the specific problems faced by American diplomats and military officials, and how the war affected American society.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Upper-Division U.S. - Choose 4 Credit(s).

This course examines U.S. constitutional history from its foundations to the current day. Students will read and analyze legal material and explore how U.S. constitutional interpretations changed over time; factors affecting change and resistance; and how constitutional change both reflected and shaped U.S. society, culture, politics, and economics.

Prerequisites: none

This seminar course will deal with a specific aspect of United States history as announced by the department.

Prerequisites: none

History of relations of major East Asian countries with the United States from the late 18th century to the present.

Prerequisites: none

This course will examine Minnesota's social, political, and economic development from the earliest human habitation to the present.

Prerequisites: none

This course will examine America's political, social, economic, and cultural development from the earliest settlement of the continent by indigenous peoples to 1763, when provincial Americans began to demand more than token equality in the British Empire.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course will examine the social, economic, ideological, political, diplomatic, and military experiences of the United States between 1763 and 1820, in order to understand the creation of the American political nation and the culture which developed within it.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course will discuss the social, economic, and political issues from the rise of Jackson through the beginning of the Civil War. Major issues to be covered include: Jacksonian Democracy, Industrialization, Reform, Westward Expansion, Slavery, and the 1850's.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course will explore the immediate causes and consequences of the Civil War as well as the rise of an industrial/urban United States. Major issues to be covered include: causes of the Civil War, the war itself, Reconstruction, the Gilded Age, and Populism.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Reform/domestic themes and U.S. foreign policies during the Progressive Era, the Roaring 20's, the Great Depression and the New Deal, and the two world wars.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Social, political and foreign affairs since World War II.

Prerequisites: none

An examination of the major factors influencing U.S. diplomacy since 1900. Students will examine how influential policy makers defined their diplomatic goals, and how both domestic and external factors have contributed to America's reaction to wars and revolutions around the world.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Occupation of the area between the Mississippi and the Pacific from Spanish exploration to the late 19th century.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course looks at the social, political, and economic developments that transformed the 20th Century American West.Fall

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course will discuss slavery and emancipation in the Atlantic World (Africa, Latin America, and the United States). Students will discover how slavery and emancipation differed in different regions and over time.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course surveys African American history from slavery to the twenty-first century. We will explore the history of enslavement, black resistance, African American culture, freedom, migration patterns, and black political thought and participation as well as how historians have interpreted and re-interpreted this history.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course will examine the Vietnam War. Students will discover how and why the U.S. became involved in Vietnam, examine the specific problems faced by American diplomats and military officials, and how the war affected American society.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course will examine the U.S. civil rights movement in the 20th century. Students will study the African American freedom movement and other civil rights campaigns to understand the basis of both oppression and civil rights in the U.S. and will apply this historical context to contemporary civil rights struggles. The course will emphasize reading, research, and writing skills.

Prerequisites: none

Topics in intellectual history or popular and traditional culture.

Prerequisites: none

An examination of the history of labor and the emergence of social welfare within the context of the modernization of western society and the diversity of the United States.

Prerequisites: none

A historical study of the immigration and ethnic experience in America. Includes an examination of political, social, and economic changes that resulted in population movements to the U.S. and of the development of immigration laws in response to the arrival of outsiders. Attention is given to the rise of anti-immigrant movements at various times in American history.

Prerequisites: none

This course will examine the interaction between humans and the American environment from pre-Columbus to the present.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to provide a survey and analysis of the historical experiences of women in the United States from earliest settlement by indigenous peoples to the present in order to aid students in understanding the contemporary situation of women in American society.

Prerequisites: none

Discussion of disasters in US history from colonial times to the present. Contemporary descriptions of the events will be reviewed as will the changing response of both the public and the government to these events.

Prerequisites: none

Major Unrestricted Electives

Upper-Division Unrestricted - Choose 8 Credit(s).

Unrestricted - Choose 4 Credit(s).

Minor

Any minor is accepted.

4-Year Plan

First Year

Fall - 12 Credits

Students in this course approach writing as a subject of study by investigating how writing works across a variety of contexts.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-1A

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

General Education Course * 4 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

General Education Course * 4 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

General Education Course * 4 credits

Second Year

Fall - 15 Credits

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

General Education Course * 4 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

General Education Course * 4 credits

General Education Course * 1 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

General Education Course * 1 credits

Writing Intensive Course * 4 credits

Third Year

Fall - 17 Credits

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 4 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

General Elective Course * 3 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

Students will apply historical skills and knowledge through a practical work experience at a non-profit organization, governmental agency, for-profit business, or other institution. P/N only.

Prerequisites: none

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

General Elective Course * 3 credits

Fourth Year

Fall - 15 Credits

In this capstone course required for all history majors, students will study historical methods, professional standards, and ways to communicate history to diverse audiences. Students will actively engage in historical inquiry to complete a polished research project. Permission of the department and instructor is required.

Prerequisites: none

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

General Elective Course * 3 credits

General Elective Course * 4 credits

Spring - 16 Credits

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

General Elective Course * 3 credits

Diverse Cultures Course * 3 credits

Transfer Pathways

A Transfer Pathway is a partnership between the Minnesota community colleges and Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Pathway suggests a plan for students with a specific associate degree to complete the last two years for a designated bachelor’s degree.

Students who are transferring to Minnesota State Mankato from a Minnesota community college should meet with an advisor in your college advising office to ensure the Pathway is an appropriate option for completing your degree.

More information on Transfer Pathways is available at https://mnsu.edu/pathways/about/

Third Year

Fall - 15 Credits

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 4 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 4 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

Fourth Year

Fall - 15 Credits

Other Graduation Requirements Course * 4 credits

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

Elective Course in Minor * 4 credits

General Elective Course * 3 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

In this capstone course required for all history majors, students will study historical methods, professional standards, and ways to communicate history to diverse audiences. Students will actively engage in historical inquiry to complete a polished research project. Permission of the department and instructor is required.

Prerequisites: none

Elective Course in Minor * 3 credits

General Elective Course * 4 credits

General Elective Course * 4 credits