History

Program Requirements

Bret Anderson

Chair of History/Political Science/Economics

Taylor 103A

andersob6@sou.edu
541-552-8617

Faculty	Affiliate Faculty	Emeritus Faculty
Hannah L. Archambault	Cherstin M. Lyon	Todd F. Carney
Sean McEnroe	Thomas G. Paterson	Gary M. Miller
Dustin Walcher	Mark Axel Tveskov

The history program is a community of students, teachers, and scholars dedicated to analyzing the past and bringing that experience to bear on the present. Our students explore human history from antiquity to the present and throughout the world. In the process, they cultivate their skills as critical thinkers, researchers, and writers; and they leave the university well prepared for national and global citizenship.

An undergraduate degree in history prepares students for graduate studies in the humanities and social sciences or for professional studies in law schools, teaching programs, library schools, and seminaries. It also provides a solid foundation for careers in public history, museum work, government service, business administration, journalism, and related fields that involve research and writing.

History coursework is an integral part of a liberal arts education, and of many other degree programs at Southern Oregon University. The program offers both a major and a minor.

Teacher Licensing

Students who want to teach history at the middle school and high school level in Oregon public schools must complete their bachelors’ degrees in history before being admitted to a postgraduate licensure program such as the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at SOU. Interested students should consult the School of Education regarding admission requirements.

Foreign Languages

The history program strongly recommends that majors complete at least two years of college-level foreign language. Students who complete the second year of foreign language will likely qualify for a bachelor of arts degree at SOU (see BA/BS requirements). Graduate and professional schools, scholarship-granting agencies and foundations, and private-sector employers consider the bachelor of arts degree the most appropriate for history. Additionally, taking courses at the 300- or 400-level in a foreign language will aid students in their post-graduation careers.

Combining Majors and Minors

With the exception the History minor, students pursuing a History major are eligible for any other majors, minors, and certificates offered by any other program on campus without restriction. Courses that count toward the degree requirements of other majors and minors - including courses, cross-listed or otherwise, that may be applied to both History and Political Science degree requirements - may be applied toward each of the relevant majors and minors pursued.

Phi Alpha Theta

Membership in the local chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the international honor society in history, is open to qualified students. The purposes of the society are to encourage, stimulate, and help maintain excellence in the historical scholarship of students and faculty. Phi Alpha Theta also has a number of programs, scholarship awards, and publications available to member students. For more information, contact Dr. Dustin Walcher.

Teacher Licensing

Many students complete a bachelor’s degree in history before applying for admission to a postgraduate licensure program such as the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at SOU. Interested students should consult the Education program regarding admission requirements.

Program Requirements

Programs

Major

• History, BA or BS

Minor

• History Minor

Courses

History