History Major
The history major requires that students take 10 history courses (including a seminar and a pro-seminar).
Required Courses
One of the following two-course introductory sequences
- HIS 114-115 West and the World I and II
- HIS 116-117 Western Civilization I and II
- HIS 118-119 Modern Europe and the US I and II
A minimum of one course from each of the following groups:
Group I: History of Europe (choose at least one)
HIS 202 Ancient Rome
HIS 203 Byzantine Empire, 330-1453
HIS 206 Rise and Decline of European Primacy
HIS 208 Early Medieval Europe
HIS 209 Late Medieval Europe
HIS 210 Diplomatic History of Europe in the 20th Century
HIS 212 Women in Europe
HIS 230 Renaissance Europe
HIS 231 European Reformations
HIS 232 Baroque Europe, 1600-1789
HIS 235 France since 1789
HIS 237 Women and Mysticism
HIS 241 Russia: Pre-Revolutionary Period
HIS 242 Russia since 1917
HIS 243 Totalitarianism and Everyday Life
HIS 272 Germany since 1890
Group II: History of the United States (choose at least one)
HIS 180 United States to 1877
HIS 181 United States since 1877
HIS 213 Women and the American Experience
HIS 257 History of Canada
HIS 258 Colonial America
HIS 259 Revolutionary America
HIS 262 Civil War and Reconstruction in the United States
HIS 264 United States since 1960
HIS 267 United States Foreign Relations since 1776
HIS 268 The Cold War
HIS 269 History of African-Americans
HIS 270 Immigration and American History since 1815
HIS 285 Women’s Studies I: Images
HIS 293 From Jesus to Muhammad: The Near East in Transition
Group III: History of the World (choose at least one)
HIS 250 Colonial Latin America
HIS 251 Latin America since 1821
HIS 254 North American Indian
HIS 255 From Contact to Casinos: Interactions with Indians in North America
HIS 265 Peace Studies
HIS 280 Asia to 1800
HIS 281 Asia since 1800
HIS 282 Japan since 1868
HIS 283 Modern China: War and Revolution
HIS 290 Islamic Middle East I (to 1800)
HIS 291 Islamic Middle East II (since 1800)
WMS 385 Women of the World
Five additional courses from Departmental offerings (including the above as well as the following):
HIS 389 Special Topics in History*
HIS 390 Independent Study
HIS 392 History Colloquium
HIS 394 Practicum in the Teaching of History
AAS 350 American Studies Seminar at the American Antiquarian Society (counts as two courses, six credits)
* Recent Special Topics courses have included:
Spring 2010: The Renaissance in Venice; Popular Culture and Consumer Culture in America
Spring 2010: Colloquium; Stalinist Russia
Fall 2009: Slave Narratives; World War II in Asia
Fall 2008: The Golden Age of the Low Countries: 1500-1700
Fall 2008: From Gorbachev to Putin
Seminars and Pro-Seminars
HIS 393 taken in conjunction with HIS 391, a pro-seminar (a course providing background and context for the seminar topic). The pro-seminar is taken in the same semester as the seminar (for a total of six credit hours), usually during the junior or senior year OR the annual seminar offered by the American Antiquarian Society during the fall term.
Recent Seminars have included:
- Spring 2010: War and American Society
- Fall 2009: Slavery in British North America and the United States
- Spring 2009: Humanism and the Rebirth of Antiquity
- Fall 2008: The Fall of Communism
Electives
While History majors may take up to 14 courses in History, they are urged to take courses in related disciplines, such as Native American Studies, Women’s Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies Political Science, Anthropology, Sociology, Economics, Geography, English, Comparative Literature and Languages, Philosophy, and Theology, in order to broaden their liberal arts background. Students intending to pursue graduate work should note that a reading knowledge of French, German, Spanish, or other foreign language is often required of doctoral candidates and in some cases of master’s candidates.
Other recommendations:
Internships for credit are available for history majors.
The interdisciplinary American Studies Seminar of the American Antiquarian Society and five Worcester colleges is available on a competitive basis to outstanding Assumption students from across the disciplines every fall. This seminar fulfills the seminar and pro-seminar requirement for History majors.
Minor in History
Required Courses:
At least one course from Group I (see above)
At least one course from Group II (see above)
At least one course from Group III (see above)
HIS 392 Colloquium (Minors in History may choose the option of taking a seminar rather than a colloquium. They should note that enrolling in the HIS 393 WE Seminar entails taking its corresponding pro-seminar as well.)
Two other courses from Departmental offerings
Education Concentration in History
For students interested in becoming history teachers at the middle or high-school level, Assumption College offers a state-approved preparation program for history in grades 5-8 or 8-12. Such students should consider a major in History and a concentration in middle (grades 5-8) or secondary (8-12) education. Students who are interested in obtaining a teaching license in history should meet with the Education Program Coordinator by their second semester to acquire information about applying to the Education Concentration.
The History major provides students with course work that addresses the subject matter knowledge requirements for teacher licensure by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Interested students should consult with their academic advisors in both the History and Education departments for a course of study that meets both major and licensure requirements.