SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES

HISTORY

The undergraduate program in History is designed to develop critical intelligence and to foster an awareness of ourselves and our world through the study of the past. The Department presents a variety of approaches to history, and each emphasizes basic disciplinary skills: weighing evidence, constructing logical arguments, and exploring the role of theory in historical analysis and human action.

Upper-division courses range from the examination of individual nation-states (e.g., Chinese history), to studies of the relations among nation-states (e.g., Emergence of the Modern Middle East), to historical analyses of political, socio-economic, and cultural factors (e.g., Women in the United States). Students are also provided the opportunity for small-group learning experiences in a series of colloquia in social history, political history, international history, intellectual history, social thought, and comparative history. The colloquia are conducted as discussion groups and involve close reading and analysis of secondary texts. The research seminar is a one-quarter seminar in primary materials that culminates in the writing of a research paper.

The training and discipline derived from historical studies provide a valuable experience for all educated persons seeking to understand themselves and their world. Many students who complete undergraduate degrees in the Department of History go on to graduate school in a variety of fields, including history, law, business, international relations, and teacher education. Students interested in teaching history at the intermediate and high school levels should consult with an academic advisor in the Department of History, School of Humanities Undergraduate Counseling Office, or Department of Education about course work and enrollment requirements for the state-approved history/social science subject matter preparation program.

The study of history is valuable preparation for many other careers as well. The strong academic and professional orientation acquired by History majors is necessary to pursue successful careers in such diverse fields as advertising, banking, journalism, management, public relations, publishing, and government service.

- From the 2007-2008 UCI General Catalogue