Man reading newspaper with headline war planes near NY

New Major (for students declaring the major after Spring 2020)

Preparation for the Major

History 100, 101, and six lower division units of history electives. (12 units) These prerequisite courses may not be taken Cr/NC and must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.20 and a grade of C (2.0) or better in each class.

Language Requirement

Students will be required to successfully complete the third college semester or fifth college quarter or four years of high school in one foreign language to fulfill the graduation requirement. Refer to section of the catalog on “Graduation Requirements.”

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Completing History 390W or another approved upper division writing course (W) with a grade of C (2.0) or better. See “Graduation Requirements” section of the catalog for a complete listing of requirements.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 30 upper division units in history with at least nine units of 500-level history courses. Students must complete History 400 and three units selected from History 450, 451, 452, 455. It is also important that you work diligently with your History 400 professor to pass the course with a C or better. Failing to pass that course will require you to repeat it before completing your final capstone requirement (450, 452 or 452) which will likely delay your graduation. 

A minimum of three upper division units selected from courses on ancient through early-modern history: History 407, 411, 415 [or Latin American Studies 415], 420, 473, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504 [or Humanities 504], 505, 506 [or Humanities 506], 507 [or Religious Studies 507], 508, 550, 566, 569 and, depending on specific content, History 406, 442, 496, 499, 514, 569, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 586.

A minimum of three upper division units selected from history courses outside of Europe and the Americas after 1500 CE: History 421 [or Asian Studies 421], 425 [or Asian Studies 425], 454 [or Asian Studies 453], 474, 516, 541, 567, 570, 574, and, depending on specific content, History 406, 442, 496, 499, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586.

All students must complete an additional 18 upper division units of electives in history. Students may complete one of the specializations below in partial fulfillment of the 18 unit requirement.

Up to six units from other departments may be applied to the history major upon written approval of the undergraduate adviser. History electives may be taken in any order.

Optional Specializations

Students may complete one of the specializations below. (Please note: You do not need to have a specialization to complete the history degree.)

Nine units selected from History 410, 411, 412, 442, and 445. See undergraduate adviser in history for requirements to become a California history or social science teacher, to include recommended courses from other departments.

Students who select the specialization in public histories must complete three courses as specified below, to include an history internship experience to be satisfied by completion of HIST 452 or HIST 495 (or an equivalent internship or volunteer experience).

Six units selected from: HIST 445, 451, 455 and 587

Twe;ve units selected from History 405, 406, 422 [or Asian Studies 422], 441, 445, 496, 499, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 539, 544A, 544B, 548 [or Chicana and Chicano Studies 548], and, depending on specific content, History 435, 442, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585.

Twelve units: nine units in a in a coherent geographical, temporal, or thematic field, in consultation with a faculty adviser, and three units selected from History 404, 411, 412, 441, 516, 544B, 553 [or Latin American Studies 553], 557, 558, 586.

International Experience: Students who select the specialization in world history and global affairs must also complete an international experience long distance or local (ask the adviser for more information).

Major Academic Plan

The Major Academic Plan (MAP) will help you identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement. It will also suggest sequencing to ensure that you complete prerequisites for an upper-division course prior to taking the higher-level course. Visit the SDSU Major Academic Plan website.

See our Courses page for more information.


Program Learning Goals and Degree Learning Outcomes

PLG 1: Breadth and Depth of Historical Knowledge
To produce bachelors of arts in History who have a general knowledge of world history and advanced knowledge of two or more regions of the world, and who have an in-depth understanding of a variety of historical themes, problems, and periods

PLG 2: Analysis and Interpretation of Source Material
To produce bachelors of arts in History who show an ability to analyze and interpret primary sources, to handle and evaluate diverse interpretations of events, and to formulate causes and consequences of change as well as explanations of continuity.

PLG 3: Engagement in, and Production of, Critical Scholarship
To produce bachelors of arts in History who can engage in serious scholarship and have knowledge of various schools of history and modes of analysis

PLG 4: Application of History Degree/Skills in Future Endeavors
To produce bachelors of arts in History who can transfer the skills and knowledge they learn as students of history to their future professions, community life, and personal endeavors.

DLO 1 Historiography
The student understands the principal debates of scholars in their interpretation of the past and how/why scholars have developed these interpretations.

DLO 2 Historical Relationships and Causation
The student understands historical relationships, including cause-and-effect and other forces (such as political, social, economic, cultural, intellectual and environmental developments) that affect continuity and change.

DLO 3 Diversity (Cultural, Ethnic, Etc.)
The student recognizes diverse cultures and groups, including racial and ethnic minorities and other marginalized groups.

DLO 4 Primary/Secondary Source Analysis
The student has the ability to interrogate primary and secondary sources within their historical contexts.

DLO 5 Historical Argumentation (Oral and Written) 
The student is able to argue, both in writing and speaking, in a style used by professional historians, using appropriate evidence and critical thinking.

DLO 6 Application of Historical Methods
The student uses interpretive tools such as historical empathy, interdisciplinary discourse, and comparative models in order to "do history" as an evidence-based interpretation of past human events, not a mere listing of names and events.

DLO 7 Humanities GE
Students in History general education courses, both foundations and explorations, achieve the humanities-specific goals of the GE: analysis of written texts; communication of value systems over time; argue from multiple perspectives; and complex approach and questions.