Units required for Major: 45
Total units required for BA: 120
Program Description
History, in the broad sense, is the study of all human experience. It examines the people, institutions, ideas, and events from the past to the present. The study of history contributes to cultural literacy and develops critical thinking and other useful skills while helping students understand the present and plan for the future. Historical study provides a solid, fundamental preparation for careers in business, industry, government, and education. It also serves as excellent preparation for law school, foreign service, international work, urban affairs, historical consulting, and library science.
History is an academic discipline offering both breadth and focus. At Sacramento State, the History major includes four lower division survey courses and four upper division seminars to help hone reading, writing, critical thinking, and research skills. In addition, students choose six electives from a wide variety available, spanning the globe and time periods. The flexibility of the major allows students to focus on particular areas of interest or to explore a wide range of histories. Those interested in pursuing careers in law and public advocacy should consider the concentration in Law and Social Justice. Those interested in pursuing middle or high school history teaching should complete the History/Social Science Pre-credential Program.
Minimum Grade Requirement
A minimum grade of "C-" is required in courses applied to the major.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Lower Division Courses (27 Units) | ||
| HIST 17A | United States History, 1607-1877 1 | 3 |
| HIST 17B | United States History, 1877-Present 1 | 3 |
| HIST 50 | World History I: to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 51 | World History from 1500 to the Present. | 3 |
| Required Core Upper Division Courses 2 | ||
| HIST 100 | Introduction to Historical Skills | 3 |
| HIST 100R | Developing Historical Skills. (Developing Historical Skills) 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of United States History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of European History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of Asian History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of African History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of Latin American History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of a Special Topic | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Senior Research Seminar: United States History | ||
| Senior Research Seminar: World History | ||
| Senior Research Seminar: Public History | ||
| Required Upper Division Course | 3 | |
| Twentieth-Century World History | ||
| Upper Division Electives (18 Units) | ||
| Select one of the following courses in Historically Underrepresented Communities in the U.S. | 3 | |
| History of American Women | ||
| American Indian History to 1840 | ||
| American Indian History since 1840 | ||
| LGBTQ Histories | ||
| Queer Black Histories | ||
| The History of the Civil Rights Movement: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction, 1865-Present | ||
| History of Disability in the United States | ||
| History of Madness in the United States | ||
| Sex, Population, and Birth Control in America | ||
| Health, Death and Disease in America | ||
| African Cultural Heritage in the Americas | ||
| The African-American Experience, 1603-Present | ||
| Mexican-American History | ||
| American Immigration History | ||
| California Indian History | ||
| American Labor History | ||
| Select four additional upper division history courses selected in consultation with an advisor | 12 | |
| Language and written culture in Ancient Greece | ||
| Language and written culture in Ancient Greece | ||
| Culture and Language in Modern Greece, 1821-1909 | ||
| Culture and Language in Modern Greece, 1909-Present | ||
| Mediterranean Europe: From the Renaissance to the European Union | ||
| Ancient Science | ||
| Great Ages and Issues in Modern European History | ||
| Everyday Life and Society in Antiquity | ||
| History of the Physical Sciences | ||
| Ancient Egypt: History & Culture | ||
| History of Modern Greece | ||
| Greece's Turbulent Century, 1909 - 2010 | ||
| The Ancient Near East: A Cultural History | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| Ancient Rome | ||
| Early Medieval Europe | ||
| Europe in the High Middle Ages | ||
| The Renaissance and Reformation in Europe | ||
| Europe, 1648-1815, The Age of Revolution | ||
| Europe, 1815-1914 | ||
| World War I: Causes, Conduct, Consequences | ||
| World War II: Causes, Conduct, Consequences | ||
| Europe Since 1945 | ||
| History of Medicine, Ancient and Medieval | ||
| The History of Darwinism | ||
| Democracy and Human Rights in the Era of the French Revolution and Napoleon | ||
| History of Women in Western Civilization, Prehistory-Middle Ages | ||
| History of Women in Western Civilization, Renaissance-Present | ||
| Women's Global Activism in the 20th Century | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Warfare: Alexander to Napoleon | ||
| European Warfare from the French Revolution to the Present | ||
| Modern Germany, 1806-Present | ||
| Evolution of Christianity to the Reformation | ||
| Evolution of Christianity Since the Reformation | ||
| Medieval England To 1485 | ||
| Tudor and Stuart England, 1485-1714 | ||
| British History, 1714-Present | ||
| Medieval Russia | ||
| Imperial Russia | ||
| Twentieth-Century Russia | ||
| Socialist Popular Culture | ||
| The Fall Of Communism | ||
| History of Sexuality in Comparative Perspective | ||
| The Rise and Fall of European Colonial Empires | ||
| History Of Mexico To 1910 | ||
| Revolutionary and Modern Mexico | ||
| Spanish Civil War | ||
| Latin American Revolutions in the Twentieth Century | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Latin America | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Latin America | ||
| Global Environmental History in the Age of Imperialism, 1450-Present Day | ||
| Modern East Asian Cinema | ||
| History of Africa Since 1800 | ||
| History of Women in Africa | ||
| Middle Eastern History to 1800 | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Ottoman State and Society | ||
| The Arab-Israeli Conflict | ||
| Indonesia, 1965: Context, Causes, and Consequences of Cold War Mass Murder | ||
| South Asian History & Civilization | ||
| Cultural History of Japan to 1800 | ||
| Modern Japan, 1800-present | ||
| The History of Manga | ||
| A History of Anime | ||
| History of Buddhism | ||
| China: Antiquity to 1600 AD | ||
| China, 1600 to Present | ||
| The Making of Modern Southeast Asia | ||
| Colonial America | ||
| Early American Book History | ||
| The Age of the American Revolution | ||
| Founding Documents: American Democracy before 1800 | ||
| Young Republic, 1790-1840 | ||
| Civil War and Reconstruction, 1840-1890 | ||
| 20th Century United States, 1890-1940 | ||
| 20th Century United States, 1941-Present | ||
| The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage | ||
| History of International Relations in the 20th Century | ||
| Military History of the United States | ||
| History of US Foreign Relations | ||
| The United States in Vietnam, 1940-1975 | ||
| The American Vision | ||
| Social History of the United States | ||
| The City in US History | ||
| History of American Capitalism | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
| Popular Culture | ||
| History of American Women | ||
| Images Of America | ||
| Hollywood and America | ||
HIST 170A | ||
| American Indian History to 1840 | ||
| American Indian History since 1840 | ||
| LGBTQ Histories | ||
| Queer Black Histories | ||
| The History of the Civil Rights Movement: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction, 1865-Present | ||
| History of Disability in the United States | ||
| History of Madness in the United States | ||
| Disability in World History: A Comparative History | ||
| Sex, Population, and Birth Control in America | ||
| Health, Death and Disease in America | ||
| African Cultural Heritage in the Americas | ||
| The African-American Experience, 1603-Present | ||
| Mexican-American History | ||
| American Immigration History | ||
| American Legal History | ||
| Anarchists and Revolutionaries: Transnational Radicalism in America | ||
| American West | ||
| California History, 1542-1860 | ||
| California History, 1860-1970 | ||
| California Architecture and Urban History | ||
| California Indian History | ||
| The California Gold Rush | ||
| History of California Water | ||
| Sacramento History | ||
| American Labor History | ||
| California Dreamin': A Cultural History of California since 1840 | ||
| Clio: Editing and Publishing in History | ||
| Seminar in Historical Interpretation and Analysis | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of United States History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of European History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of Asian History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of African History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of Latin American History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of a Special Topic | ||
| Public History | ||
| Oral History: Theory and Practice | ||
| History Internship | ||
| Advanced History Internship | ||
| History Pre-credential Internship | ||
| Japanese History in Japan | ||
| Black Jesus: A History of Race and Religion in the Americas | ||
| Senior Research Seminar: United States History | ||
| Senior Research Seminar: World History | ||
| Senior Research Seminar: Public History | ||
| Summative Assessment for Teachers | ||
| Special Problems | ||
| Upper or Lower Division Elective | ||
| Select one History course at the upper or lower division level in consultation with an advisor. | 3 | |
| Survey of Early Western Civilization | ||
| Survey of Modern Western Civilization | ||
| Asian Civilizations | ||
| History of African Civilizations | ||
| Islam and the West | ||
| What We Ate: A Global History of Food | ||
| History's Mysteries: Thinking Critically about the Past | ||
| Health, Medicine, and Science in America, 1600-Present | ||
| Becoming America: Immigrants in American History, 1877-Present | ||
| First Year Seminar: Becoming an Educated Person | ||
| Language and written culture in Ancient Greece | ||
| Language and written culture in Ancient Greece | ||
| Culture and Language in Modern Greece, 1821-1909 | ||
| Culture and Language in Modern Greece, 1909-Present | ||
| Mediterranean Europe: From the Renaissance to the European Union | ||
| Ancient Science | ||
| Great Ages and Issues in Modern European History | ||
| Everyday Life and Society in Antiquity | ||
| History of the Physical Sciences | ||
| Ancient Egypt: History & Culture | ||
| History of Modern Greece | ||
| Greece's Turbulent Century, 1909 - 2010 | ||
| The Ancient Near East: A Cultural History | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| Ancient Rome | ||
| Early Medieval Europe | ||
| Europe in the High Middle Ages | ||
| The Renaissance and Reformation in Europe | ||
| Europe, 1648-1815, The Age of Revolution | ||
| Europe, 1815-1914 | ||
| World War I: Causes, Conduct, Consequences | ||
| World War II: Causes, Conduct, Consequences | ||
| Europe Since 1945 | ||
| History of Medicine, Ancient and Medieval | ||
| The History of Darwinism | ||
| Democracy and Human Rights in the Era of the French Revolution and Napoleon | ||
| History of Women in Western Civilization, Prehistory-Middle Ages | ||
| History of Women in Western Civilization, Renaissance-Present | ||
| Women's Global Activism in the 20th Century | ||
| The Crusades | ||
| Warfare: Alexander to Napoleon | ||
| European Warfare from the French Revolution to the Present | ||
| Modern Germany, 1806-Present | ||
| Evolution of Christianity to the Reformation | ||
| Evolution of Christianity Since the Reformation | ||
| Medieval England To 1485 | ||
| Tudor and Stuart England, 1485-1714 | ||
| British History, 1714-Present | ||
| Medieval Russia | ||
| Imperial Russia | ||
| Twentieth-Century Russia | ||
| Socialist Popular Culture | ||
| The Fall Of Communism | ||
| History of Sexuality in Comparative Perspective | ||
| The Rise and Fall of European Colonial Empires | ||
| History Of Mexico To 1910 | ||
| Revolutionary and Modern Mexico | ||
| Spanish Civil War | ||
| Latin American Revolutions in the Twentieth Century | ||
| Latin American History in Film | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Latin America | ||
| Global Environmental History in the Age of Imperialism, 1450-Present Day | ||
| Modern East Asian Cinema | ||
| History of Africa Since 1800 | ||
| History of Women in Africa | ||
| Middle Eastern History to 1800 | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Ottoman State and Society | ||
| The Arab-Israeli Conflict | ||
| Indonesia, 1965: Context, Causes, and Consequences of Cold War Mass Murder | ||
| South Asian History & Civilization | ||
| Cultural History of Japan to 1800 | ||
| Modern Japan, 1800-present | ||
| The History of Manga | ||
| A History of Anime | ||
| History of Buddhism | ||
| China: Antiquity to 1600 AD | ||
| China, 1600 to Present | ||
| The Making of Modern Southeast Asia | ||
| Colonial America | ||
| Early American Book History | ||
| The Age of the American Revolution | ||
| Founding Documents: American Democracy before 1800 | ||
| Young Republic, 1790-1840 | ||
| Civil War and Reconstruction, 1840-1890 | ||
| 20th Century United States, 1890-1940 | ||
| 20th Century United States, 1941-Present | ||
| The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage | ||
| History of International Relations in the 20th Century | ||
| Military History of the United States | ||
| History of US Foreign Relations | ||
| The United States in Vietnam, 1940-1975 | ||
| The American Vision | ||
| Social History of the United States | ||
| The City in US History | ||
| History of American Capitalism | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
| Popular Culture | ||
| History of American Women | ||
| Images Of America | ||
| Hollywood and America | ||
HIST 170A | ||
| American Indian History to 1840 | ||
| American Indian History since 1840 | ||
| The History of the Civil Rights Movement: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction, 1865-Present | ||
| History of Disability in the United States | ||
| History of Madness in the United States | ||
| Disability in World History: A Comparative History | ||
| Sex, Population, and Birth Control in America | ||
| Health, Death and Disease in America | ||
| African Cultural Heritage in the Americas | ||
| The African-American Experience, 1603-Present | ||
| Mexican-American History | ||
| American Immigration History | ||
| American Legal History | ||
| Anarchists and Revolutionaries: Transnational Radicalism in America | ||
| American West | ||
| California History, 1542-1860 | ||
| California History, 1860-1970 | ||
| California Architecture and Urban History | ||
| California Indian History | ||
| The California Gold Rush | ||
| History of California Water | ||
| California Architecture and Urban History | ||
| California Indian History | ||
| The California Gold Rush | ||
| History of California Water | ||
| Sacramento History | ||
| American Labor History | ||
| California Dreamin': A Cultural History of California since 1840 | ||
| Clio: Editing and Publishing in History | ||
| Seminar in Historical Interpretation and Analysis | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of United States History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of European History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of Asian History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of African History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of Latin American History | ||
| Seminar in Recent Interpretations of a Special Topic | ||
| Public History | ||
| Oral History: Theory and Practice | ||
| History Internship | ||
| Advanced History Internship | ||
| History Pre-credential Internship | ||
| Japanese History in Japan | ||
| Black Jesus: A History of Race and Religion in the Americas | ||
| Senior Research Seminar: United States History | ||
| Senior Research Seminar: World History | ||
| Senior Research Seminar: Public History | ||
| Summative Assessment for Teachers | ||
| Special Problems | ||
| Total Units | 45 | |
- 1
Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement.
- 2
HIST 100, 100R, and 197 form a research and writing sequence in the major. History majors should take HIST 100 in the second semester of their sophomore year or the first semester of their junior year (or after completion of at least 9 units of the required lower division coursework for the major). Students should complete a WPJ portfolio in the same semester as they take HIST 100 and the following semester should take HIST 100R. HIST 100R is in turn a prerequisite for HIST 197, which should be typically completed in a student's final semester. Ideally, HIST 192 should be completed the semester before HIST 197.
Notes:
- Students should consult with a faculty advisor in their first semester at Sacramento State.
- Study of a foreign language is recommended.
- For substitutions in requirements, students should consult with a faculty advisor early in their program. Substitutions require the approval of the Department Chair.
General Education Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Area A: Basic Subjects (9 Units) | ||
| A1 - Oral Communication | 3 | |
| A2 - Written Communication | 3 | |
| A3 - Critical Thinking 2 | 3 | |
| Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (13 Units) | ||
| B1 - Physical Science | 3 | |
| B2 - Life Forms | 3 | |
| B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) | 1 | |
| B4 - Math Concepts | 3 | |
| B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area C: Arts and Humanities (12 Units) | ||
| C1 - Arts | 3 | |
| C2 - Humanities 3 | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course 3 | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area D: The Individual and Society (9 Units) | ||
| Area D Course 3 | 3 | |
| Area D Course | 3 | |
| Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units) | ||
| Area E Course 4 | 3 | |
| Area F: Ethnic Studies (3 Units) | ||
| Area F Course | 3 | |
| Total Units | 49 | |
- 1
To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.
Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.
- 2
HIST 10 recommended.
- 3
Required in Major; also satisfies GE.
- 4
HIST 21 recommended.
Graduation Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (6 Units) | ||
| American Institutions: U.S. History 2 | 0 | |
| American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive (WI) | 3 | |
| Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (9 Units) | ||
| English Composition II | 3 | |
| Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE) 2 | 0 | |
| Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 3 | 6 | |
- 1
To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.
Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.
- 2
Required in Major; also satisfies Graduation Requirement.
- 3
If not satisfied before entering Sacramento State, it may be satisfied in General Education Area C2 (Humanities). "C- or better required." The alternative methods for satisfying the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement are described here: https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/world-languages-literatures/foreign-language-requirement.html
The following roadmaps are sample planning resources. Please consult your academic advisor and Academic Catalog for graduation requirements as you develop your individualized academic plan.
History, BA: 4-Year Roadmap
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Units | |
| HIST 21 | First Year Seminar: Becoming an Educated Person | 3 |
| HIST 50 | World History I: to 1500 | 3 |
| GE Area 1A - English Composition 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 1C - Oral Communication 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 6 - Ethnic Studies 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HIST 51 | World History from 1500 to the Present. | 3 |
| GE Area 1B - Critical Thinking 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 2 - Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 3A - Arts 2 | 3 | |
| GR American Institutions (GOVT) 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| HIST 17A | United States History, 1607-1877 | 3 |
| ENGL 20 | College Composition II | 3 |
| GE Area 3B - Humanities 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5B - Biological Science 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5C - Laboratory 2 | 1 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HIST 17B | United States History, 1877-Present | 3 |
| HIST 100 | Introduction to Historical Skills | 3 |
| GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5A - Physical Science 2 | 3 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| HIST 100R | Developing Historical Skills. | 3 |
| HIST Lower Division or Upper Division Major Elective 3 | 3 | |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 5 or 2 - Science or Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Semester 1 2 | 4 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HIST 133 | Twentieth-Century World History | 3 |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective 3 | 3 | |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 3 - Arts or Humanities 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Semester 2 2 | 4 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| HIST 192A |
Seminar in Recent Interpretations of United States History 3 or Seminar in Recent Interpretations of European History or Seminar in Recent Interpretations of Asian History or Seminar in Recent Interpretations of African History or Seminar in Recent Interpretations of Latin American History or Seminar in Recent Interpretations of a Special Topic |
3 |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective - Historically Underrepresented Communities in the U.S. 3 | 3 | |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences 2 | 3 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HIST 197A |
Senior Research Seminar: United States History 3 or Senior Research Seminar: World History or Senior Research Seminar: Public History |
3 |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Units | 12 | |
| Total Units | 120 | |
History, BA: 2-Year Roadmap
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Units | |
| HIST 100 | Introduction to Historical Skills | 3 |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective - Historically Underrepresented Communities in the U.S. 3 | 3 | |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences 2 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 5 or 2 - Science or Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HIST 100R | Developing Historical Skills. | 3 |
| HIST 133 | Twentieth-Century World History | 3 |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective 3 | 3 | |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 3 - Arts or Humanities 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| HIST 192A |
Seminar in Recent Interpretations of United States History 3 or Seminar in Recent Interpretations of European History or Seminar in Recent Interpretations of Asian History or Seminar in Recent Interpretations of African History or Seminar in Recent Interpretations of Latin American History or Seminar in Recent Interpretations of a Special Topic |
3 |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective 3 | 3 | |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Semester 1 2 | 4 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HIST 197A |
Senior Research Seminar: United States History 3 or Senior Research Seminar: World History or Senior Research Seminar: Public History |
3 |
| HIST Upper Division Major Elective 3 | 3 | |
| GR American Institutions (GOVT) 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Semester 2 2 | 4 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Total Units | 62 | |
- 1.
Any course not completed in the first semester should be taken in the second or a later semester.
- 2.
Please see General Education/Graduation Requirement course options.
- 3.
Please see an academic advisor for elective options.