The History Department offers a dynamic degree program that stresses a broad, world history curriculum. At 55 credit hours, a  history degree may easily be combined with another degree such as PPE, English, or Business.

The following information comes directly from the Eastern Oregon University online Academic Catalog. Please check with your advisor or a member of the history faculty for the latest updates to the major.

HISTORY PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

    The History Program introduces the student to the world that was and is and the student's relationship to that world. It stresses the continuity of culture by providing a historical background for the study of other disciplines and for responsible citizenship. It also helps prepare students for careers in teaching, public service, consulting, research, museums, archives, and libraries, and provides a liberal education as a basis for entering a variety of careers such as public administration, business, and law.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

    Provide a solid foundation in the core academic discipline of History.
    Achieve a thorough understanding of the methodologies and professional ethics practiced by historians.
    Develop an appreciation for the diversity of historical experiences around the globe and a basic competence in several of these histories:
    Acquire a basic understanding of the core concepts, events, and historical-graphical trends in selected areas of American history, European history, and Asian history.
    Develop skills in researching, writing and presenting historical work.

MEANS OF ASSESSMENT

    History Majors are evaluated in a variety of ways. They complete with a grade of C- or better required and elective courses that reinforce their knowledge of the diversity of the human historical experience. By satisfactorily completing History 420: Historiography and then writing a substantial undergraduate thesis that they must present to their peers, they master the fundamental methodologies that historians must use while enhancing their skills in research, writing, computer use, and public presentation. The thesis also caps course work in which students have mastered the ability to understand and compare historical interpretations, find and use both primary and secondary sources in libraries and on the internet, and communicate their findings to others. The writing-intensive course work also prepares them to take and pass Eastern's writing requirements assessing their competence as writers.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BA OR THE BS IN HISTORY

1. Complete EOU graduation requirements.

2. Complete any MATH course above the 100 level. (BS degree only.)

3. Complete at least 60 hours in History.

4. Complete at least 35 upper-division hours in History to include at least one course from each of the following three groups:

Group I: American History
HIST 330 Women’s History
HIST 458 Civil War and Reconstruction
HIST 460 American Constitutional History
HIST 478 History of Oregon
HIST 480 History of the United States, 1900-1945
HIST 481 The United States Since World War II
HIST 410 Selected Topics in American History (5 hours)

Group II: European History
HIST 304 History of England
HIST 321 History of the Ancient world
HIST 421 Medieval Europe
HIST 427 Renaissance and Reformation Europe
HIST 433 The French Revolution and Napoleon
HIST 437 History of Modern Germany
HIST 448 History of Modern Russia
HIST 410 Selected Topics in European History (5 hours)

Group III: Asian History
HIST 490 Early China
HIST 491 Modern China
HIST 497 Modern Japan
HIST 410 Selected Topics in Asian History (5 hours)

6. Complete HIST 403, Thesis; HIST 407, Thesis Seminar; and HIST 420, Historiography.

7. Grade of “C-” or better in all History courses counting toward the degree and a minimum 2.00 GPA for history courses overall.

8. Complete WR 222 with a grade of “C-” or better

TEACHER LICENSURE

It is IMPERATIVE that students planning to teach consult with Education advisers as early as possible.

Credit Summary for students seeking teacher licensure:

    ED 142 Education Orientation (1) is strongly recommended.
    General Education Credits: 60 total
    History Major Requirements: 55 total (At least 35 must be upper-division, including Historiography (3), Thesis Seminar (1), and Thesis (5).
    Elective Credits: 64 total
    (Note: Students are advised to obtain additional breadth in the social sciences to prepare for the National Teacher Examination (NTE) and to be prepared to teach the social studies courses offered in Oregon's high schools which include U.S. History, government, global studies, world civilization, and economics.
    Total: 180 credits

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR IN HISTORY

    (This minor is also available via the Division of Distance Education)

    1. Complete at least 30 quarter credits in history, no more than 20 of which may be in either American or non-American history.
    2. Complete at least 15 upper-division quarter credits in history.
    3. Grade of "C-" or better in all courses counting toward the minor and a 2.00 GPA for History courses overall.
    4. A minimum of 10 hours counting toward the minor must be completed at Eastern Oregon University.

CURRICULUM

TYPICAL FIRST YEAR CURRICULUM
-Fall
WR 121 Expository Prose Writing (4)
HIST 102 Western Civilization since 1500 (5) or
HIST 111 World History to 1500 (5)
General Education or Electives Courses (6-9) [1,2]

-Winter
HIST 101 Western Civilization to 1500 (5) or
HIST 112 World History since 1500 (5)
General Education or Elective Courses (10-13)
-Spring
HIST 102 Western Civilization since 1500 (5) or
HIST 211 Traditional Asia (5) or
HIST 212 Mod. East Asia in Film (5)
General Education or Elective Courses (15-17)

TYPICAL SECOND YEAR CURRICULUM
-Fall
HIST 201 United States History (5)
WR 222 Argumentation (3)
Fall or Spring
General Education or Elective Courses (10-12) [1,2]

-Winter
HIST 202 United States History (5)
General Education or Elective Courses (5-7) [1,2]

-Spring
HIST 203 United States History (5)
HIST 211 Traditional Asia (5) or
HIST 212 Mod. East Asia in Film (5)
General Education or Elective Courses (10-12) [1,2]

TYPICAL THIRD YEAR CURRICULUM
-Fall
Upper division electives in history (5)
General Education or Elective Courses (10-12)

-Winter
Upper division electives in history (5)
General Education or Elective Courses (7-9)

-Spring
HIST 420 Historiography (5)
Upper division electives in history (5)
General Education or Elective Courses (10-12)

TYPICAL FOURTH YEAR CURRICULUM
-Fall
HIST 407 Seminar (1)
Upper division electives in history (5)
General Education or Elective Courses (10-12)

-Winter
Upper division electives in history (5)
General Education or Elective Courses (10-12)

-Spring
HIST 403 Thesis (5)
Upper division electives in history (5)
General Education or Elective Courses (5-7)

Note:
[l.] Students should meet all general education requirements as soon as possible.

[2.] Students considering graduate school should take a foreign language.

EOU Home | College of Arts & Sciences  | History Main
To learn more about the History Program, please contact: 
History - School of Arts and Sciences
Eastern Oregon University
One University Boulevard
La Grande, OR 97850
rhartman@eou.edu