Oct 12, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin

History, BA Major in


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Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: Minimum 30


The BA major in history consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours in history, including a minimum of 18 semester hours of course work on the advanced level (100-level courses or above). 

Students may also pursue a Concentration in Public History. For more information, see specific requirements below.

A grade of C- or above is required in each course in the major. 

The History  Department also strongly recommends that students take courses in other departments that relate closely to historical subjects in which they are particularly interested, or consider taking a co-major in another field or discipline. It is also highly desirable that students acquire skills in reading and speaking a language other than English, taking their level of proficiency beyond the minimum university requirement.

The History  Department requires the following for majors in history:

I. Introductory courses - Semester Hours: 3


Chosen from the following:

II. Intermediate courses - Semester Hours: 8


(ordinarily taken in first and/or second year in preparation for taking a seminar in junior or senior year)

III. Advanced Courses - Semester Hours: 3


One seminar (ordinarily taken in junior year) chosen from the following:

IV. A minimum of 3 semester hours in each of the following three areas:


A. European History:


B. American History:


V. Additional History electives – Semester Hours: Minimum 7


A minimum of 7 s.h. chosen from any HIST courses.

VI. Independent Research and Reading Courses


On a limited basis students may undertake an independent reading and research project under the supervision of a member of the History  Department faculty.  Students interested in doing independent work should meet with their departmental adviser.

VII. Internships


On a limited basis students may work in historical societies, governmental agencies, or other non profit agencies undertaking a project related to history.  They will do so under the joint supervision of Department of History  and the host organization on projects leading to academic credit.

VIII. Honors


Students with a GPA of 3.5 or better may choose to research and write a substantial historical essay for departmental honors. Students should normally start work with their faculty adviser in the semester preceding their registration in HIST 100 .  Permission prior to registration is required.

Concentration in Public History - Semester Hours: 30


Representations of the Past, Museums, Digital Humanities

Public History includes those practices and activities that put the methods, theory and content of the history discipline to use in public settings.  In this sense, it is history that is applied to real-world issues. Such work can range from public-facing digital work in such mediums as websites and film to live exhibitions, performances and public meetings and events. The focus on narrative that is core to professional history and the concrete skills that public history training provides together prepare public history experts to work as historical consultants, museum professionals, government historians, archivists, oral historians, cultural resource managers, curators, tour guides, film and media producers, historical interpreters, historic preservationists, policy advisers, local historians, and community activists, among many other career options. All share an interest and commitment to making history relevant and useful in the public sphere. Students trained in Public History methodologies also work in fields such as journalism, law and advocacy, computer programming, cartography and story-based mapping, narrative medicine, and many others. Undergirding all study in Public History is training in historical thinking and methodologies, memory and remembrance, and community engagement with the past. Emphasis is also placed on new media and historical digitization; exhibition and museum studies; non-profit management; library and archive studies; community-based history; history and preservation; and New York/Long Island heritage as our local case study. This concentration aims to build connections between students, faculty, community groups, and residents in the New York/Long Island region.

I. Required Courses - Semester Hours: 15


A. One Introductory course chosen from the following - Semester Hours: 3


II. Additional courses chosen from the following - Semester Hours: 6


III. An additional 9 Semester Hours under the supervision of a History Department faculty member to complete the History Major requirements.


Complete BA Requirements


BA Requirements  in HCLAS.

NOTES


Many History majors combine History with a co-major in Elementary and Secondary School Teaching:

For information about combining a History major with the Law School at Hofstra, see Legal Education Accelerated Program (LEAP) .

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