The Online Electronic Catalog

The Online Electronic Catalog (OEC) is the university's official compilation for all curriculum. The OEC serves as the basis for major, minor, specialization, certificate, and program requirements for the academic year. For current policy and curriculum requirements refer to the CWU online catalog at http://www.cwu.edu/~catalogs. You may choose the catalog that is appropriate for your program requirements, based on the quarter that you were accepted into your program. Some students may be using more than one catalog to meet general education and major requirements.

A student should expect to meet the specific requirements of the departments listed in the OEC that is current at the time he or she is accepted by the department into the major or minor program. Graduate students admitted to the master's degree program may use the catalog they are admitted under or the current one. A student should expect to complete general education requirements as listed in the OEC current at the time of first enrollment at either Central or a community college in the state of Washington provided he or she transfers directly to CWU from the community college and has not attended another four-year institution.

Degree Program Assessment

The department expects students to demonstrate knowledge about the history of the major geographical areas of the world and assesses this knowledge through testing and extensive writing assignments in individual courses. It further expects students to develop the skills of independent learning and presentation. To this end the department requires that graduating seniors take a research seminar where they practice the skills of research, narration, and critical analysis. The result is a major, original research paper, drawing on primary and secondary sources and applying critical skills to interpret evidence to address an historical question or issue. History faculty collectively assess the performance of the students in this seminar. For graduate students the principal assessment is the successful completion of a thesis or project.

B.A., all programs: The department requires each sophomore or junior history major to take a course entitled Introduction to History in order to build a solid foundation in conducting research and engaging in critical analysis.

M. A., both programs: The graduate faculty of the department monitor the quality of graduate work and to cooperate in achieving consistency of performance.

Assessment occurs at the defense of the project or thesis.

Intended Student Outcomes for History Majors at Central Washington University

Content

A.    Chronological Thinking

1. Interpret data presented in time lines and create time lines.
2. Reconstruct patterns of historical succession and duration in which historical developments have unfolded.
3. Compare alternative models for periodization by identifying the organizing principles on which each is based.

B.    Historical Comprehension

1. Demonstrate historical knowledge of the United States and the major areas of the world.
2. Reconstruct the literal meaning of an historical passage by identifying who was involved, what happened, where it happened, what events led to these developments, and what consequences or outcomes followed.
3. Read historical narratives to observe values, outlooks, options and contingencies of time and place; motives, fears, strengths, and weaknesses of individuals involved.
4. Describe the past on its own terms, through the eyes and experiences of those who were there, as distinct from our present-day norms and values.
5. Draw upon data in historical maps, charts, visual, literary and musical sources to clarify, illustrate or elaborate upon information presented in the historical narrative.

C.    Historical Analysis and Interpretation (Critical Reasoning)

1. Compare differing sets of ideas, values, personalities, behaviors, and institutions by identifying likenesses and differences.
2. Differentiate between historical facts and historical interpretations.
3. Consider multiple perspectives of various peoples in the past.
4. Analyze cause and effect relationships.
5. Compare competing historical narratives by contrasting different historians choice of questions and sources.

D.    Historical Research Capabilities

1. Formulate historical questions from encounters with primary sources such as historical documents, eyewitness accounts, letters, diaries, artifacts, photos, historical sites, art, architecture and other records from the past.
2. Obtain historical data from a variety of sources, including libraries, archives, museums, historic sites, historical photos, journals, diaries, eyewitness accounts, newspapers, etc.
3. Interrogate historical data by uncovering the social, political, and economic context in which it was created; testing the data source for its credibility, authority, authenticity, internal consistency, completeness; detecting bias.
4. Take careful notes and provide thorough documentation.

E.    Application of History

1. Analyze values, perspectives, and point of view of those involved in past problems and issues.
2. Identify and marshal evidence of antecedent circumstances and contemporary factors contributing to problems and alternative courses of action.
3. Evaluate alternative courses of action, their plausibility, implementation; costs, benefits, ethics from a variety of perspectives.

Communication

A.    Speaking

1. Overcome or manage communication anxiety.
2. Use language that clarifies and persuades.

B.    Writing

1. Create focused narratives and position papers, which address an issue at question; develop a focused assertion and present evidence with documentation in appropriate format.
2. Employ prose that is clear, correct, concise, and varied.
3. Use consistently the conventions of standard academic English.

Because good writing is critical for success in college as well as success in one's career, the History Department takes writing seriously. The department not only offers 3 courses (HIST 102, 103, 144) that count toward Central's requirement for "W" (writing), but also strives to improve student writing in upper-division courses. History courses require both in-class and out-of-class writing assignments that faculty members assess for mechanics, style, and content.

General Education Courses

History 102, World Civilization 1500-1815
History 103, World Civilization Since 1815
History 144, United States History Since 1865

Major Course Requirements for Assessment

History 302, Introduction to History

As soon as a student declares a major in history, it is advised that he or she enroll in History 302. This three-credit course is intended to prepare majors for a successful academic career in this discipline by providing basic library skills; research, analytical, writing and revising techniques; and exploring philosophies of history. This background will enable students to pursue upper level history courses with a strong foundation.

Assessment Course: HIST 481, Understanding History

History 481, taken near the end of the history student's course work, provides an opportunity for the major to demonstrate an ability to research and write an original paper employing the skills in investigation, organizing, documenting and writing amassed during the academic career at Central Washington University.

General Departmental Information

The faculty of History offers courses leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts. Majors who desire to graduate with honors should consult the history honors director on the special requirements. Students who declare a major in History must register with the Department.

Access the Major and Minor Declaration

Bachelor of Arts

History Major (58-59 (Small Plan), 60 (Large Plan) Total Credits**)

It is recommended that students who plan to enter graduate school should complete two years of a foreign language at the college level.

Required Courses (Credits)
Select from the following: (20)
     HIST 101, 102, 103, World Civilization*
     HIST 143, 144, United States History
HIST 302, Introduction to History (3)
HIST 481, Understanding History (3)
Upper Division United States History (5)
Upper Division European History (5)
Upper Division African, Asian, Middle Eastern or Latin American History (10)
Upper division History electives (12-14)

*Western Civilization may be substituted.
**Students with fewer than 60 credits must have a minor in order to graduate.

History: Teaching Broad Area Major (75-77 Total Credits)

This major satisfies the Washington State endorsements for History and Social Studies. This major is designed for students in the secondary teacher training program. Students taking this major are required to complete the professional education program requirements offered through the Department of Education.

Required Courses (Credits)
*HIST 101, 102, 103, World Civilization (15)
HIST 143, 144, United States History (10)
HIST 301, Pacific Northwest History (3)
HIST 302, Introduction to History (3)
HIST 421, Methods and Materials in the Social Studies, Secondary (3) OR
     **EDEL 420, Methods and Materials in the Social Sciences, Elementary, 3
HIST 481, Understanding History (3)
Select from the following: (15)
     Upper Division U.S. History, 5
     Upper Division European History, 5
     Upper Division African, Asian, Middle Eastern or Latin American History, 5
POSC 210, American Politics (5)
Select from the following: (5)
     ECON 101, Economic Issues, 5
     ECON 102, World Economic Issues, 5
     ECON 201, Principles of Economics Micro, 5
     ECON 202, Principles of Economics Macro, 5
Select from the following: (5)
     ANTH 107, General Anthropology, 5
     SOC 101, Social Problems, 5
     SOC 107, Principles of Sociology, 5
Select from the following: (5)
     GEOG 101, World Regional Geography, 5
     GEOG 107, Physical Geography, 5
     GEOG 304, Economic Geography, 5
     GEOG 308, Cultural Geography, 5
Select from the following: (3-5)
     GEOG 352, Geography of North America, 5
     GEOG 355, Geography of the Pacific Northwest, 4
     GEOG 371, Geography of Europe, 5
     GEOG 415, Geography of Oceania, 3
     GEOG 470, Geography of South America, 4
     GEOG 471, Geography of Middle America, 3
     GEOG 474, Geography of China, 4
     GEOG 475, Geography of Asia, 5

*Western Civilization may be substituted.
**Prior completion of EDCS 311 recommended. Students must be admitted to the Teacher Education program prior to enrolling in this course.

History Minor (30 Total Credits)

Required courses (Credits)
Select from the following: (10)
     HIST 101, 102, 103, World Civilization*
     HIST 143, 144, United States History
Upper division History electives (20)

*Western Civilization may be substituted

History: Teaching Minor (33-39 Total Credits)

Required courses (Credits)
HIST 143 or 144, United States History (5)
HIST 301, Pacific Northwest History (3)
HIST 302, Introduction to History (3)
HIST 421, Methods and Materials in the Social Studies, Secondary (3)
Upper-division European History (3-5)
Upper-division Asian, Latin American, African, or Middle Eastern History (3-5)
POSC 210, American Politics (5)
Select from the following: (5)
     ECON 101, Economic Issues, 5
     ECON 102, World Economic Issues, 5
     ECON 201, Principles of Economics Micro, 5
     ECON 202, Principles of Economics Macro, 5
Select from the following Upper-division regional geography: (3-5)
     GEOG 352, Geography of North America, 5
     GEOG 355, Geography of the Pacific Northwest, 4
     GEOG 371, Geography of Europe, 5
     GEOG 415, Geography of Oceania, 3
     GEOG 450, Geography of Arid Lands, 4
     GEOG 470, Geography of South America, 4
     GEOG 471, Geography of Middle America, 3
     GEOG 474, Geography of China, 4
     GEOG 475, Geography of Asia, 5

History majors must take upper division courses to meet requirements in US, Europe and Non-Western fields. The same 3 categories of courses may fulfill History Electives requirements. Thus, some history majors may use HIST 346: US Women's History to fulfill their upper level US requirement. Other students may use the same course to fulfill history elective credit instead. A student who is a history major may not count the same course as upper level US AND elective.

UNITED STATES HISTORY

HIST 301. Pacific Northwest History (3)
HIST 314. Military History of the United States (5)
HIST 338. Conquests and Compromises: American Indian History since 1492 (5)
HIST 339. Colonial British America (5)
HIST 341. The United States: Early National Period 1789-1844 (3-5)
HIST 342. History of Black America to 1865 (5)
HIST 343. History of Black America since 1865 (3-5)
HIST 345. History of Social Services in the United States (3-5)
HIST 346. Women in American History (5)
HIST 347. On the Border: Excursions in Southwestern History (5)
HIST 348. Economic History of the United States (5)
HIST 352. The History of the American Family (3)
HIST 395. Research in Local History (1-6)
HIST 440. The American Revolution (5)
HIST 441. Oral History (3)
HIST 443. The West in American History (3-5)
HIST 444. Sectionalism, Civil War and Reconstruction (3-5)
HIST 449. History of Women and the West (5)
HIST 450. Exploring U.S. Cultural History (5)
HIST 451. 20th Century U.S. 1896-1919 (3-5)
HIST 452. 20th Century U.S. 1919-1945 (3-5)
HIST 453. 20th Century U.S. 1945 to the Present (3-5)
HIST 454. American Environmental History (5)
HIST 462. History of American Foreign Relations, 1900-1941 (3-5)
HIST 463. History of American Foreign Relations since 1941 (3-5)
HIST 480. Topics in Comparative History (5) (Depending on course content.)

EUROPEAN HISTORY

HIST 313. History of Rome 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. (5)
HIST 325. Renaissance and Reformation (5)
HIST 370. Medieval European History (5)
HIST 377. Early Modern Europe, 1600-1789 (5)
HIST 379. Europe in the 20th Century (3-5)
HIST 388. Economic History of Europe since 1760 (3-5)
HIST 422. British Isles to 1763 (5)
HIST 423. The Irish Revolution (5)
HIST 424. Modern Ireland 1798-present (5)
HIST 426. France 1789-1945 (5)
HIST 427. Modern Britain and the Empire since 1688 (5)
HIST 430. Tudor-Stuart England (3-5)
HIST 472. German History since 1815 (3-5)
HIST 473. Russia to 1881 (3-5)
HIST 474. Russia since 1881 (3-5)
HIST 476. History of Modern East Europe (5)
HIST 478. Russian Far East (5)
HIST 480. Topics in Comparative History (5) (Depending on course content.)
HIST 487. The Russian Revolutionary Movement (3-5)

AFRICAN, ASIAN, MIDDLE EASTERN OR LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY

HIST 315. Muslim Middle East (3-5)
HIST 316. Modern Middle East 1914 to the Present (3-5)
HIST 328. Modern Latin America (5)
HIST 329. The Tropics and the Modern World (5)
HIST 330. Africa to 1800 (5)
HIST 331. Colonial Africa (3-5)
HIST 332. History of the Black Diaspora (5)
HIST 334. History of African Women (5)
HIST 380. Modern East Asia (5)
HIST 381. History of Modern Southeast Asia: Colonial Era to the Present (5)
HIST 383. East Asian Civilization (5)
HIST 386. The Latin American Colonies (5)
HIST 431. Africa: The Crisis of Nation Building (5)
HIST 433. Selected Topics in African History (5)
HIST 435. History of South Africa (5)
HIST 436. History of Arab and Issrael Relations (5)
HIST 464. Latin American Revolutions (5)
HIST 465. History of the People’s Republic of China (5)
HIST 469. History of Russian and Soviet Women (5)
HIST 478. Russian Far East (5)
HIST 480. Topics in Comparative History (5) (Depending on course content.)
HIST 483. Modern China (5)
HIST 484. Modern Japan (3-5)
HIST 488. Mexico in the Modern Era (5)

The following courses has no home in the above areas:
HIST 322. World Prehistory (4)

Grading

In order to receive a Bachelor or Arts in history, students must have successfully completed 180 total credits. Sixty (60) of these credits must be completed in upper-division courses. A non-teacher education major must have earned a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 with a 2.25 G.P.A. in the history major. Students who receive a failing grade in a course required for graduation must repeat the course or its equivalent. Students who receive less than a C grade in a course required for graduation must not necessarily repeat it so long as the cumulative G.P.A. and the G.P.A. in the major meet graduation requirements.

Teacher education students must earn a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 (or have accumulated a G.P.A. of 3.0 in the last forty-five credits) in order to be recommended for student teaching and for an endorsement to teach. Endorsements will not be recommended for students who receive less than a C grade in the major, minor, or professional education sequence and less than a C- in the basic and breadth sequence.

Advising

History majors and minors are urged to select an advisor in consultation with Kathy Sala, Department Secretary, from the history faculty and visit the instructor quarterly, during scheduled office hours or by appointment, to plan appropriate course selections and meet departmental and university requirements.

Career Opportunities for History Graduates

In addition to teaching at all levels, graduates with history specialties have found employment in journalism, archives, government service and private sector business. Undergraduate preparation in history provides the kind of broad education and ability to think that leads to success in many fields of endeavor. M.A. graduates have been placed in such diverse fields as publishing, museum work, insurance, research and teaching.

For further information on career opportunities, the following charts prepared under the auspices of the National Center for the Study of History can be obtained from the department of history:

"Careers for Graduates in History"
"Careers in Information Management"
"Business and History"

Jobs Outside Academia

Perspectives occasionally publishes ads for public history positions. A range of other resources listing job opportunities outside the academy are available:

Museum jobs: The American Association of Museums, Aviso, http://www.aam-us.org

Jobs at historical societies: The American Association for State and Local History, Dispatch, http://www.aaslh.org

Jobs in the federal government: Office of Personnel Management, http://www.usajobs.opm.gov. This web site lists all available federal jobs, so job seekers will have to do a subject search to find relevant listings. Many (but not all) history positions are classified under the "G5-170 Historian" job classification.

Jobs in state and local government: Check the web sites of individual states and cities. A list of links can be found at http://www.statejobs.com.

Archives jobs: Society of American Archivists, Employment Bulletin, http://www.archivists.org.

The National Council on Public History (NCPH), http://www.ncph.org, and the Society for History in the Federal Government, http://www.shfg.org, also post employment advertisements.

For further information about public history employment, see "The Humanities at Work," the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, http://www.woodrow.org/phd and "Careers for Students of History,"* a joint publication of the AHA, the NCPH, and the faculty and students of the Public History Program at the University of South Carolina. See http://www.historians.org/pubs/index.cfm for ordering information.

______________________
*The “Careers for Students of History” pamphlets are available in the Department of History, Central Washington University, Language & Literature Building, Room 100T.

Summer School

The department of history offers a small number of undergraduate courses at the 100 level and the upper division, generally during the six-week session of summer school. Students should not expect the substantial range of offerings available during the regular academic year.

Internships

Undergraduate students in history can acquire credit in a range of internships available within the region and the nation. In recent years, students have related research to hands-on history activities at the Yakima Valley Historical Museum, Thorp Mill, Kittitas County Historical Museum, National Gallery of Art, and Washington State Legislature.