History: Social Science: History Teaching, BALAS
For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in History, History Teaching Concentration
This concentration fulfills state licensure requirements to teach high school history (grades 9-12) through the AP/honors level and high school economics, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology/anthropology up to but not including the AP/honors level.
Time to degree completion varies. Minimum time to completion is 8 semesters, but some students may require 10 semesters. Transfer students may need 10 total semesters combined to complete the program. Please see the LAS section in the transfer handbook for more information.
For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in History, History Teaching Concentration
This concentration fulfills state licensure requirements to teach high school history (grades 9-12) through the AP/honors level and high school economics, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology/anthropology up to but not including the AP/honors level.
Time to degree completion varies, but when following the new requirements effective Fall 2020, the expected completion time is 8 semesters. Transfer students may need 10 total semesters combined to complete the program. Please see the LAS section in the transfer handbook for more information.
To remain in good standing in this program and be recommended for licensure, candidates are required to maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 (A= 4.0).
Departmental distinction: To be eligible for distinction, a student must be admitted to the Honors Program in History and complete its required coursework. Those admitted (ideally before the beginning of the junior year) must have earned at least a 3.5 GPA in History and a 3.25 GPA overall. They will then pursue a sequence consisting of HIST 498, HIST 492 and successful completion of either
- HIST 493 and HIST 499 in two consecutive semesters (in which case, the level of distinction awarded to student will be decided by the examining committee) OR
- The completion of two approved independent research projects under the supervision of two different advisors (HIST 490) (in which case, students will be eligible for an award of distinction only, but not high or highest distinction).
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
Minimum hours required major and supporting course work: Students are required to take a minimum of 33 hours in History courses. Only one of the following Advanced Composition courses (HIST 140, HIST 143, HIST 170, HIST 173) will count toward the 33 hours required in History courses. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
Students in this concentration must complete the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching (39 hours).
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
fulfilled by HIST 100 | ||
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
fulfilled by EDUC 201 | ||
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required) | 0-20 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| The following courses must be completed or in progress when students apply to the Secondary Education minor. | ||
| Select one of the following Political Science courses: | 3 | |
| Intro to Political Science | ||
| Intro to US Gov & Pol | ||
| Intro to Comp Politics | ||
| Comparative Politics in the Global South | ||
| PSYC 100 | Intro Psych | 4 |
| SOC 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 4 |
| HIST 200 | Intro Hist Interpretation | 3 |
| Select one course each from two of the following three categories: | 6-8 | |
| Global History | ||
| Global History | ||
| Western Civilization | ||
| Western Worlds: Ancient and Medieval Societies from the Mediterranean to N. Europe (ACP) | ||
or HIST 141 | Western Worlds: Ancient and Medieval Societies from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe | |
| Modern Europe and the World | ||
or HIST 143 | Modern Europe and the World - ACP | |
| United States History | ||
| US History to 1877-ACP | ||
or HIST 171 | US History to 1877 | |
| US History Since 1877 | ||
or HIST 173 | US History Since 1877-ACP | |
| Black America, 1619-Present | ||
| Additional Required coursework | ||
| Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching | 39 | |
| United States History | ||
| Select one of the following (A US History survey course if not taken as a foundation course): | 3-4 | |
| US History to 1877-ACP | ||
or HIST 171 | US History to 1877 | |
| US History Since 1877 | ||
or HIST 173 | US History Since 1877-ACP | |
| Black America, 1619-Present | ||
| One 100-400 level course in US history | 3 | |
| One 100-400 level course in US history focusing on US minorities history | 3 | |
| HIST 273 | Illinois History | 3 |
| or HIST 288 | American Indians of Illinois | |
| or HIST 382 | Race and Migration in Chicago | |
| Nonwestern and Global History | ||
| HIST 100 | Global History (if not taken as a foundation course) | 3 |
| One 100-400 level course in global or nonwestern history | 3 | |
| One 100-400 level course in global or nonwestern history | 3 | |
| European History | ||
| Select one of the following (A Western Civ survey course if not taken as a foundation course): | 3-4 | |
| Western Worlds: Ancient and Medieval Societies from the Mediterranean to N. Europe (ACP) | ||
or HIST 141 | Western Worlds: Ancient and Medieval Societies from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe | |
| Modern Europe and the World | ||
or HIST 143 | Modern Europe and the World - ACP | |
| One 100-400 level course in European history | 3 | |
| One 100-400 level course in European History | 3 | |
| Students must take HIST 498 - Research and Writing Seminar. Students may count the 3 hours towards any of the history areas noted above: US, Nonwestern/Global, or European. | ||
| Students must complete 12 hours of advanced (300+) coursework in History. HIST 498 may count toward those 12 hours. | ||
| Pre modern requirement: One History course must have a significant pre-1800 component. | ||
| Social Science Requirement | ||
| ECON 102 | Microeconomic Principles | 3 |
| or ECON 103 | Macroeconomic Principles | |
| One 100-400 level Geography course | 3-4 | |
For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in History, History Teaching Concentration
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Free Elective course | 1 |
| HIST 200 | 3 |
| HIST 100 | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course (choose a NST course with QR designation) | 4 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| PS course from list | 3 |
| PSYC 100 | 4 |
| ECON 102 or 103 | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course (choose a NST course with QR designation) | 3 |
| 17 | |
| Total Hours 17 | |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| SOC 100 | 4 |
| Course 1 from category list | 3 |
| European history 100-400 level course | 3 |
| EDUC 201 | 3 |
| EPSY 201 | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Course 2 from category list | 3 |
| U.S. History survey course from list | 4 |
| European history 100-400 level course | 3 |
| Geography 100-400 level course | 3 |
| EDUC 202 | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| U.S. history 100-400 level course | 3 |
| HIST 273, 288, or 382 | 3 |
| Global or nonwestern history 100-400 level course | 3 |
| General Education course (choose a NST course with QR designation) | 3 |
| 12 | |
| Total Hours 12 | |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| U.S. minorities history 100-400 level course | 3 |
| Global or nonwestern history 100-400 level course | 3 |
| Western Civilization survey course from list | 4 |
| CI 473 | 3 |
| CI 401 | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| HIST 498 | 3 |
| SPED 405 | 3 |
| CI 403 | 3 |
| EPSY 485 | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 1 |
| 13 | |
| Total Hours 13 | |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| EDPR 442 | 12 |
| CI 404 | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
Total Hours: 120
For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in History, History Teaching Concentration
Students completing this concentration will be able to:
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Analyze and interpret history by connecting past and present, understanding the complexity of historical causation, and recognizing how culture, race, ethnicity, gender, and class shape human experiences over time.
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Conduct historical research by formulating questions, locating and evaluating sources, analyzing and synthesizing data, and constructing evidence-based historical arguments positioned in context.
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Communicate historical knowledge effectively through clear, logical, and audience-appropriate oral, written, and digital forms, with the ability to revise and refine historical presentations and arguments.
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Apply historical and pedagogical skills in educational settings, guiding student learning about the past while integrating interdisciplinary perspectives (e.g., economics, political science, psychology, or foreign languages).
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Engage in professional development through internships, study abroad, classroom experiences, and other opportunities to prepare for careers in social studies education.
For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in History, History Teaching Concentration
Department of History
History faculty
History advising
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Overview of College Admissions & Requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences