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2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
History, B.A.
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About the Program
The History major is designed to expand students’ comprehension of the past so that they can understand the present and prepare for the future. By fostering awareness of the multiple influences behind human action, the major aims to reject simplistic explanations of the past and encourage History majors to apply analytical skills and a global perspective to contemporary issues and events.
Stress is put on the global context and interconnectedness of historical events. Lectures, readings of primary and secondary sources, group discussion and presentations, fieldwork, research projects and seminars provide a variety of techniques for understanding the world’s diverse civilizations and the key turning points in their development and interactions.
Arcadia University History graduates have gone into education and teaching, corporate and nonprofit management, museum and archival work, marketing, investment counseling, travel and tourism, and many other fields, as well as graduate study in history, law and public administration. Most important, the History major at Arcadia prepares students to be engaged, responsible, and active global citizens.
Requirements
12 courses; typically 46–48 credits as listed below, with Undergraduate Curriculum requirements and electives to total 128 credits.
History Major Requirements
- Three introductory-level courses (100-level) in History.
- Three intermediate-level courses (200-level) in History, in addition to HS201.
- Three advanced-level courses (300-level) in History.
- Three research writing courses, which must include
- HS201, Research Writing (typically taken in a student’s second year)
- HS490, Senior Thesis Seminar (taken in the fall of a student’s senior year)
- HS491, Senior Thesis Seminar (taken in the spring of a student’s senior year)
Secondary Education Certification in Social Studies
Students interested in secondary certification should consult with their disciplinary adviser and their School of Education adviser as early as possible, preferably freshman year. All Arcadia undergraduates seeking certification must have declared Secondary Education as a minor and formally apply into the teacher certification preparation program during the spring semester of their sophomore year. See the School of Education section of the catalog for Secondary Education certification requirements.
Study Abroad
History majors are encouraged to study abroad for a semester, a year, or another time period that meets their curricular and personal needs and goals. For example, the Department of Historical and Political Studies has global field study courses that combine traditional course work with a seven- to ten-day overseas travel component.
When studying abroad, students should try to enroll in history courses that are not offered on the Glenside campus, giving students a unique opportunity to interact with other students, faculty, and public officials from another culture and political system.
If studying abroad for a semester or a year, History majors can plan to study abroad during any semester except senior year due to the required Senior Thesis Seminar course sequence.
Since it is important that students plan ahead for study abroad, they should consult with their advisers as soon as possible and make their intentions known to the Director of the major and the Office of Study Away ((215) 572-8514).
Internships and Experiential Learning
History majors are strongly encouraged to pursue internship opportunities. History majors can intern with local political leaders, in legal internships, local nonprofits, and/or with museums and other educational institutions in the Philadelphia area.
Arcadia University also participates in the Washington Semester Program at American University and the Washington Center Program. Each offers an off-campus experience of seminars and internships, drawing on the resources of the Washington, D.C., political and nonprofit community. Internship experiences can assist students in deciding what career to pursue after graduation and provide them with valuable personal and professional experiences, connections, and references. Students may also pursue internships over the summer, though these typically do not come with academic credit.
Finally, students have the opportunity to participate in and travel with an award-winning Model UN team. This allows students to experience how the United Nations, an intergovernmental organization, works to address global issues.
Related Graduate Study at Arcadia University
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Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in history (See Graduate Catalog.)
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Masters of Education in Secondary Education (See Graduate Catalog.)
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Social Studies Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education Certification
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Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution (See Graduate Catalog.)
History Program Director: Dr. I.M. Sullivan
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