Subject Matter Program (History)

Units required for Major: 72
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 three upper division seminars. In addition, students choose seven upper division electives from a wide variety available. The flexibility of the major allows students to focus on topical areas such as: women's history, the history of particular geographic areas, cultural history, ethnic group history, economic history, military history, and history from the ancient world to that of the U.S. in the 20th Century. Teaching credential candidates should complete the History/Social Science Pre-credential Program.

Note: Students seeking to major in history and to achieve subject matter competency for a secondary teaching credential should complete the following History/Social Science Pre-Credential Program. Students should seek advising with a History advisor at the earliest opportunity.

Preparation for Credential Program

The History BA with Social Science Subject Matter Competency is a California state-approve subject matter program. Students who successfully complete the program satisfy the requirement of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for demonstrated competence in Social Science. Graduates of the program are exempt from the CSET exams in Social Science. 

Early field experience: Students are strongly encouraged to seek opportunities to gain experience in classroom settings or with youth in organized activities.

Sacramento State's Master of Arts in Teaching (Single Subject) requires a minimum of of 45 hours (100 preferred) of experience working with middle- to high-school aged youth during the two year prior to apply to the credential program.

Program Requirements

Required History Courses (39 Units) 1
Lower Division Required Courses
HIST 17AUnited States History, 1607-1877 23
HIST 17BUnited States History, 1877-Present 23
HIST 50World History I: to 1500 23
HIST 51World History from 1500 to the Present. 23
Upper Division Seminar
HIST 100Introduction to Historical Skills (Recommended for second semester of sophomore year)3
Upper Division Courses
HIST 133Twentieth-Century World History3
HIST 183BCalifornia History, 1860-19703
U.S. History
Select one of the following:3
20th Century United States, 1890-1940
20th Century United States, 1941-Present
The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage
History of US Foreign Relations 2
The United States in Vietnam, 1940-1975
The American Vision 2
Social History of the United States 2
The City in US History 2
History of American Capitalism
American Environmental History 2
Popular Culture
Hollywood and America 2
American Immigration History
American Legal History
American West
American Labor History
Pre-20th Century U.S. History
Select one of the following:3
Colonial America
The Age of the American Revolution
Young Republic, 1790-1840
Civil War and Reconstruction, 1840-1890
California History, 1542-1860
World (Non-U.S.) History
Select one of the following:3
Mediterranean Europe: From the Renaissance to the European Union 2
Great Ages and Issues in Modern European History 2
The Renaissance and Reformation in Europe
Europe, 1648-1815, The Age of Revolution 2
Europe, 1815-1914
World War I: Causes, Conduct, Consequences
World War II: Causes, Conduct, Consequences
Europe Since 1945 2
Democracy and Human Rights in the Era of the French Revolution and Napoleon
The Crusades
Modern Germany, 1806-Present
British History, 1714-Present
Imperial Russia
Twentieth Century Russia
The Fall Of Communism 2
The Rise and Fall of European Colonial Empires
History Of Mexico To 1910 2
Revolutionary and Modern Mexico 2
Colonial Latin America 2
Modern and Contemporary Latin America 2
History of Africa Since 1800 2
Middle Eastern History to 1800 2
The Modern Middle East 2
Indonesia, 1965: Context, Causes, and Consequences of Cold War Mass Murder
South Asian History & Civilization
Cultural History of Japan to 1800 2
Modern Japan, 1800-present 2
China, 1600 to Present 2
The Making of Modern Southeast Asia
History of International Relations in the 20th Century 2
Women/Ethnic History 2
Select one of the following:3
History of Women in Western Civilization, Prehistory-Middle Ages 2
History of Women in Western Civilization, Renaissance-Present 2
History of Women in Africa 2
History of American Women 2
The History of the Civil Rights Movement: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction, 1865-Present 2
The African-American Experience, 1603-Present 2
Mexican-American History
California Indian History
Required Seminar
HIST 191Seminar in Historical Interpretation and Analysis3
Interdisciplinary Seminar Course
HIST 198Summative Assessment for Teachers3
Additional Requirements Outside History (33 Units) 3
Early Field Experience
EDUC 170Introduction to Bilingual Education: Policies, Principles, Programs, and Practices3
Economics
ECON 1AIntroduction to Macroeconomic Analysis 23
ECON 1BIntroduction to Microeconomic Analysis 23
ECON 113Economic History of the United States3
Ethical Perspectives 2
Select one of the following:3
Ethics 2
Ethics and Social Issues 2
Geography
GEOG 100Themes In World Geography3
GEOG 121United States and Canada3
Political Science
POLS 1Essentials Of Government 23
or POLS 150 American Governments
POLS 35World Politics 23
POLS 180California State and Local Government 23
Pluralism in American Society 2
Select one of the following:3
Cultural Diversity 2
Ethnic America 2
Politics of the Underrepresented 2
Ethnic and Race Relations 2
Total Units72

General Education Requirements1

Area A: Basic Subjects (9 Units)
A1 - Oral Communication3
A2 - Written Communication3
A3 - Critical Thinking3
Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (13 Units)
B1 - Physical Science3
B2 - Life Forms3
B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5)1
B4 - Math Concepts3
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 (3-6 Units)
C1 - Arts3
C2 - Humanities 20
C1/C2 - Area C Course 20
C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 30 - 3
Area D: The Individual and Society (0-3 Units)
Area D Course 20
Area D Course 20
Area D Course 20
Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 40 - 3
Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units)
Area E Course3
Total Units28-34

Graduation Requirements1

Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (0-3 Units)
American Institutions: U.S. History 20
American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government 20
Writing Intensive (WI) 30 - 3
Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (9 Units)
English Composition II3
Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE) 20
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 46
Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (0-3 Units)
American Institutions: U.S. History 20
American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government 20
Writing Intensive (WI) 30 - 3
Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (9 Units)
English Composition II3
Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE) 20
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 46