Undergraduate Programs
*History in the Undergraduate Catalog.
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 (2323)
- 6 hours of U.S. history (3 HOURS OF WHICH MUST BE PRE-1877)
- 18 hours in advanced courses (3000-Level and Above), including at least 3 hours each of U.S.; European; and African, Asian, or Latin American history
- At least 9 hours in Writing-Intensive 4000-Level History Courses
- Senior Seminar in History (HIST 4398) will no longer be Required for All History Majors. It will still be offered by the department for those students interested in conducting original research and writing a 25-30 page paper, but it will no longer required for a Bachelor of Arts in History.
- With prior departmental consent, 3 advanced hours in related disciplines may be counted toward the major.
- At least 12 of the 30 hours required for a history major must be taken in residence, including 9 upper-division hours.
ART HISTORY CONCENTRATION
The department offers an art history concentration in conjunction with the School of Art. It consists of 33 hours as follows:
- 21 hours of history approved by the undergraduate history advisor, at least 12 of which must be at the advanced level and include 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 ART 3310, 3315, 4310, or 4311. In exceptional cases, HIST 4397 may be substituted with the prior consent of the undergraduate history advisor.
HISTORY OF RELIGIONS EMPHASIS
The department also offers a history major with a history of religions emphasis. This program consists of 36 hours as follows:
- 6 hours of Western Civilization (HIST 1300-1301).
- 6 hours of American history.
- 15 hours of advanced history (including 3 hours each in American; 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 consent of instructor.
- All courses must be chosen with the approval of the undergraduate history advisor.
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.
- At least 6 of the 18 hours required for a history minor must be taken in residence, including 3 at the 4000 level and 3 in an advanced course.
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 HIST 2300 and 2301. However, juniors, seniors, or students with approval by the department undergraduate advisor may satisfy this requirement by completing any 6 hours from among the American history courses listed as (US) in the course list.
All courses numbered above 3000 are advanced courses. 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—6 hours must be 4000-level)
- 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) and 3 advanced hours in African, Asian, or Latin American History
- 6 advanced hours in European History
- 6 advanced hours in history
Secondary Education Teaching Field in Social Studies
(69 hours— 6 hours must be 4000-level history courses and 3 hours must be HIST 4398)
- HIST 1300 and 1301; HIST 2300 and 2301; HIST 3310 or 3316
- 15 advanced hours in history, including 3 in U. S., 3 in European, and 3 in African, Asian, or Latin American
- POLS 1301 and 2302; also two from 3323, 3325, 3327, and 3351
- GEOG 1401 and 1300; 3353 or 3360; and 3352, 3354, or 3356
- ECO 2301, 2302, and 3311
- PSY 1300
- SOC 1301