The Department of History and Political Science offers a major and a minor in history. Among the department’s objectives are the understanding of historiography; an appreciation of the roles of race, class, and gender in transforming politics and culture; and the development of personal skills in research, writing, analysis, and criticism.
Whether you major or minor, your program will focus on American history and the history of Western Civilization, and also select from a wide variety of elective courses dealing with the histories of: Europe, East Asia, and Africa; American and European women; American Indians and African Americans; colonialism, race, and empire; and particular events that have shaped social, political, and economic systems. As a major and/or minor the program invites you to explore historical narratives through the lens of race, class, gender, ethnicity, and place. Majors study the theory and empirical methods of the history discipline and master the techniques of historical research and writing. The history degree emphasizes critical thinking, equipping students with knowledge and skills that prepare them for field work or graduate study.
As a major and/or minor in history, you will undertake a rigorous analysis and criticism of historic documents and scholarship. You will have opportunities to learn outside the classroom, through original research projects, January Term travel courses, and participation in the activities carried out and sponsored both by the department as well as Phi Alpha Theta, the history honors society, debates, lectures, and discussions. You may also choose to participate in our Model United Nations program held in New York during the spring of each year. In addition, you and other students will have opportunities to present original research at national undergraduate student conferences.
Our faculty members are both teachers and scholars who conduct their own research and publish and present in scholarly journals and academic conferences. They will encourage you to challenge yourself academically and personally. Small class sizes and a faculty dedicated to teaching create strong student-teacher relationships in the Department of History and Political Science. Our faculty act as mentors who use both their professional expertise and experience to guide their students through the program while also preparing them for their professional lives afterwards.
As a history major or minor, you will graduate with exemplary skills in research, critical thinking, and communication, while being versed in your discipline(s). Degrees in history, international relations, and political science will prepare you for law school and other graduate programs.
With a major and/or minor in history, you will join other Salem graduates who are now working as professional historians, preservationists, and museum workers; in local, state, and national governments; in not-for-profit and nongovernmental organizations; and in primary, secondary, and higher education.
The major in history requires the completion of eleven courses (at least five must be taken at Salem):
HIST 103. World History I (3 hrs)
HIST 104. World History II (3 hrs)
HIST 105. United States History to 1877 (3 hrs)
HIST 106. United States History since 1877 (3 hrs)
Two HIST courses at the 200-level or above in U.S. history (3 hrs min.)
Two HIST courses at the 200-level or above in European history (3 hrs min.)
Two HIST courses at the 200-level or above in non-Western history (3 hrs min.)
HIST 310. The Clio Colloquium (3 hrs)
In calculating the completion of major requirements, each 200-level (or above) course may be counted toward only one regional grouping. Up to three political science courses may be substituted upon approval by the department.
The minor in history requires the completion of five history courses for a minimum of 15 semester hours and must include Survey of World History (HIST 103 and 104) or United States History (HIST 105 and 106), plus three history electives at the 200-level or above, excluding the internship in history (HIST 275).
Class Year: 2013
Major: History, certificate in historic preservation
Internships: Two internships/research projects in historic preservation, including one with Preservation Chapel Hill
Honors Independent Study: Neo-imperialism in American foreign policy
Graduate Studies: Masters in historic preservation, University of Kentucky
Whether you major or minor, your program will focus on American history and the history of Western Civilization, and also select from a wide variety of elective courses dealing with the histories of: Europe, East Asia, and Africa; American and European women; American Indians and African Americans; colonialism, race, and empire; and particular events that have shaped social, political, and economic systems. As a major and/or minor the program invites you to explore historical narratives through the lens of race, class, gender, ethnicity, and place. Majors study the theory and empirical methods of the history discipline and master the techniques of historical research and writing. The history degree emphasizes critical thinking, equipping students with knowledge and skills that prepare them for field work or graduate study.
As a major and/or minor in history, you will undertake a rigorous analysis and criticism of historic documents and scholarship. You will have opportunities to learn outside the classroom, through original research projects, January Term travel courses, and participation in the activities carried out and sponsored both by the department as well as Phi Alpha Theta, the history honors society, debates, lectures, and discussions. You may also choose to participate in our Model United Nations program held in New York during the spring of each year. In addition, you and other students will have opportunities to present original research at national undergraduate student conferences.
Our faculty members are both teachers and scholars who conduct their own research and publish and present in scholarly journals and academic conferences. They will encourage you to challenge yourself academically and personally. Small class sizes and a faculty dedicated to teaching create strong student-teacher relationships in the Department of History and Political Science. Our faculty act as mentors who use both their professional expertise and experience to guide their students through the program while also preparing them for their professional lives afterwards.
As a history major or minor, you will graduate with exemplary skills in research, critical thinking, and communication, while being versed in your discipline(s). Degrees in history, international relations, and political science will prepare you for law school and other graduate programs.
With a major and/or minor in history, you will join other Salem graduates who are now working as professional historians, preservationists, and museum workers; in local, state, and national governments; in not-for-profit and nongovernmental organizations; and in primary, secondary, and higher education.
The major in history requires the completion of eleven courses (at least five must be taken at Salem):
HIST 103. World History I (3 hrs)
HIST 104. World History II (3 hrs)
HIST 105. United States History to 1877 (3 hrs)
HIST 106. United States History since 1877 (3 hrs)
Two HIST courses at the 200-level or above in U.S. history (3 hrs min.)
Two HIST courses at the 200-level or above in European history (3 hrs min.)
Two HIST courses at the 200-level or above in non-Western history (3 hrs min.)
HIST 310. The Clio Colloquium (3 hrs)
In calculating the completion of major requirements, each 200-level (or above) course may be counted toward only one regional grouping. Up to three political science courses may be substituted upon approval by the department.
The minor in history requires the completion of five history courses for a minimum of 15 semester hours and must include Survey of World History (HIST 103 and 104) or United States History (HIST 105 and 106), plus three history electives at the 200-level or above, excluding the internship in history (HIST 275).
Class Year: 2013
Major: History, certificate in historic preservation
Internships: Two internships/research projects in historic preservation, including one with Preservation Chapel Hill
Honors Independent Study: Neo-imperialism in American foreign policy
Graduate Studies: Masters in historic preservation, University of Kentucky
See our Academic Catalog for all of our course offerings.
