History
History Department Overview
GOALS
The
study
of
history,
an
important
component
of
a
meaningful
and
comprehensive
liberal
arts
education,
provides
a
unique
opportunity
for
students
to
understand
relationships
between
phenomena
past
and
present.
The
department
of
history
encourages
an
interdisciplinary
examination
of
varying
cultures
to
develop
an
understanding
of
difference,
convergence,
and
continuity
with
an
emphasis
on
the
social
dimension.
In
addition
to
focusing
on
content,
the
history
major
develops
and
enhances
certain
skills,
which,
if
properly
nurtured,
will
serve
the
student
well
in
any
postgraduate
endeavor.
OBJECTIVES
As
a
result
of
majoring
in
history,
the
student
will
be
able
to:
- Define
and explore major historical
problems
- Employ
critical methods of analyzing
those problems
- Develop
research skills required to fully
investigate those problems
- Write
formal papers which lucidity
and cogently reflect critical
analysis research, and consequent
conclusions
- Engage
in collaborative scholarship
- Write
research designs
- Utilize
the discipline content in teaching
history in secondary schools
With
these
skills
in
hand,
the
student
will
be
in
a
position
to
compete
for
admission
into
a
variety
of
fields,
including
graduate
study
in
history;
graduate
study
in
international
studies,
broadly
conceived;
law
school;
library
and
museum
work;
the
teaching
profession
at
the
secondary
level;
both
public
and
private
sectors
of
the
work
place;
and
community
or
foreign
service.
MAJOR
The
history
major
is
intended
to
provide
the
student
with
an
educational
experience,
which
is
predicated
on
a
sequence
of
courses.
Courses
taken
at
the
beginning
of
the
major
will
serve
as
the
foundation
for
more
advanced
study
with
regard
to
both
content
and
skills.
To
receive
the
B.A.
in
history,
the
student
is
required
to
successfully
complete
a
minimum
of
eleven
courses,
or
forty-four
credit
hours
(eleven
in
history).
The
course
distribution
is
as
follows:
3 |
Area
of Concentration |
1 |
Historical
Methods (SHIS 203) |
1 |
Senior
Seminar |
5 |
Major
Electives (one from each
area other than concentration) |
1 |
Making
of the Modern World (SHIS
303) |
11 |
Total |
MAJOR
ELECTIVES
The
remaining
five
major
electives
are
to
be
taken
as
one
from
each
area
outside
of
the
area
of
concentration.
No
more
than
3
of
these
5
electives
can
be
at
the
survey
(200)
level.
MINOR
A
minor
consists
of
six
courses,
or
twenty-four
hours.
The
following
courses
are
required:
- Historical
Methods (SHIS 203)
- Making
of the Modern World (SHIS 303)
- Senior
Seminar
At
least
two
of
the
four
remaining
courses
must
be
taken
in
two
different
areas.
AREA
OF CONCENTRATION
DEPARTMENTAL
HONORS
Students
interested
in
a
more
rigorous
curriculum
should
consider
applying
for
departmental
honors.
It
is
highly
recommended
that
those
planning
to
pursue
graduate
studies
in
history
seriously
consider
this
option.
To
qualify
for
departmental
honors,
students
must
meet
the
following
criteria:
1.
Maintain
a
minimum
GPA
of
3.2
in
history.
2. Maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.0.
To
receive
the
BA
in
history
with
departmental
honors,
the
student
is
required
to
successfully
complete
a
minimum
of
thirteen
courses,
or
fifty-two
credit
hours
(eleven
in
history
plus
the
senior
thesis).
The
course
distribution
is
as
follows:
3 |
Area
of Concentration |
1 |
Historical
Methods (SHIS 203) |
1 |
Senior
Seminar |
2 |
Senior
Thesis (SHIS. 491, 492) |
5 |
Major
Electives (from each area
other than concentration) |
1 |
Making
of the Modern World (SHIS
303) |
13 |
Total |
Students
interested
in
graduating
with
departmental
honors
must
submit
an
application
to
the
department by
April
20th
of
the
junior
year.
HISTORICAL
METHODS
The
student
is
expected
to
take
History
203,
Historical
Methods,
in
the
fall
of
the
sophomore
year.
This
course
provides
an
introduction
to
the
historical
discipline
by
focusing
upon
those
skills
needed
to
successfully
complete
the
major.
MAKING
OF THE MODERN WORLD
The
student
is
expected
to
take
SHIS
303,
Making
of
the
Modern
World
in
the
spring
of
the
sophomore
year.
This
course
provides
broad
coverage
across
and
beyond
areas
of
concentration,
thus
allowing
students
to
see
and
understand
interconnectedness
of
themes
and
world
developments.
SENIOR
SEMINAR
The
senior
seminar
is
the
culminating
experience
for
the
history
major.
To
fulfill
the
senior
seminar
requirement,
a
series
of
400-level
courses
specifically
designated
as
seminars
are
offered
in
both
the
fall
and
the
spring
semesters.
The
seminar
is
designed
to
allow
students
to
maximize
their
participation
in,
and
contribution
to,
discussions
about
both
reading
and
research
assignments.
The
students
will
be
expected
to
more
fully
integrate
primary
sources
and
journals
into
their
research
for
this
course. Please
note
that
not
all
400
level
courses
are
designated
as
senior
seminars.
Students
who
do
not
plan
to
take
the
senior
thesis
sequence
should
attempt
to
enroll
in
a
seminar in
the
area
of
their
concentration.
Non-thesis
students
will
be
required
to
complete
a
major
paper
as
a
part
of
the
seminar.
Seminar
requirements
for
students
enrolled
in
the
thesis
will
be
shorter
than
those
for
non-honors
students.
A
seminar
taken
prior
to
the
senior
year
will not fulfill
the
senior
seminar
major
requirement.
SENIOR
THESIS
The
senior
thesis
(SHIS
491,
492)
is
a
two-semester
sequence
designed
for
those
seeking
to
graduate
with
departmental
honors.
It
is
to
be
carried
out
within
the
area
of
concentration.
More
specific
guidelines
for
the
exercise
are
provided
at
the
beginning
of
the
sequence.
STUDY
ABROAD AND DOMESTIC EXCHANGE
A
significant
percentage
of
history
majors
participate
in
either
study
abroad
or
domestic
exchange
programs.
Those
who
plan
to
do
so
should
observe
the
following:
1.
For
all
courses
taken
outside
of
Spelman,
prior
departmental
approval
is
required
for more
than
one course
to
count
toward
fulfilling
the
area
of
concentration
requirement.
2.
Both
Historical
Methods
and
the
Senior
Seminar
must
be
completed
at
Spelman.
3.
No
more
than two history
courses
taken
on
one
semester
study
abroad
and three for
one
year
can
be
counted
toward
requirements
for
the
major.
In
any
event,
no
more
than three history
courses
taken
outside
of
Spelman
College
can
be
counted
for
major
credit.
TEACHER
CERTIFICATION
Students
interested
in
teaching
history
and
social
studies
at
the
elementary
or
secondary
level
should
consult
with
the
department
of
education
in
the
first
semester
of
their
sophomore
year.
