Undergraduate Programs
The broad liberal arts foundation available through a major in history can deepen students' understanding of the complex world in which they live, stimulate intellectual attitudes conducive to effective participation in contemporary society, and cultivate those mental skills required for meaningful employment in many areas of the modern economic system. A history student may consider a career in teaching within colleges, universities, or public schools; in park administration; in regional and local historical society work; in archives and records management; in museum work; in various branches of government work; and in business and industry generally. Many students use their undergraduate history major as a preparation for advanced studies in such areas as law, medicine, and theology.
Bachelor of Arts
Students seeking an undergraduate degree in history will complete 30 hours of history, including the following:
- Western Civilization I (HIST 1300) OR World History to 1500 (HIST 2322)
- Western Civilization II (HIST 1301) OR World History Since 1500 (HIST 2323)
- 6 hours of U.S. history (3 hours must be PRE-1877)
- 18 hours in advanced courses (3000 level and above), including at least 3 hours each of U.S.; European; Asian, African or Latin American history
- At least 9 hours of the upper-division courses must be 4000-level writing intensive courses
- With prior departmental consent, 3 advanced hours in related disciplines may be counted toward the major
- The last 18 hours of upper-division history coursework must be completed in residence
History Minor
- A minor in history consists of 18 hours, including the following:
- 6 hours must be in U.S. history
- 6 hours must be in non-U.S. history
- 9 hours, including 3 at the 4000-level must be in advanced courses
- The last nine hours of upper-division courses for a history minor must be completed in residence
Art History Concentration
- The department offers a 33 hour Art History concentration in conjunction with the School of Art as follows:
- 21 hours of history approved by the undergraduate history advisor; at least 12 of which must be at the advanced level and at least 6 hours of U.S. history
- 12 hours of art history courses from the Department of Art, including one of the courses from ARTH 4308 or 4309. In exceptional cases, HIST 4397 may be substituted with the prior consent of the undergraduate history advisor.
History of Religions Concentration
The department offers a 36-hour history of religions concentration as follows:
- 6 hours of Western Civilization (HIST 1300 and 1301)
- 6 hours of American History
- 15 hours of advanced history (including HIST 4398 and 3 hours each of U.S.; European; and African, Asian or Latin American)
- 9 hours chosen from courses taught outside the department and having an emphasis on the study of religion
- At least 9 of the total history hours must be chosen from HIST 3301, 3302, 3328, 3342, 3344, 3348, 4347, 4349 and 4374. HIST 4397 may be chosen with the consent of the instructor.
- All courses must be chosen with the approval of an undergraduate history advisor
General Requirements
Under state law, all students who receive bachelor's degrees from Texas Tech must complete 6 hours in American history. Students will normally fulfill this requirement by completing 6 hours from among the American history courses listed as (US) in the course list.
All courses numbered above 3000 are advanced course. All courses above 4000 are writing intensive courses and require junior standing or consent of the instructor. A student must receive at least a C in any history course if it is to count toward the major or minor.
Teacher Education
In the teacher education certification programs, history may be used at the secondary level as either a teaching field or as part of the composite field of social studies.
Teaching Field Options:
Secondary Education Teaching Field in History
(36 hours)
- HIST 1300 and 1301, also 2300 and 2301
- HIST 3310 (History of Texas) and 3 advanced hours in U.S. History
- HIST 2322 or 2323 (Studies in World History)
- 6 advanced hours in U.S. History
- 6 advanced hours in European History
- 6 advanced hours in Asian, African or Latin American History
- Of the above mentioned advanced hours, at least 9 hours must be at the 4000 level
Secondary Education Teaching Field in Social Studies
(63 hours)
- HIST 1300 and 1301, also 2300 and 2301
- HIST 3310 (History of Texas) or 3316 (Mexican Americans in Texas)
- 3 hours of Jr/Sr U.S. History
- 3 hours of Jr/Sr European History
- 3 hours of Jr/Sr Asian, African or Latin American History
- Of the 9 hours mentioned above, 3 must be at the 4000 level along with 6 additional hours at the 4000 level
- POLS 1301 and 2302
- 6 hours from POLS 3323, 3325, 3327 or 3351
- 3 hours from GEOG 3352, 3354 or 3356
- ECO 2301, 2302, 3311
- PSY 1300
- SOC 1301