Department Updates

B.A. in History

All students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in History must complete units I, II, and either III.A (History) or III.B. (History - Teacher Certification). Official information on the History Department's undergradute programs, including the History Minor, is available via the WIU Undergraduate Catalog. A complete listing of all undergraduate courses offered by the WIU History Department is available elswhere on this web site, including some not listed in the current catalog.

While History majors and History - Teacher Certification majors have different General Education requirements, they all take the same History Core Courses. History - Teacher Certification majors should also consult the Department's web page on the Teacher Education major for further information on that program. All History majors, in both Options, must meet regularly with the Undergraduate History Advisor, Ralph Heissinger, prior to registration each semester, to plan their programs.

A few History undergrads and recent History alums

I. General Education Requirements

History (non-teaching) majors must complete 60 semester hours of General Education courses that meet the University and College of Arts and Sciences General Education requirements.

History - Teacher Certification students must complete the University General Education requirement (43 hours), including the following required courses: Geography 100, 120, and 121, an appropriate General Education Math course or Stat 171, Poli Sci 122, Econ 100 or 231, and either Geography 110, Anthropology 110 or History 145.

 

II. Core Courses (15 s.h.)

HIST 105  American History to 1877
3 s.h.
HIST 106 American History since 1877
3 s.h.
HIST 125 Western Civilization to 1648
3 s.h.
HIST 126 Western Civilization from 1648
3 s.h.
HIST 301 Writing & Research in History*
3 s.h.

*fulfills the Writing in the Discipline (WID) graduation requirement

 

III. Options of Study (Select A or B)

A. History

1. Directed Electives
U.S. History (Area I) 6 s.h.
European History (Area II) 6 s.h.
Non-Western History (Area III) 6 s.h.

At least 15 semester hours in Directed Electives must be at the 300 or 400 level.

 

2. Open Electives

 7-11 s.h.

 

3. Minor (any field)

 16-20 s.h.

 

B. History-Teacher Certification

1. History Directed Electives

At least 24 s.h. of History courses must be taken, including History 420 (Illinois History).
U.S. History (Area I) min. 9 s.h.
European History (Area II) min. 6 s.h.
Non-Western History (Area III) min. 6 s.h.

At least 12 semester hours in History Directed Electives must be at the 400 level.

 
2. Directed Electives in Government 15 s.h.

Domestic (History 303, Poli Sci 122, PoliS 315) -- 3 s.h. minimum recommended

International (Hist 401, PolS 228, 267, or 331) -- 3 s.h. minimum recommended

 

 

 
3. Other Required Courses 36 s.h.
Geog. 100, Geog. 110 (inc. in Gen.Ed.)
Anthro 100 or Soc. 100 (inc. in Gen.Ed.)
Econ 100 or 231 (inc. in Gen.Ed.)
EIS 201, 301, 302, 303, 304, & 401 13 s.h.
SSEd 439, C&I 403 7 s.h.
Psy 425 & SpEd 383 OR SpEd 310 & 390 4 s.h.
STch 480 12 s.h.
 

Minor in History

The History minor consists of 18 hours (6 courses):
HIST 105, 106, 125, 126 (any three) 9 s.h.
History electives (at least 2 upper-division) 9 s.h.
 

For further information about majoring or minoring in History at Western Illinois University, please contact the Department of History at (309)298-1053 or contact the Department Chair, Dr. Ginny Boynton, or the Undergraduate Advisor, Ralph Heissinger.