History

The curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree will provide the student with a clear view of the past in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Students in the history curriculum will have an opportunity to examine ideas; gain an understanding of how to do historical research; and learn to read critically, to write carefully, and to think problems through to a logical conclusion.

A degree in history serves as preparation for teaching and government service as well as a background for law, journalism, management, and public relations. The study of history, whether through peoples, events, or forces, will aid the student in combating the lamentable tendency to think only in present terms.

Each student, in consultation with an adviser, selects a program of courses consistent with his or her interests and educational objectives. A teaching option is provided for students preparing for positions in secondary teaching.

The department encourages students to engage in independent study through the departmental honors option. This option has the following requirements:

  1. Students must have a minimum 3.5 grade-point average in their major and a 3.0 GPA overall.
  2. Students must present an acceptable, bound senior thesis, and an oral defense of the thesis.

Students may attain 3-6 undergraduate independent study credits while working for the thesis. These credits will fulfill part, or all, of the UNRESTRICTED upper division history electives requirement. Qualified students may enroll in the honors option through their departmental advisers.

Museum Studies Minor

To understand the cultural significance of museums and to explore contemporary museum practices, Montana State University-Bozeman offers an interdisciplinary minor in Museum Studies that is administered through the Department of History and Philosophy. Students in the minor select courses from the already existing non-teaching minors and utilize the resources at the Museum of the Rockies. The museum is located on the MSU-Bozeman campus.

The minor offers students in many disciplines the opportunity to learn about the role of museums in advancing public education and academic research.  To deepen students' understanding of museums and to better position them to learn about possible employment in the museum field, the minor requires students to complete 12 credits of Museum Studies courses and 12 credits from one of the Non-Teaching Minors listed below for a total of 24 credits. The minimum number of credits for a non-teaching minor is twenty-one, with nine of those being upper-division credits, therefore the total number of credits for the Museum Studies Minor must meet this requirement.

Japan Studies Minor

The Japan Studies Program offers a non-teaching, interdisciplinary minor in Japan Studies through the Department of History and Philosophy and the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.

Curricula in History

HISTORY OPTION

Freshman YearCredits
Take one of the following:
     CLS 101--Freshman Seminar 3
     COM 110--Public Communication3
WRIT 101W--College Writing I 3
Take one of the following:
     HIST 105--Origins of West Civ4
     HIST 107--West Civ 1600-Present4
Take one of the following:
     HIST 155--America & Wrld before 18654
     HIST 156--Amer & Wrld Since 18654
One Year Modern Lang8
University Core and Electives 8
30
Sophomore YearCredits
Take three of the following:
     HIST 104--World History 4
     HIST 109--Modern Asia4
     HIST 110--Latin Amer Hist4
     HIST 115--History or Japan4
Take one of the following:
     HIST 311--Early America3
     HIST 312--Civil War & Reconstruct3
     HIST 313--Gilded Age to 19403
     HIST 320--U.S. Since 19403
University Core and Electives 16
30-31
Junior YearCredits
Take one of the following:
     HIST 305--Mexico3
     HIST 316--History Russia to 19173
     HIST 318--History Ancient Greece3
     HIST 319--History of Ancient Rome3
     HIST 323--Age of Absolutism & Reason3
     HIST 325--19th Century Europe3
     HIST 326--20th Century Europe3
     HIST 333--Early Brit:Prehistory to 17143
     HIST 334--Modern Britain3
     HIST 335--Middle East/20th Cent3
     HIST 361--History of Modern France3
     HIST 362--Modern Germany3
     HIST 368--20th Century War: Vietnam Era3
Take one of the following:
     HIST 371--Age of the Shoguns3
     HIST 372--Japan's Long 19th Century3
     HIST 374--Modern China3
     HIST 375--Mod India,Pakistan,Bangladesh3
Take two of the following:
     HIST 403--Gender in US/Canadian West3
     HIST 408--Gender in America3
     HIST 409--Japanese Women's History3
     HIST 412--Race and Class in America3
     HIST 413--Race in Latin America3
     HIST 419--Family, Gender, Law in Greece/Rome3
     HIST 425--Gender Sexuality and Social Change in Latin America3
     HIST 447--Hist North Amer Indian3
     HIST 467--Women in Asia3
University Core and Electives 18
30
Senior YearCredits
Take three of the following:
     HIST 402--Trans-Mississippi West3
     HIST 404--Mont & the West3
     HIST 406--Anti-Comm in Truman-Eisenhouser Years3
     HIST 410--Latin Amer Soc History3
     HIST 422--Hist Amer Constitution4
     HIST 423--Protestant Reformation3
     HIST 426--The Renaissance3
     HIST 431--Sci Tech Soc 1500-18003
     HIST 432--Modern Science3
     HIST 455--Hist Amer Technology3
     HIST 456--Amer Thgt & Culture3
     HIST 457--Museum History3
     HIST 460--European Intellect History3
     HIST 464--Hist of Yellowstone3
     HIST 465-Ecology and Nature in Japan3
     HIST 466--U.S. Environ Hist3
     HIST 468--Animal Histories3
     HIST 469--World Environmental History 3
HIST 401--Sem in Historical Meth3
University core and elective18
30

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.

HISTORY TEACHING OPTION

Candidates seeking a teaching career in Montana's public schools with a major in history may follow the teaching option as listed below. Students must be careful to complete their core requirements in their first three years as their senior year will be almost completely filled with required courses.

Freshman YearCredits
Take one of the following:
    CLS 101--Freshman Seminar 3
    COM 110--Public Communication3
EDCI 102--In-School Experience1
WRIT 101W--College Writing I 3
HDHL 106--Drug Hlth Issue for Ed1
HIST 105--Origins of West Civ4
HIST 107--West Civ 1600-Present4
HIST 110--Lat Amer Hist4
University Core and Electives 11
31
Sophomore YearCredits
EDCI 209--Ed Psy Adol Dev3
EDCI 360--Found of Assmnt2
EDSD 363--Multicultural Education1
HDCF 150--Lifespan Human Devlpmt3
Take two of the following:
     HIST 104--World History4
     HIST 109--Modern Asia4
     HIST 115--Hist of Japan4
HIST 155--America & Wrld Before 18654
HIST 156--Amer & Wrld After 18654
University Core and Electives 6
30-31
Junior YearCredits
EDSD 301--Paraprofessional Experience1
EDCI 320--Found of Instr Computing2
EDSD 458--Method Teach Soc Study3
HDCF 356--Exceptional Needs

3

GEOG 105--World Regional Geog

3

Take one of the following:
     HIST 311--Early America3
     HIST 312--Civil War & Reconstruct3
     HIST 313--Gilded Age to 19403
     HIST 320--U.S. Since 19403
Take two of the following:
     HIST 305--Mexico3
     HIST 316--History Russia to 19173
     HIST 318--History Ancient Greece3
     HIST 319--History of Ancient Rome3
     HIST 323--Age of Absolutism & Reasn3
     HIST 325--19th Century Europe3
     HIST 326--20th Century Europe3
     HIST 333--Early Brit: Prehistory to 17143
     HIST 334--Modern Britain3
     HIST 335--Middle East/20 th Cent3
     HIST 361--History of Modern France3
     HIST 362--Modern Germany3
     HIST 368--20th Century War: Vietnam Era3
Take one of the following:
     HIST 371--Age of Shoguns 3
     HIST 372--Japan's Long 19th Century 3
     HIST 374--Modern China3
     HIST 375--Mod India,Pakistan,Bangladesh3
University Core and Electives 3
30
Senior YearCredits
EDSD 410--Student Teaching1
EDSD 413--Professional Issues2
HIST 401--Sem in Historical Meth3
Take one of the following:
     HIST 403--Gender in US/Canadian West3
     HIST 408--Gender in America3
     HIST 409--Japanese Women's History3
     HIST 412--Race and Class in America3
     HIST 413--Race in Latin America3
     HIST 419--Family, Gender, Law in Greece/Rome3
     HIST 425--Gender in Lat America3
     HIST 447--Hist North Amer Indian3
     HIST 464--Hist of Yellowstone3
     HIST 467--Women in Asia3
Take two of the following:
     HIST 402--Trans-Mississippi West3
     HIST 404--Mont & the West3
     HIST 406--Anti-Comm in Truman-Eisenhouser Years3
     HIST 410--Latin Amer Soc History3
     HIST 422--Hist Amer Constitution4
     HIST 423--Protestant Reformation3
     HIST 426--The Renaissance3
     HIST 431--Sci Tech Soc 1500-18003
     HIST 432--Modern Science3
     HIST 455--Hist Amer Technology3
     HIST 456--Amer Thgt & Culture 3
     HIST 457--Museum History3
     HIST 460--European Intellect History3
     HIST 464--History of Yellowstone3
     HIST 465--Ecology & Nature in Japan3
     HIST 466--U.S. Environ History3
     HIST 468--Animal Histories3
     HIST 469--World Environmental Hist3
University Core and Electives 8
29-30

The History teaching option does not require a teaching minor, but students who are considering a public school career are strongly urged to acquire a teaching minor. If you choose a teaching minor, you should expect to require more than 120 credits to complete your program.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.

SCIENCE, THE ENVIRONMENT, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY (SETS)

The SETS major offers students a multi-disciplinary course of study that analyzes science, technology, and the environment within their broader cultural contexts, including intellectual and social history, environmental history, religious studies, and philosophy.

Students will choose one of several specialties as a focus for their course work, such as Philosophy of Science, History of Science and Technology, Science and Technology Policy, or environmental History. Moreover, students are required to become knowledgeable about one or more areas of science, technology, environmental studies, or public policy, as we believe that such literacy is an important part of a liberal arts education in a land-grant institution. Students will therefore be required to take a least 12 credits in an appropriate science, social science or engineering discipline. Finally a capstone is required for all students; each will complete an original research paper synthesizing their scientific, technological, and humanistic knowledge.

Science courses listed belowScience courses listed belowScience courses listed below
Freshman YearCredits
CLS 101--Freshman Seminar3
WRIT 101W--College Writing 3
Math Core3
Take one of the following(3):
     PHIL 105--Problems of Good and Evil3
     RELS 105--Introduction to Religious Studies3
Take one of the following(3):
     HUM 205--Nature and Culture3
     RELS 217--Religion and Science3
Take two of the following(7-8):
     HIST 104--World History4
     HIST 105--Origins of Western Civilization 4
     HIST 107--Western Civilization: 1600 to Present 4
     HIST 109--Modern Asia4
     HIST 110--Latin American History 4
     HIST 115--History of Japan3
University Core Natural Science4
University Core and Electives8-9
30
Sophomore YearCredits
Take one of the following(3):
     HUM 205--Nature and Culture3
     RELS 217--Religious and Science3
Take one of the following(3):
     HUM 205--Nature and Culture3
     RELS 217--Religion and Science3
Take one of the following(4):
     HIST 155--America & Wrld Before 1865 4
     HIST 156--America and Wrld Since 18654
University Core Natural Science3-4
Take one of the approved Science/Technology/Social(3-4):
Science courses listed below3-4
One Year Modern Language8
University Core and Electives8-9
30
Junior YearCredits
Take two of the following(6):
     PHIL 338--Bio-medical Ethics3
     PHIL 342--Approaches to Epistemology3
     PHIL 362--Philosophy of Race3
     PHIL 378--Philosophy of Science3
     PHIL 388--Philosopy of Technology3
Take one of the following:(3):
     PHIL 340--Environmental Ethics3
     RELS 402--Natural, Unnatural, Supernatural3
Take one of the approved Science/Technology/Social
Science courses listed below
3-4
Take one of the approved upper-level Science/Technology/Social
Science courses listed below
3
University Core and Electives12
30
Senior YearCredits
Take one of the following(3):
     HIST 431--Science, Tech and Society, 1500-18003
     HIST 432--History of Modern Science 3
     HIST 455--History of American Technology3
Take two of the following(6):
     HIST 457--Museum Histories3
     HIST 464--History of Yellowstone National Park 3
     HIST 465--Ecology and Nature in Japan3
     HIST 466--US Environmental History3
     HIST 468--Animal Histories3
     HIST 469--World Environmental History3
Take one of the approved Science/Technology/Social
3
Take one of the following(3):
     HIST 401--Historical Methods3
     HIST 489/490--Undergraduate Research/Creative Activity3
     PHIL 489/490--Undergraduate Research/Creative Activity3
     RELS 489/490--Undergraduate Research/Creative Activity3
University Core and Electives15
30

Approved Science/Technology/Social Sciences Courses for SETS Option:

In addition to satisfying the university core science requirements, students, only after consultation with their academic advisor, are required to take 12 credits of science in one science or engineering or social science or public policy discipline from the list of approved courses listed below. One of these courses must be at the 300- or 400-level.

Approved Science, Engineering, and Social Science Courses:

PHYS 101, Mysteries of the Sky; PHYS 103, Our Physical World; PHYS 201, Physics by Inquiry; PHYS 205, College Physics I; PHYS 206, College Physics II; PHYS 211, General and Modern Physics I; PHYS 311, Introduction to Astronomy; PHYS 341, Special Relativity; BIO 101, Biology of Organisms; BIO 103, Environmental Issues and Society; BIO 303, Principles of Ecology; BIO 405, Advanced Animal Ecology; BIO 406, Rocky Mountain Ecosystems; BIO 407, Alpine Ecology; BIO 421, Yellowstone Wildlife Ecology; CHEM 121: Introduction General Chemistry; CE442, Environmental Science; ESCI 112, Physical Geography; ESCI 307, Principles of Geomorphology; ESCI 455, Physiography of the Unites States; F&WL 201: Introduction to Fish and Wildlife; F&WL 301, Principles of Fish and Wildlife Management; GEOG 105, World Regional Geography; GEOG 210, Weather and Climate; GEOG 302, Biogeography; GEOG 430, Mountain Geography; GEOL 102, Environmental Geology; LRES 110: Land Resources and Environmental Sciences; LRES 201, Soil Resources; LRES 352, Watershed Management; LRES 421: Holistic Thought & Management; LRES 461, Restoration Ecology; PS 102, Plant Science, Resources and the Environment; ECON 101, Economic Ways of Thinking; ECON 317, Economic Development; ECON 332, Economics of Natural Resources; ENG 314, Literature of Place; GEOG 234, Geographical Planning; GEOG 323, Western Water Policy and Planning; MGMT 473, Management of Western Resources; POLS 206, The Government of the United States; POLS 350, Natural Resource Policy; POLS 351, Public Policy Analysis; POLS 352, Comparative Public Policy; POLS 354, Environmental Politics; SOC 308, Population Problems; SOC 328, Environmental Sociology.

HISTORY MINOR (NON-TEACHING)


Credits
Take one of the following:
     HIST 104--World History

4

     HIST 105--Origins of West Civ

4

     HIST 107--West Civ to 1600-Present

4

Take one of the following:
     HIST 155--America & Wrld Before 1865

4

     HIST 156--America and Wrld Since 1865

4

     HIST 115--Hist of Japan

Take two of the following:
     HIST 109--Modern Asia

4

     HIST 110--Latin America

4

     HIST 115--Hist of Japan

4

Take one of the following:
     HIST 305--Mexico3
HIST 311--Early America3
HIST 312--Civil War and Reconstruction3
HIST 313--The Guilded Age to 19403
HIST 320--United States Since 19403
     HIST 316--History Russia to 19173
     HIST 318--History Ancient Greece3
     HIST 319--History of Ancient Rome3
     HIST 323--Age of Absolutism & Reason3
     HIST 325--19th Century Europe3
     HIST 326--20th Century Europe3
     HIST 333--Early Brit: Prehistory to 17143
     HIST 334--Modern Britain3
     HIST 335--Middle East/20th Cent3
     HIST 361--History of Modern France3
     HIST 362--Modern Germany3
     HIST 368--20th Century War: Vietnam Era3
Take one of the following:
     HIST 371--Age of Shoguns3
     HIST 372--Japan's Long 19th Century3
     HIST 374--Modern China3
     HIST 375--Mod India,Pakistan,Bangladesh3
Take one of the following:
     HIST 402--Trans-Mississippi West3
     HIST 403--Gender in Am West3
     HIST 404--Mont & the West3
     HIST 406--McCarthy/Ike/Truman3
     HIST 408--Gender in America3
     HIST 409--Japanese Women's History3
     HIST 410--Latin Amer Soc History3
     HIST 412--Race & Class in America3
     HIST 413--Race in Latin America3
     HIST 419--Family in Greece/Rome3
     HIST 422--Hist Amer Constitution4
     HIST 423--Protestant Reformation3
     HIST 425--Gender in Lat America3
     HIST 426H--The Renaissance3
     HIST 431--Sci Tech Soc 1500-18003
     HIST 432--Modern Science3
     HIST 447--Hist North Amer Indian3
     HIST 455--Hist Amer Technology3
     HIST 456--Amer Thgt & Culture3
     HIST 457--Museum History3
     HIST 460--European Intellect History3
     HIST 464--History of Yellowstone3
     HIST 465--Ecology and Nature in Japan3
     HIST 466--U.S. Environ History3
     HIST 467--Gender in Asia3
     HIST 468--Animal Histories3
     HIST 469--World Environmental History3
University Core and Electives 3
24-25

The minimum number of credits for a non-teaching minor is twenty-one, with nine of those being upper-division credits.

MUSEUM STUDIES MINOR (NON-TEACHING)

In consultation with Museum Studies Minor advisor in the Department of History and Philosophy and with the approval of a minor advisor, students select 12 credits from one of the following non-teaching minors.  Half of these credits must be at the 300 - or 400-level.  The minimum number of credits for a non-teaching minor is twenty-one, with nine of those being upper division credits, therefore the total number of credits for the Museum Studies Minor must meet this requirement. Students may also fulfill this requirement by majoring in one of the following areas if, in addition, they choose 12 credits from any non-teaching minor, including but not limited to, the following:

Art History
Biology
Business Administration
English Literature
English Writing
Geography
Geology
History
Native American Studies
Sociology

In addition, students must take the following Museum Studies (MOR) courses:

Credits
MOR 301--Museum Practices

3

HIST/MOR 457--Museum Histories             3

In consultation with the Museum Studies minor advisor in the Department of History and Philosophy and subject specialists in the major and non-teaching minor, students select 6 credits from Museum Experience courses. Students fulfill the Museum Experience requirement by choosing ONE of the following options:

  1. 6 credits of internship (476) credits divided equally between their major and non-teaching minor departments; or
  2. 3 credits of internship (476) credits from their major department and 3 credits of undergraduate research (489/490) credits from the non-teaching minor department; or
  3. 3 credits of undergraduate research (489/490) from their major and 3 credits of internship (476) credits from their minor department.

The Department offers a Teaching Minor in History to strengthen the academic portfolios of non-majors preparing for teaching careers. Students are required to consult with the Department's certification officer prior to declaring the Teaching Minor.

HISTORY MINOR (TEACHING OPTION)


Credits
All required
HIST 105--West Civ to 16004
HIST 107--West Civ 1600 to Present4
HIST 155--America & Wrld Before 18654
HIST 156--America & Wrld After 18654
Take one of the following:
     HIST 104--World Hist/20th Century4
     HIST 109--Modern Asia4
     HIST 110--Latin Amer Hist4
     HIST 115-- History of Japan 4
Upper Division History Electives(9)
     EDSD 358--Method Teach Soc Studies

(3)

TOTAL CREDITS32
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