Old Major (for students declaring their major by Spring 2020)
Preparation for the Major
History 100, 101, and six units selected from History 105, 106, 109, 110. (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.
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement
Passing the Writing Placement Assessment with a score of 10, or completing History 390W or another approved upper division writing course (W) with a grade of C (2.0) or better. This requirement is a prerequisite for enrolling in History 400.
Program Requirements (see also the History Degree Checklist to the right)
A minimum of 30 upper division units in history to include History 400 (three units) and three units from History 450, 451, or 452. In addition, 24 upper division units in history must be completed from the following fields, with a minimum of six units in each:
Said differently, students will take six or more units in each area (A, B, and C), to total 24 units. In addition, at least one of these area courses (three of the 24 units) must cover a non-western region.
The non-western courses include:
History 420,421 [or Asian Studies 421], 473, 474, 501, 566, 567, 570. Students may
also fulfill this requirement by taking the following topics courses with the approval
of the undergraduate adviser: History 500, 580, 583, 586.
Finally, the area classes (A, B and C classes) must be distributed among 400-level and 500-level classes.
At least 15 upper division units must be at the 500-level.
Up to six units from other departments may be applied to the history major upon written
approval of the undergraduate adviser. Up to six units of study abroad history courses
may be applied to the history major upon prior written approval of the undergraduate
adviser. It is the student’s obligation to determine which courses fulfill his/her
field requirements.
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.