James Madison University

B.A. in History

Harrisonburg, USA

DURATION

4 Years

LANGUAGES

English

PACE

Full time

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Request application deadline *

EARLIEST START DATE

Request earliest startdate

TUITION FEES

USD 6,434 / per semester **

STUDY FORMAT

On-Campus

* regular admission | November 1st, 2022: early admission

** in-state tuition fee | $15,076: out-of-state tuition fee. Additional fees may apply

Introduction

Everything has a history.

The study of History emphasizes critical, applicable skills in reading, writing and reasoning to prepare students for careers in law, business and management, research, public service, and education. Our curriculum encourages students to explore various regions and eras through course work in the history studio, digital history projects and the study of artifacts, and provides opportunities for internship experiences and study abroad.

Explore the past to discover more about the world, your community and even yourself.

The History major blends core requirements with great choice permitting students to pursue particular interests while developing a broad understanding of the historic past. Students will have the opportunity to design, in consultation with faculty advisers, approximately two-thirds of their program to suit their needs and interests. The major offers students an opportunity for independent research and to present their findings at regional or national conferences. History prepares students for a broad range of challenging careers.

History courses introduce students to the nature of history and survey the globe in a historical context. The 100- and 200-level courses are world or regional surveys, covering extensive periods of time, while the 300- and 400-level courses are focused on one theme, time period or geography. The upper-level courses require extensive analysis of sources and texts, and they include a research assignment that showcases the students' ability to develop and present their own historical interpretations.

The major requires three core courses: HIST 101, HIST 102 and HIST 395. Majors must take eight additional courses: Two on the 200 level and six on the 300 and 400 levels—with at least three of the upper division courses taken at the 400 level. In addition, majors must take one upper-division course in each of the following fields: U.S., Europe and World history. For students writing a senior honors thesis, only three hours of HIST 499. Honors may be counted among the three 400-level courses required for the major.

Gallery

Admissions

Curriculum

History courses introduce students to the way historians think and use evidence. The 100- and 200-level courses serve both general education and history majors with an overview of how to approach history. 300-level courses allow majors and interested non-majors to dive into historical thinking and argumentation through courses highlighting different themes and areas of the world. 400-level courses offer capstone-guided research experience intended for majors and experienced history students.

The major requires five courses: HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 225, HIST 299 and HIST 300. All majors take a 300-level course that emphasizes the “big picture” of global history and the way ideas spread across space and time. All majors also take a 300-level course that applies historical thinking to today’s world and to skills outside the classroom. This can include internships, courses that use the dedicated History Studio, and courses that delve into the archives. Majors also complete two capstone courses at the 400- level that offer opportunities to develop and share their own historical interpretations with a wider audience. For students writing a senior honors thesis, only three hours of HIST 499. Honors may be counted among the two 400-level courses required for the major.

Required Courses

General Education 41 Credit Hours 1
Foreign Language classes (intermediate level required) 0-14 Credit Hours [requirement for B.A. degree] 2
Philosophy course (in addition to General Education courses) 3 Credit Hours [requirement for B.A. degree]
Major requirements 41-53 Credit Hours
University electives 9-35 Credit Hours

Footnotes
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
2 The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures’ placement test.

Core Requirements: 14 Credit Hours

HIST 101. World History to 1500 [C2HQC] Credits: 3.00
HIST 102. World History Since 1500 [C2HQC] Credits: 3.00
HIST 225. U.S. History [C4AE] Credits: 4.00
HIST 299. Putting History Skills to Work Credits: 1.00
HIST 300. Historical Thinking Credits: 3.00

Choose One Option

History Majors (No Concentration Option): 21 Credit Hours

These are requirements outside the core for upper-level courses.

Connected History - Choose One: 3 Credit Hours

The Connected history requirement offers classes that think historically about big-picture issues in a global context. Classes might consider regions or the globe. These classes guide students in how to use historical inquiry to understand deep connections and cause and effect relationships across time and place. We intend this to be world history in its broadest sense.

HIST 314. Plagues, Saints and Empires: The World before 1500 Credits: 3.00
HIST 315. Global History of Sport Credits: 3.00
HIST 317. International and Multicultural Histories of the Middle East Credits: 3.00
HIST 318. Our Better Angels?: The World History of Violence Credits: 3.00
HIST 334. A Global History of Nationalism Credits: 3.00
HIST 365. Topics in Connected History Credits: 3.00
HIST 368. Blurred Borders: A Cultural History of the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States Credits: 3.00
HIST 373. History of the Ottoman Empire, 1453-1922 Credits: 3.00

Applying History - Choose One: 3 Credit Hours

Applying history classes move beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. These classes apply historical thinking and historical source-based evidence in real world settings. These can take different forms. Internships are an option here. So are classes that focus on acquiring and applying digital and technological skills, or on using history to think about public policy. Others guide students in archival research either online or in an in-person archive. Many study abroad classes also fulfill these goals.

HIST 302. Plazas, Protests and Processions: An Urban History of the Americas Credits: 3.00
HIST 322. Jim Crow South Credits: 3.00
HIST 335. Topics in Applying History Credits: 3.00
HIST 340. Internship in History Credits: 3.00
HIST 343. History of Today Credits: 3.00
HIST 345. Pills and Potions: Histories of U.S. Health Care and Medicine Credits: 3.00
HIST 351. War in Afghanistan: Local and Global Perspectives Credits: 3.00
HIST 357. Fates of Empires Credits: 3.00
HIST 360. Research Apprenticeship in History Credits: 3.00
HIST 396. History Beyond the Classroom: Public History Credits: 3.00

Research Capstone Requirement: 6 Credit Hours

Majors need to take two courses at the 400-level. These courses are designed to offer all students guided research experiences. Students may choose any two courses they wish at this level.

Elective Courses: 9 Credit Hours

Students need to take three additional elective courses chosen from 300- and 400-level courses. Students have free choice of these elective courses. Students may not double-count courses that meet other specific requirements in history. In other words, students could choose to take two different courses that meet the connected history requirement. One would count towards the connected history requirement and the other would count as an elective course for the major.

History Majors (Concentration Option): 21-33 Credit Hours

Choose one of the concentrations below:

History Teacher Education Concentration Courses: 21-24 Credit Hours

Do you want to teach history in a middle or high school setting? A history major is a good preparation for a professional path in social studies education which allows students to combine a passion for history with a clear professional path. Students may choose between a four-year program and a five-year program that lead to preparation for teacher licensure. The five-year program (including a pre-professional secondary education minor and interdisciplinary social science (ISS) minor, and then application and acceptance to a M.A.T. program in the fifth year) allows students to extend and deepen their historical knowledge and skill in historical thinking while learning to apply it in field experiences. The four-year program (a double major in secondary education and history, with a minor in ISS) provides an accelerated program for motivated students to get into the classroom sooner.

Students interested in teaching licensure must also complete the ISS minor and either the Secondary Education major or the Secondary Education minor.

Students who take POSC 457 cannot also take or receive credit for HIST 357.

Pre-professional secondary education minors (5-year program) should ordinarily take POSC 457 for the ISS minor and therefore not receive credit for HIST 357. If they do take HIST 357 instead (with prior permission), it cannot double-count for the major and ISS minor.

Secondary Education majors (four-year program): HIST 357 can double-count with the ISS minor.

Choose one. Thinking with Economics: 3 Credit Hours
- HIST 310. American Business History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 333. Maps, Money, Manufacture, and Trade Credits: 3.00
- HIST 469. A History of International Development in the Twentieth Century Credits: 3.00
- or another economic history class approved by the adviser
Choose one. Virginia history requirement: 3 Credit Hours
- HIST 303. Virginia’s Place in #VastEarlyAmerica Credits: 3.00
- HIST 350. Virginia Credits: 3.00
Connected History - Choose One: 3 Credit Hours
The Connected history requirement offers classes that think historically about big-picture issues in a global context. Classes might consider regions or the globe. These classes guide students in how to use historical inquiry to understand deep connections and cause and effect relationships across time and place. We intend this to be world history in its broadest sense.
- HIST 317. International and Multicultural Histories of the Middle East Credits: 3.00
- HIST 318. Our Better Angels?: The World History of Violence Credits: 3.00
- HIST 334. A Global History of Nationalism Credits: 3.00
- HIST 365. Topics in Connected History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 314. Plagues, Saints and Empires: The World before 1500 Credits: 3.00
- HIST 315. Global History of Sport Credits: 3.00
- HIST 368. Blurred Borders: A Cultural History of the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States Credits: 3.00
- HIST 373. History of the Ottoman Empire, 1453-1922 Credits: 3.00
- HIST 396. History Beyond the Classroom: Public History Credits: 3.00
Applying History Requirement for Teacher Education - Choose One: 3 Credit Hours
Applying history classes move beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. These classes apply historical thinking and historical source-based evidence in real-world settings. Students in the history teacher education program should consider choosing courses that apply history in K-12 classrooms. HIST 357 concentrates on thinking through K-12 pedagogies.
For students in the 4-year history teacher education program, HIST 357 double counts for a similar requirement in the ISS minor.
- HIST 302. Plazas, Protests, and Processions: An Urban History of the Americas Credits: 3.00
- HIST 322. Jim Crow South Credits: 3.00
- HIST 335. Topics in Applying History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 340. Internship in History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 343. History of Today Credits: 3.00
- HIST 345. Pills and Potions: Histories of U.S. Health Care and Medicine Credits: 3.00
- HIST 351. War in Afghanistan: Local and Global Perspectives Credits: 3.00
- HIST 357. Fates of Empires Credits: 3.00
- HIST 360. Research Apprenticeship in History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 396. History Beyond the Classroom: Public History Credits: 3.00
Research Capstone Requirement: 6 Credit Hours
Majors need to take two courses at the 400-level. These courses are designed to offer all students guided research experiences. Students may choose any two courses they wish at this level.
Elective Courses: 3-6 Credit Hours
Students need to take one elective course chosen from 300- and 400-level courses. Students have free choice of that elective course. Students may generally not double-count courses that meet other specific requirements in history.
Students may double-count a course towards the Thinking with Economics requirement and another requirement if the course is approved for both requirements. In that instance, students will then need to complete one additional elective history course at the 300- or 400-level to complete the required credit hours in the major.

Public History Concentration Courses: 27-33 Credit Hours

Historians today practice their discipline in a variety of careers as well as in more traditional academic settings. Those historians who work in museums, archives, government agencies, libraries, historic preservation organizations, businesses, contract history firms, cultural resource management firms, and historic sites are known as public historians because they use their skills as historians to serve a public audience. The concentration in Public History trains students in the broad range of skills and issues associated with public history while providing them with a solid general background in history.

Students pursuing the public history concentration augment their foundation of traditional history courses by taking introductory and specialized public history courses and completing a semester-long internship. History majors opting to pursue the public history concentration will complete all history requirements and additional courses designed to train students in public history.

Students are required to complete two public history core courses as well as meet all history department requirements. Two of the three elective courses should be chosen from the list of primary electives; the remaining elective course may be chosen from either the primary or secondary list of elective courses.

Centering Public History Requirement: 3 Credit Hours
- HIST 396. History Beyond the Classroom: Public History Credits: 3.00
Connected History: 3 Credit Hours
The Connected history requirement offers classes that think historically about big-picture issues in a global context. Classes might consider regions or the globe. These classes guide students in how to use historical inquiry to understand deep connections and cause and effect relationships across time and place. We intend this to be world history in its broadest sense.
- HIST 314. Plagues, Saints and Empires: The World before 1500 Credits: 3.00
- HIST 315. Global History of Sports Credits: 3.00
- HIST 317. International and Multicultural Histories of the Middle East Credits: 3.00
- HIST 318. Our Better Angels?: The World History of Violence Credits: 3.00
- HIST 334. A Global History of Nationalism Credits: 3.00
- HIST 365. Topics in Connected History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 368. Blurred Borders: A Cultural History of the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States Credits: 3.00
- HIST 373. History of the Ottoman Empire, 1453-1922 Credits: 3.00
Applying History Requirement for Public History: 3 Credit Hours
All students planning to graduate with a concentration in public history need to complete an approved internship. This internship counts as the applying history requirement.
- HIST 340. Internship in History Credits: 3.00
Public History Primary Courses: 6-9 Credit Hours
Students need to take two or three courses from this list of approved public history courses. Students who take two of these courses also need to complete one course from the secondary public history list. Students who complete three of these courses do not need to take a course from the public history secondary list.
- HIST 331. Historical Archaeology Credits: 3.00
- HIST 394. Introduction to Museum Work Credits: 3.00
- HIST 407. Digital History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 438. Workshop in Public and Local History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 440. The History Museum Credits: 3.00
- HIST 441. Oral History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 492. History From Things: Material Culture Credits: 3.00
- HIST 493. Historic Preservation Credits: 3.00
Public History Secondary Courses: 0-3 Credit Hours
Students either take three courses from the Public History primary courses list or two from that list and one from this Public History secondary list. Between the two requirements, students must take 9 credit hours without double-counting a course.
- HIST 326. How Cars Changed Everything Credits: 3.00
- HIST 327. Makers, Users, Skeptics, and Thieves: Americans and Their Technologies Credits: 3.00
- HIST 338. U.S. Urban History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 360. Research Apprenticeship in History Credits: 3.00
- HIST 391. Travel Studies Seminar Credits: 3.00 (Summer in Ghana Program or Travel Studies Seminar: Paris and Normandy: Civilization, Culture, and Memory: North of England Programme)
- HIST 402. Workshop in Colonial American Life Credits: 3.00
- HIST 403. Workshop in Civil War Virginia Credits: 3.00
- HIST 406. Monticello Credits: 3.00
- HIST 408. The Museum: Histories and Controversies Credits: 3.00
- ANTH 494. Field Techniques in Archaeology Credits: 4.00 - 8.00
Research Capstone Requirement: 6 Credit Hours
Majors need to take two courses at the 400 level. These courses are designed to offer all students guided research experiences. Students may choose any two courses they wish at this level.
Elective Courses for Public History Students: 3-9 Credit Hours
Students need to take one elective course at the 300 or 400 level in addition to the other requirements for this program. Students have a free selection of that course from any 300 or 400-level course in the major.
In the event that a student takes a course that meets both the public history primary or secondary course requirement and the research capstone requirement, the student will take an additional elective history course at the 300 or 400 level to complete the required credit hours. Any 300 or 400-level course in history meets this requirement.

Recommended Schedule for Majors without a Specific Concentration

(Non-History Teacher Education Concentration)

First Year

HIST 101. World History to 1500 [C2HQC] Credits: 3.00
HIST 102. World History Since 1500 [C2HQC] Credits: 3.00
HIST 225. U.S. History [C4AE] Credits: 4.00
Foreign language courses Credits / Units: 6.00-8.00
General Education courses Credits / Units: 3.00
General Education Cluster One: Skills for the 21st Century Credits / Units: 9.00

Second Year

We encourage majors to begin taking 300-level courses in the major in their second year after completing General Education courses but waiting until the third year to begin taking 400-level courses in the major.

HIST 300. Historical Thinking Credits: 3.00 (Students are encouraged to take HIST 300 by the end of the second year.)
Foreign language courses (if needed) or electives Credits / Units: 9.00-10.00
General Education courses Credits / Units: 9.00-12.00
University Electives Credits / Units: 6.00 - 9.00

Third Year

Philosophy course 3.00 Credit Hours
History electives (mix 300 and 400 levels) 9.00 Credit Hours
Electives 6.00 Credit Hours
General Education courses (Cluster Four) 3.00 Credit Hours
General Education courses (Cluster Two, Cluster Four) 9.00 Credit Hours

Fourth Year

HIST 299. Putting History Skills to Work Credits: 1.00
Electives Credits / Units: 20.00-21.00
History electives (mix 300 and 400 levels) Credits / Units: 9.00

Recommended Schedule for the Major with History Teacher Education Concentration

A more detailed recommendation for combining the majors and minors leading to licensure can be found on the History department website.

First Year

Students who have a double-major in which the other major is a BS degree may be subject to the BS degree requirements instead, which do not include a foreign language. Be sure to talk to your advisor.

HIST 101. World History to 1500 [C2HQC] Credits: 3.00
HIST 102. World History Since 1500 [C2HQC] Credits: 3.00
HIST 225. U.S. History [C4AE] Credits: 4.00
Foreign language courses are required IF doing the B.A. degree. Credits / Units: 6.00-8.00
General Education courses Credits / Units: 3.00
General Education Cluster One: Skills for the 21st Century Credits / Units: 9.00

Second Year

HIST 303. Virginia’s Place in #VastEarlyAmerica Credits: 3.00
or
HIST 350. Virginia Credits: 3.00

HIST 333. Maps, Money, Manufacture, and Trade Credits: 3.00
Foreign language courses (if needed) or electives Credits / Units: 9.00-10.00
General Education courses (Cluster Three, Cluster Five) Credits / Units: 12.00
We encourage majors to begin taking 300-level courses in the major in their second year after completing General Education courses but waiting until the third year to begin taking 400-level courses in the major.
HIST 300. Historical Thinking Credits: 3.00 (Students are encouraged to take HIST 300 by the end of their second year).

Third Year

HIST 357. Fates of Empires Credits: 3.00 HIST 357 students in the 4-year program [students in the 5-year program should take POSC 457 fall of the senior year]
Philosophy course Credits / Units: 3.00
History electives (mix 300 and 400 levels) Credits / Units: 9.00
Electives Credits / Units: 6.00
General Education courses (Cluster Two, Cluster Four) Credits / Units: 9.00

Fourth Year

History electives (mix 300 and 400 levels) 9.00 Credit Hours
Electives 21.00 Credit Hours
Student teaching for students in the 4-year program
HIST 299. Putting History Skills to Work Credits: 1.00

Career Opportunities

A successful career and a meaningful life is what it’s all about. Whether it’s an internship, a great first job or a top graduate school appointment, JMU Dukes make their dreams ignite. You will, too.

Here are current openings available to JMU students.

Jobs for JMU Students

Museum

Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in Statistics - Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Statistics at Case Western Reserve University
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MBA STRATEGY SPECIALIST at Dollar Tree & Family Dollar
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Teaching Fellow, Promise Academy at Harlem Children's Zone (NY)
High School Teacher (2022-2023 School Year), Promise Academy at Harlem Children's Zone (NY)
ELA/English Teacher Promise Academy at Harlem Children's Zone (NY)
History or Social Studies Teacher, Promise Academy at Harlem Children's Zone (NY)
Middle or High School Math Teacher, Promise Academy at Harlem Children's Zone (NY)
Science Teacher Promise Academy at Harlem Children's Zone (NY)
Music Elementary Elective Teacher, Promise Academy at Harlem Children's Zone (NY)
ENL Teacher, Promise Academy at Harlem Children's Zone (NY)
High School Spanish Teacher, Promise Academy at Harlem Children's Zone (NY)
Physical Education Teacher, Promise Academy at Harlem Children's Zone (NY)

Politics

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Account Manager- Raleigh, NC at Apex Systems
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Manager II (General) - Transportation - E211 at Fresno Unified School District
Small Business Ombudsman/Mobile Source Specialist - Environmental Consultant - Job ID 59167 at Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Reinsurance Actuarial Analyst- Reach Program at Gallagher
Catastrophe Risk Modeling Analyst- Reach Training Program at Gallagher
Energy Services Coordinator at University of Northern Iowa Human Resources
Business Operations Manager (General) - Fiscal Services - E213 at Fresno Unified School District
Vice Principal II - Computech - E190 at Fresno Unified School District
Development Associate at REPRO Rising Virginia
(#R25295) Blended Case Manager / Salisbury Behavioral Health at RHA Health Services, LLC
(#R25225) Blended Case Manager / Salisbury Behavioral Health at RHA Health Services, LLC
(#R25222) Blended Case Manager / Salisbury Behavioral Health at RHA Health Services, LLC
Sales Center Representative- Telework/Remote at Self Storage Plus
Human Resources Coordinator at National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Law Clerk I- Great Falls, Montana at Montana Judicial Branch
Deputy Juvenile Probation Officer I- Malta, Montana, Mord at Montana Judicial Branch

Internships for JMU Students