History

Required Courses

The following information was pulled from the Samford Catalog.

Download a pdf of the 2010 Jan/Spring Class Schedule

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

The Department of History offers a major and minor in history and, in cooperation with other departments, offers interdisciplinary concentrations in Asian studies, international relations, and Latin American studies. History course offerings also fulfill requirements for minors in Asian studies; Christianity, women, and leadership studies (CWLS); and Latin American studies. All history majors and interdisciplinary concentrations earn a bachelor of arts degree. The history department offers several scholarships and awards to history majors. For more information, students should contact the departmental office. Students who plan to teach at the secondary school level may obtain a B.A. in history with teacher certification through the College of Arts and Sciences or major in history/social science, leading to a bachelor of science in education degree, from the School of Education.

University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements

See University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses. History majors and minors, and students in the international relations interdisciplinary concentration, cannot use HIST 200 (The West in Global Perspective) to meet the general education humanities requirement.

History Major

A history major prepares students for a broad range of careers in business, education, religion, communications, government service (both domestic and foreign), and other professions. It is excellent preparation for graduate study in history and for professional schools such as business administration and law. As a traditional major for students planning legal careers, the department offers students a strong background in western and non-western institutions and values. The major also provides subject preparation for those seeking a career in education. History majors who wish to obtain certification for secondary teaching must meet additional requirements through the Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies. The student’s degree affiliation remains in Arts and Sciences, and he or she must meet all University core curriculum and general education requirements imposed by the bachelor of arts.

History Major Required Courses	Course Credits	Total Required Credits
University Core Curriculum		22
General Education Requirements		30-42
History Major		44
I. Foundations		16
HIST 200 The West in Global Perspective	4
HIST 217 Early America to 1877	4
HIST 218 Modern America since 1865	4
HIST 300 The Historian's Craft	4
II. Advanced Surveys and Special Studies*		24
Select six upper-division courses at the 300- or 400-level. Excludes HIST 495 and HIST 497. At least two of the upper-division history courses must be in areas other than U.S. history.	24
III. Capstone**		4
HIST 495 Senior Seminar or	4
HIST 497 Independent Research	4
General Electives		20-32
Total Required Credits		128

*With some exceptions, 300-level courses are European and American period courses; 400-level courses are normally area studies or topical courses. Students should consult with their advisors to achieve a suitable balance of 300- and 400-level courses.
**A history major is expected to enroll in a Senior Seminar (HIST 495). With permission of the instructor and department chair, a student with a special project may substitute Independent Study (HIST 497) for this requirement.

Asian Studies Interdisciplinary Concentration

Through an intercampus exchange program, the Birmingham Area Consortium for Higher Education (BACHE), students may obtain an interdisciplinary concentration or minor in Asian studies. The curriculum provides preparation for graduate school in several disciplines or for work in such diverse fields as government service, international business, marketing, and journalism.

Asian Studies Interdisciplinary Concentration Required Courses	Course Credits	Total Required Credits
University Core Curriculum		22
General Education Requirements		30-42
Asian Studies Interdisciplinary Concentration		40
Asian Studies		4
HIST 463 Monsoon Asia: Survey of Cultural History	4
History Electives (East Asia, South-Southeast Asia courses**)		24
HIST 395 Giants of Asia: China & India-21st Century	4
HIST 441 History of China to 1644	4
HIST 442 History of China since 1644	4
HIST 443 History of Modern Japan	4
HIST 444 Asia's Response to the West	4
HIST 456 Vietnam: An American Watershed	4
Asian Studies Electives		12
12 additional credits (approximately 3 courses) approved by the department	12
General Electives		24-36
Total Required Credits		128

*Samford University requires 30-42 credits depending upon language placement. In this major, the general education language requirement can only be satisfied by an Asian language. Samford University offers at least two years of Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, and Thai; see the Department of World Languages & Cultures section of this catalog for a description of the Critical Languages Program.
**24-32 credits maximum in one area; 4 credits minimum required in second area.

International Relations Interdisciplinary Concentration

The concentration in international relations is an interdisciplinary program offered cooperatively by the departments of history, political science, and world language and cultures. Students use the interdisciplinary minor as preparation for international missions, teaching, service, and business; or graduate education in law, history, religion, and language. International relations students who choose history methods and capstone courses in the department (Historian’s Craft and Senior Seminar) are eligible to receive scholarship money from history funds. For information on other aspects of international relations, see the Department of Political Science web site.

International Relations Interdisciplinary Concentration Required Courses	Course Credits	Total Required Credits
University Core Curriculum		22
General Education Requirements		30-42
IREL Interdisciplinary Concentration		57-60
International Relations Core		36
Political Science	8
History	8
Economics	4
World Languages	8
Methods and Capstone	8
International Relations Tracks		21-24
Primary Track (4 courses)	13-16
Secondary Track (2 courses)	6-8
General Electives		4-19
Total Required Credits		128

Note: See the Department of Political Science web site for a detailed version of this degree table.

Latin American Studies Interdisciplinary Concentration

The bachelor of arts in Latin American studies, a joint program with the departments of geography, history, political science, and world languages and cultures, is intended to teach students about the rich civilizations in the portions of North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean known as Latin America. Through emphasis on the Spanish language and an interdisciplinary approach to the region, students will obtain a nuanced and deep understanding of Latin America. For details on required courses and options, see the Department of World Languages and Cultures section of this catalog.

Latin American Studies Interdisciplinary Concentration Required Courses	Course Credits	Total Required Credits
University Core Curriculum		22
General Education Requirements		30-42
Latin American Studies Interdisciplinary Concentration		52
I. Language	16
II. Interdisciplinary Course	4
III. Discipline-Based Courses	20
A. Social Science (8 credits)
B. Literature (4 credits)*
C.Civilization/Culture (8 credits)
IV. Study Abroad in Latin America	4
V. Latin America in Global Perspective*	4
VI. Capstone Experience	4
General Electives (chosen with advisor's approval)		12-24
Total Required Credits		128

*Selected courses within this group must have a Latin American focus.
**Students must take a discipline-based senior seminar in an Arts and Sciences department. The research project must have Latin American-related content, as determined through agreement with the advisor and the seminar professor.
Note: See the Department of World Languages and Cultures web site for a detailed version of this degree table.

History Minor

History Minor Required Courses	Course Credits	Total Required Credits
History Core		12
HIST 200 The West in Global Perspective	4
HIST 217 Early America to 1877	4
HIST 218 Modern America since 1865	4
History Electives		12
(select three history courses at or above the 300-level)
Total Required Credits		24

Asian Studies Minor

Asian Studies Minor Required Courses	Course Credits	Total Required Credits
Asian Studies		4
HIST 463 Monsoon Asia: Survey of Cultural History	4
History		24
HIST 395 Giants of Asia: China & India-21st Century	4
HIST 441 History of China to 1644	4
HIST 442 History of China since 1644	4
HIST 443 History of Modern Japan	4
HIST 444 Asia's Response to the West	4
HIST 456 Vietnam: An American Watershed	4
Total Required Credits		28

Latin American Studies Interdisciplinary Minor

Latin American Studies Interdisciplinary Minor Required Courses	Course Credits	Total Required Credits
Latin American Studies Core		12
LAST 201 Introduction to Latin American Studies	4
SPAN 301 Conversion/Composition/Grammar*	4
SPAN 302 Conversation/Composition/Reading*	4
Latin American Cultural Studies (choose one)		4
LAST 380 Latin American Studies Seminar	4
SPAN 316 Latin American Culture I*	4
SPAN 317 Latin American Culture II	4
Latin American Studies Electives (choose two)		8
GEOG 397 Andes to Amazon: Physical Landscapes of Latin America	4
HIST 461 Modern Latin America	4
POLS 322 Latin American Politics	4
Total Required Credits		24

*Or the equivalent SPAN study abroad option in Latin America.