University of West Georgia
Department of History
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Undergraduate Major: B.A. Degree
Students who earn the B.A. in history will be able:
*to demonstrate general knowledge of U.S. and world history and in-depth knowledge of a particular historical question;
*to recognize and to pose significant historical questions;
*to find useful primary and secondary sources;
*to analyze sources critically;
*to cite sources properly;
*to write and to speak clearly;
*to construct a persuasive historical argument based on evidence; and
*to think historically.
Thinking historically requires one:
*to seek to understand the people of the past;
*to seek to understand the perspective of historical actors and to view those historical actors from a critical, scholarly perspective;
*to recognize that people, events, ideas, and cultures have influenced later people, events, ideas, and cultures;
*to recognize that history involves both change and continuity over time; and
*to draw and to explain connections between particular people, events, ideas, or texts and their historical contexts.
[Revised 10/08]
Graduate Program: Master’s Degree:
Students completing the Master of Arts Degree in History will:
a. demonstrate the ability to undertake advanced historical research;
b. show basic familiarity with historical literature in major and minor fields of study;
c. demonstrate an understanding of historiography and its permutations over time;
d. be able to identify and describe career options in the field of history;
e. demonstrate a knowledge of the theory and ethics of public history [for Public History concentration];
f. demonstrate knowledge of the standards and practices for at least two fields in public history [for Public History concentration];
g. apply practical skills in at least two fields of public history [for Public History concentration].
[Revised 8/03]