Objectives:

Since history takes all knowledge for its province, it forms a bridge between all disciplines. To arrive at a fuller awareness and understanding of the many vital problems of existence, the Loyola Marymount student requires history, for without a knowledge of man and his past, no one can claim to be an educated individual or can hope to establish perspective and meanin in a course studies for life.

History also makes an invaluable contribution to an understanding of the learning process itself and to the achievement of “learning goals.” In history, the student studies evidence, selects relevant materials, searches for causes and effects, and formulates conclusions. In studying the past, a person must analyze, synthesiza, evaluate, and interpret evidence. With knowledge of the historical setting, one can understand and appreciate one’s own heritage and culture and the cultural experience of others.



Major Requirements:

Lower Division Requirements:

15 semester hours distributed as follows: HIST 100, 101, 161, 162, and one course selected from HIST 152, 172, 182, and 192. A student must accumulate a C (2.0) average in the prerequisite courses. In addition, the Department recommends the study of geography and foreign languages.

Upper Division Requirements:

24 semester hours in upper division courses.
All major programs must include a course in historical method ( HIST 310 or 330) and at least one 500-level seminar. The remaining courses are to be chosen with the approval of the student’s advisor, and not more than half of the total 24 semester hours may be taken from one of the following areas: 1) Europe, 2) United States, or 3) Africa, Asia, Latin America and modern Middle East. An average grade of C (2.0) must be obtained in the courses included in the major.


Minor Requirements:

21 semester hours. One course must be selected from HIST 100 or 101; one course from 161 or 162. At least 9 semester hours must be from upper division course offerings.

The history minor is a flexible program. Aside from the two lower division course requirements, you can select any history course you want as long as at least three of the remaining five courses are upper division history courses. However, you might want to consider selecting courses that relate to your major and belong to geographical or thematic units.


Department of History Student Learning Outcomes

Knowledge: History students will be able to develop analytical thinking and an understanding of events, processes and patterns in the human experience. History students should gain an understanding of how their lives relate to a larger historical process.
Abilities: Students should be able to analyze historical texts and to gain an understanding of the methods used in interpreting the past, such as criticism of sources, the definition of historical questions, comparative analysis, and the diverse perspectives of participants in history. They will employ evidence to craft arguments about historical change and analyze the factors that cause change on local, national, and global scales.

Values: Students should value the vast range of ways in which individuals and societies have responded to the problems confronting them. The insights they have gained through historical analysis will enrich their lives as citizens of an interconnected world.



Model Four-Year Plan for History Majors

The normal course load is 15 units per semester (5 classes). By following the model, you will complete all lower division core requirements by the end of your sophomore year, and your HIST lower division prerequisite courses as well. Also core areas are suggested to provide a distribution of various kinds of classes every semester. In four years, you meet all common graduation requirements.

1st Year
Fall Semester Units

ENGL110 /AMCS Core 3
Social Science Core 3
Math   Core 3
History HIST100/161 3
Total 15

1st Year
Spring Semester Units

Literature Core 3
Crit/CreativeArts/AMCS Core 3
PHIL160/THST1xx Core 3
Social Science Core 3
History HIST101/162 Core 3
Total 15

2nd Year
Fall Semester Units

Science Core 3
CMST/Crit Thinking Core 3
PHIL160/THST1xx Core 3
History HIST100/161 3
Elective 3
Total 15

2nd Year
Spring Semester Units

Crit/CreativeArts/AMCS Core 3
History HIST152/172/182/192 Core 3
History HIST101/162 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Total 15

3rd Year
Fall Semester Units

Upper Div Core PHIL/THST Core 3
History HIST310/330 3
History Upper Div 3
Upper Div Elective 3
Elective 3
Total 15

3rd Year
Spring Semester Units

Upper Div Core PHIL/THST Core 3
History Upper Div 3
History Upper Div 3
Upper Div Elective 3
Elective 3
Total 15

4th Year
Fall Semester Units

History 5xx Seminar 3
History Upper Div 3
Upper Div Elective 3
Upper Div Elective 3
Elective 3
Total 15

4th Year
Spring Semester Units

History Upper Div 3
History Upper Div 3
Upper Div Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Total 15

No more than ten upper division courses may be taken in any one department, except for Philosophy, where the maximum is thirteen. 12 of the 24 upper division HIST semester hours (including seminars, but excluding HIST310 or HIST330) may be taken from one of the following areas: 1) Europe, 2) United States, or 3) Africa, Asia, Latin America and modern Middle East.