Nov 04, 2024  
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

History, B.A.


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Avila’s history program emphasizes the acquisition of a breadth of historical knowledge and the research skills of historical scholarship that encompass the fields of American and World history. The history curriculum incorporates multiple perspectives and methodological approaches to human history, thus capturing the experiences of the rich and poor, the powerful and oppressed.

A major in history prepares students for a variety of opportunities. Traditional professions for historians have been teaching in secondary schools, but other possibilities exist in historical preservation, archival work, and museum administration. The study of history has also been seen as an appropriate preparation for graduate study in law and information management/library studies.

Major Requirements


Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in History must complete all the core degree requirements as stated in the University catalog. All history majors must receive a grade of “C” or above in all history courses. Lastly, history majors must create an electronic portfolio in HI 451 - Historiography (3) , which serves as the departmental comprehensive examination in the history major.

The following history courses must be completed for the history major:

Introductory History Courses: 12 hours (Minimum)


Any four (4) lower-division (100 or 200 level) history courses, but at least one lower-division course must be American history and at least one lower-division course must be World History.

Intermediate History Courses: 15 hours (Minimum)


Any five (5) upper-division (i.e., 300-level or above-excluding HI 399 , HI 451 , and HI 499  below) history courses, but at least two upper-division courses must be American history and at least two upper-division courses must be World history.

Advanced Courses in History: 9 hours


Additional Requirements


In addition, the following coursework from other disciplines must be completed for the major in History:

Foreign Language: Completion of a minimum of two semesters (a minimum of 6-10 credit hours) of college-level foreign language.

CORE 2015 Requirement for Community Engagement (3 hours): Met by completion of HI 396 - Public History (3)  or HI 496 - Internship in History (3) .

Social Studies Education

A program in Social Studies Education, 9-12 certification, approved by the State of Missouri, is offered. Kansas certification requirements may be completed concurrently. A Middle School major with a concentration in Social Science is also available. For more information, see the Education section of the catalog.

Technology Requirements


Met by completion of both HI 399 - Historical Research (3)  and HI 451 - Historiography (3)  at Avila University.

Outcomes


In addition to the above listed course requirements, history majors must meet all of the following outcomes. History minors are expected to meet only outcomes 1) Knowledge and 2) Theory listed below, which are assessed in a course-by-course basis.

Outcome 1.

Knowledge: Identify and characterize the major questions of American and World history in terms of continuity and change using relevant political, economic, social, religious, and cultural institutions, traditions, and beliefs. *All history courses provide instruction and practice relevant to this outcome.

Outcome 2.

Theory: Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of race, gender, class, ethnicity, or religion on the experiences of ordinary and extraordinary people of the past using current historical theory and methodology. *Formal instruction and practice occurs in  HI 399 - Historical Research (3)  and HI 451 - Historiography (3) , but preliminary instruction and practice are components of every upper-division history courses.

Outcome 3.

Praxis: Using the “knowledge” and “theory” of the outcomes above, examine and analyze primary documents, pose a historical question (i.e., offer an interpretation or thesis) that the weight of evidence seems to answer, then provide context for one’s historical question and evidence using the available secondary literature synthesized in a well-written work of historical scholarship. * Formal instruction and practice occurs in HI 399 - Historical Research (3) , HI 451 - Historiography (3) , and HI 499 - Senior Thesis (3) , but preliminary instruction and practice are components of every upper-division history course.

Assessment


The outcomes of the history major are formally assessed in two ways: 1) using an electronic portfolio produced in HI 451 - Historiography (3) , which serves as the departmental comprehensive examination in the history major, and 2) the senior thesis produced in HI 499 - Senior Thesis (3) . The comprehensive examination generally consists of a reflective essay in which students are challenged to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the outcomes 1) Knowledge and 2) Theory. The senior thesis is the primary means to assess each history major’s ability to produce a well-written work of historical scholarship as described in outcome 3) Praxis. The criterion for each outcome is: 100% of history majors will demonstrate knowledge and application of the outcome with at least 75% accuracy.

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