Apr 03, 2025  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Catalog Navigation
Catalog Home
Provost’s Welcome
University Overview
Academic Policies
Academic Support Services
Admissions
Campus Life
Core Curriculum
Disclaimers
Financial Aid
Financial Information
Registration & Scheduling Services
Programs (A-Z)
Programs by College
Course Descriptions
Research Service Center
Annual Security Report & Annual Fire Safety Report
Administration of the University of Southern Maine
My Catalog Bookmarks
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

History, B.A.

History offers a major that leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree and a minor for students majoring in other disciplines. The major consists of 39 credit hours in history plus a language requirement. The minor consists of 15 credit hours in history. In addition, the Department offers an internship program (HTY 300 ) in cooperation with area historical societies, museums, libraries, and other institutions.

College Level Equivalency Program (CLEP) examinations are available in both Field I and Field II. Unusually well-prepared entering students who pass one or more of these examinations may substitute 300-level course(s) for the HTY 101 /HTY 102  and/or HTY 131 /HTY 132  introductory surveys.

A history major or minor must achieve at least six credits of B or better grades in history courses. No grade of D will count toward fulfillment of a history major or minor. Majors and minors are reminded that, in addition to History requirements, they must also meet those of the University Core curriculum.

Program Requirements

History Requirements

To graduate with a bachelor of arts in history, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 39 credits in history courses as follows:

Field I

Field II (select two):

Field III (select two)

Research Methods Course

Advanced Elective History Courses

Select five 300-399 level courses in consultation with your History major advisor.

Capstone:

Other courses in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences have historical interest. With prior approval from the Department, majors may apply one such upper level course toward their Advanced History Elective requirements. Majors also are encouraged to take such courses as supplementary electives

Language Requirement

This requirement can be fulfilled by achieving a grade of at least C in the final semester of a beginning level language course or by examination.

Completion of one of the following courses at USM with a grade of at least C fulfills the language requirement:

American Sign Language: ASL 102 ; Arabic: ARA 102 ; Chinese: CHI 102 ; French: FRE 102 ; German: GER 102 ; Italian: ITA 102 ; Spanish: SPA 102 , or another 102 language course

History students are encouraged to pursue language study beyond the first year, and to take advantage of USM’s Study Abroad programs. Graduate programs in History frequently require intermediate level language proficiency. Students intending to pursue graduate study should take additional language courses.

USM Core Requirements

The USM Core Curriculum is a coherent, integrative, and rigorous liberal education that enables our graduates to be world-minded, intentional, life-long learners and captures your general education degree requirements. 

Please Note: Core requirements may be part of your major and/or minor, and Core may have been fulfilled with transfer credit. Please consult your MaineStreet Degree Progress Report (DPR) and review your degree progress with your Advisor.  For additional information, access the USM Core webpage.