Department of History
Important Note: This is the archived version of the 2013–2015 Undergraduate Catalog. The information on these pages was archived on August 6, 2013 and will not be updated as requirement and/or program changes are approved. Please see www.uic.edu/ucat for the most up-to-date requirements.
Minor in History
BA in the Teaching of History
913 University Hall (UH)
(312) 996–3141
http://www.uic.edu/depts/hist/
Administration: Chair, Laura E. Hostetler, hostetle@uic.edu
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Richard S. Levy, rslevy@uic.edu
Director of Teaching of History Education, Robert Johnston, johnsto1@uic.edu
History is the study of the human past. It is both a subject matter and a way of thinking—a discipline. No people, time, or place is neglected in the investigation of the human community’s historical record. And no method is alien to the historian’s quest for understanding. The historian’s interests embrace the permanent and changing concerns of our civilization: the individual and society; the emergence of nations; the rise and fall of empires; race and ethnicity; class, gender, and status; war and revolution; science and technology; slavery and emancipation; dictatorship and democracy; rural life and urbanization; the struggle for empowerment waged by minorities, women, and workers; the life of the mind; religion; and culture. Because every succeeding generation has new questions to ask of the past, history is constantly being rewritten. The discipline of history rests on the discovery, evaluation, and ordering of evidence. It sharpens critical reading and writing skills and gives students practice in the use of these basic tools of modern life. The study of history is excellent preparation for careers in a wide variety of fields, including business, journalism, government, information science, museum administration, and the law.
Degree Requirements—Major in History
To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of History degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| BA with a Major in History Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Major Requirements | 33 |
| General Education and Electives to reach Minimum Total Hours | 87 |
| Minimum Total Hours—BA with a Major in History | 120 |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.
Major Requirements
| Courses | Hours |
| 100-level history coursesa | 3–12 |
| 200-level history coursesa | 9–15 |
| 300-level history courses, including HIST 300—History Methods Colloquium (3)b | 3–6 |
| 400-level history courses | 9 |
| Courses above must be distributed across several fields as follows: | |
| African, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Latin American: Minimum of 6 hours |
|
| European: Minimum of 6 hours in ancient, medieval, or modern European history |
|
| United States: Minimum of 6 hours in U.S. history |
|
| Total Hours—Major Requirements | 33 |
a Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for 100- and 200-level history courses approved as General Education courses.
b HIST 300 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
History majors, in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies, shall define a field of concentration consisting of at least 12 semester hours (4 courses) beyond the 100-level.
To complete the History major, students will write a research paper based on primary sources in a 400-level course of their choosing.
To view a recommended plan of study for the major in History, please visit the LAS website at http://www.las.uic.edu/students/prospective-undergraduate/degree-programs/four-year-model-plans.
Students from other disciplines who want to minor in history must complete 15 semester hours with at least 9 semester hours at the 200-level or above and at least 3 courses taken at UIC.
Degree Requirements—Teaching of History
To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Teaching of History from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of History degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| BA in the Teaching of History Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Major Requirements | 36 |
| Prerequisite and Collateral Courses | 6 |
| Additional Requirements for Teacher Licensure | 28 |
| General Education and Electives to reach Minimum Total Hours | 50 |
| Minimum Total Hours—BA in the Teaching of History | 120 |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.
Major Requirements
| Courses | Hours |
| One of the following courses: | 3 |
| HIST 106—The World since 1400 (3)a | |
| HIST 114—Topics in World History (3)a | |
| One of the following courses: | 3 |
| HIST 100—Western Civilization to 1648 (3)b | |
| HIST 101—Western Civilization since 1648 (3)b | |
| One of the following courses: | 3 |
| HIST 103—American Civilization to the Late Nineteenth Century (3)c | |
| HIST 104—American Civilization since the Late Nineteenth Century (3)c | |
| One of the following courses: | 3 |
| HIST 255—History of Chicago (3)c | |
| HIST 257—History of Illinois (3)c | |
| Two additional 200-level history courses | 6 |
| HIST 300—History Methods Colloquiumd | 3 |
| HIST 320—Teaching History and the Related Disciplines | 3 |
| HIST 420—Teaching the Social Sciencese | 3 |
| Three additional 400-level history courses | 9 |
| The above course work must be distributed across three fields as follows: | |
| African, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Latin American: Minimum of 6 hours |
|
| European: Minimum of 6 hours in ancient, medieval, or modern European history |
|
| United States: Minimum of 12 hours in U.S. history |
|
| Total Hours—Major Requirements | 36 |
a HIST 106 and 114 count toward the field of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latin American history. HIST 106 is approved for the following General Education categories: Understanding the Past; Exploring World Cultures. HIST 114 is approved for the following General Education category: Understanding the Past.
b HIST 100 and 101 count toward the field of European history. HIST 100 is approved for the following General Education category: Understanding the Past. HIST 101 is approved for the following General Education categories: Understanding the Individual and Society; Understanding the Past.
c HIST 103, 104, 255, and 257 count toward the field of U.S. history. HIST 103, 104, and 255 are approved for the following General Education categories: Understanding U.S. Society; Understanding the Past.
d HIST 300 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
e HIST 420 has a prerequisite of 9 hours in the social sciences.
Teaching of History majors, in consultation with the program advisor, shall designate one of the fields of history listed above as their field of concentration, consisting of at least 9 semester hours (3 courses) beyond the 100-level in that field.
To complete the Teaching of History major, students will write a research paper based on primary sources in a 400-level course of their choosing.
Majors are required to seek guidance from the program advisor before registering for courses each semester [call (312) 413-9163 for an appointment].
Prerequisite and Collateral Courses
| Courses | Hours |
| ECON 120—Principles of Microeconomicsa | 3 |
| ECON 121—Principles of Macroeconomicsa | 3 |
| Total Hours—Prerequisite and Collateral Courses | 6 |
a ECON 120 and 121 are approved for the following General Education categories: Understanding the Individual and Society; Understanding U.S. Society.
Students are encouraged but not required to take ANTH 101, GEOG 100, POLS 101, PSCH 100, and SOC 100.
Additional Requirements for Teacher Licensure
| Courses | Hours |
| ED 200—Educational Policy Foundations | 3 |
| ED 210—The Educative Process | 3 |
| SPED 410—Survey of Characteristics of Learners with Disabilities | 3 |
| CI 414—Middle and High School Literacy | 3 |
| ED 330—Curriculum, Instruction, and Evaluation in the Secondary School | 4 |
| HIST 475—Educational Practice with Seminar I | 6 |
| HIST 476—Educational Practice with Seminar II | 6 |
| Total Hours—Additional Requirements for Teacher Licensure | 28 |
In addition to specified course work in the major field, the teacher education student must fulfill certain other requirements as well as maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00 in the major, a 3.00/4.00 in required education courses, and a cumulative GPA of 2.50/4.00. For detailed information, see the Program Guide for Teacher Education in History, available from the secondary education coordinator in the Department of History.
Successful completion of licensure and degree requirements does not automatically confer licensure. To become licensed students must pass the following requirements:
- a series of examinations required by the Illinois State Board of Education
- the Content Area Tests (before being allowed to student teach)
- assessment of Professional Teaching.
Only after these requirements have been met may students apply for licensure to the Council on Teacher Education. For more information on application procedures, contact the Council on Teacher Education located in EPASW 3015. See Council on Teacher Education and Secondary Education Programs in the College of Education section.
To view a recommended plan of study for the Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of History, please visit the LAS website http://www.las.uic.edu/students/prospective-undergraduate/degree-programs/four-year-model-plans.
The department offers the following two options:
- Students who earn a 3.50/4.00 cumulative GPA for all UIC courses and a 3.75/4.00 GPA in all courses taken in the Department of History at UIC will be awarded Departmental Distinction.
- Students who earn a 3.25/4.00 cumulative GPA for all UIC courses and 3.50/4.00 GPA in all courses taken in the Department of History at UIC may choose to complete an honors thesis while enrolled in History 398—Honors Project. To qualify for honors, the student must earn at least a grade of B in History 398.
