The department offers a B. A. degree in history or in political science as well as minors in geography, history, political science, and religious studies. The department also advises prelaw students. In addition, the department advises B. S. E. majors pursuing careers in teaching social studies in the public schools. B. S. E. students obtain majors in either history or political science.

For course requirments of programs, click on your choice from this list, or continue reading.

• B.A. in history
• B.A. in political science
• B.S.E. majors pursuing careers teaching social studies in public schools
• Prelaw program
• Minor in geography
• Minor in history
• Minor in political science
• Minor in religious studies

Requirements for the B.A. degree in history

• General education courses taken by all undergraduates: 37 credit hours
• History courses: 36 hours (History 1003,1013,2013,2023,3103,3113,3133, and 15 junior-senior hours of history electives with no more than nine of the remaining advanced hours in either the U.S. or the non U.S. history fields)
• Geography courses: 6 hours of electives
• Foreign language (freshman level): 8 hours or satisfactory score on language proficiency exam
• Foreign language or Computer science: 6 hours foreign language beyond freshman level or 6 hours of computer science languages
• Completion of minor
• Competion of additional elective hours to total 124

In addition, history majors must present a senior paper to the faculty of the department during their senior year.

Requirements for the B.A. degree in political science

• General education courses taken by all undergraduates: 43 hours
• Political Science courses: 36 hours (Political Science 2003, 2013, 3103, 3113, 3133, and 21 hours of electives with at least one course in each of the following fields -- international relations or foreign affairs; comparative government; and American government and institutions -- with a minimum of 27 junior-senior hours required)
• Geography courses: 6 hours of electives
• Foreign language (freshman level): 8 hours or satisfactory score on language proficiency exam
• Foreign language or Computer science: 6 hours foreign language beyond freshman level or 6 hours of computer science languages
• Completion of minor
• Completion of additional elective hour to total 124

In addition, political science majors must present a senior paper to the faculty of the deparment during their senior year.

Requirements for B.S.E. degree in social studies

• Students seeking a B.S.E. degree may choose either a History Emphasis or a Political Science Emphasis

History Emphasis

• General Education courses taken by all undergraduates: 50 hours
• Pre-profesional Skills Test--must be completed before admission to School of Education
• Professional Education courses: 41 hours
• History Courses: 36 hours (12 hours of U.S. history, including 2013, 2023, 3083 and 3 hours U.S. history elective; 18 hours of World history, including 1003, 1013, 3103, 3113, 3043 and 3 hours from either 3053 or 3063; and 6 hours of World history electives)
• Political Science courses: 12 hours (2003, 2013, 4083 plus 3 hourse from 3003, 3093,4203 or 4053
• Geography coures: 6 hours (2003 and approved geography elective)
• Economics: 6 hours (2003 and 2013)
• Total hours: 143 (12 hours of social science requirements double count toward the major)

In addition, B.S.E. students must present a senior paper to the faculty of the department during their senior year.

B.S.E. students must compltete the NTE (National Teacher's Examination) with a minimum score of 500 in the Social Studies area and a minimum score of 642 in the Professional Knowledge area.

Political Science Emphasis

• General Education courses taken by all undergraduates: 50 hours
• Pre-profesional Skills Test--must be completed before admission to School of Education
• Professional Education courses: 41 hours
• History Courses: 21 hours (12 hours of U.S. history, including 2013, 2023, 3083 and 3 hours U.S. history elective; 9 hours of World history, including 1003, 1013 , and 3 hours from either 3043, 3053 or 3063)
• Political Science courses: 36 hours (2003, 2013, 3103, 3113, 3133, 4083 plus 18 hours of hours of electives with at least one course in each of the following fields -- international relations or foreign affairs; comparative government; and American government and institutions -- with a minimum of 27 junior-senior hours required
• Geography coures: 6 hours (2003 and approved geography elective)
• Economics: 6 hours (2003 and 2013)
• Total hours: 148 (12 hours of social science requirements double count toward the major)

In addition, B.S.E. students must present a senior paper to the faculty of the department during their senior year.

B.S.E. students must compltete the NTE (National Teacher's Examination) with a minimum scores in the Social Studies area and a minimum scores in the Professional Knowledge area.

Prelaw Progam

Students who intend to study law should prepare themselves by fulfilling the requirements for the bachelor's degree with a major in political science or history and a minor in an appropriate field. Other major programs may be acceptable because law schools do not prescribe a rigid prelaw curriculum. Law schools require the completion of an undergraduate degree program as a prerequisite for admission.

It is the opinion of the Association of American Law Schools that the attainment of legal competence depends in large measure upon the development of fundamental capacities such as "critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals," and "creative power in thinking." A student's selection of courses depends upon his or her particular needs, but it is recommended that the student obtain a broad understanding of the social sciences, acquire written and oral proficiency in the use of language, and develop the ability to reason accurately and logically. To obtain these skills, a prelaw student should include in his studies, in so far as the degree program permits such courses as the following: American government and constitutional law, principles of accounting and business law, advanced composition, advanced literature, speech, voice, and diction, advanced history, abnormal psychology, criminology, college algebra, university physics and logic, physical geology, environmental biology, and environmental geology, and advanced language.

The advisor of prelaw students should be contacted or materials and statements of the policies of law schools.

Prelaw students are recommended to take Political Science 4073 and other appropriate business, humanities, and science courses.

Requirements for a Minor in Geography

• Geography Courses : 18 hours ( Geography 1003, 203, 3023, and nine hours of geography electives -- with a minimum of nine junior-senior hours required)

Requirements for a Minor in History

• History Courses : 18 hours (History 1003, 1013, 2013, 2023, three hours of advanced U.S. history, and three hours of advanced non-U.S. history)

Requirements for a Minor in Political Science

• Political Science Courses: 18 hours (Political Science 2003, 2013, three hours chosen from 3103,3113, 3133, and nine hours of political science electives -- with a minimum of nine junior-senior hours required)

Requirements for a Minor in Religious Studies

This is an interdisciplinary minor drawing from various resources throughout the university. The requirements for the minor are: 18 hours - including PHIL 2413, at least one "western" course, at least one "non-western" course, with at least nine junior-senior hours and no more than nine hours from any one academic discipline. A list of courses approved for use in the minor can be obtained from the department chair.

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