History - Bachelor of Arts (30 Credits)
(30 credits plus 10 credits of experiential learning)
Historians are explorers and storytellers. The past is our world, and history is our craft. The study of history trains students to uncover the forgotten voices and diverse perspectives of the past and explain their relevance to society today. It prepares students to make critical evaluations of long-term transformations that continue to shape the contemporary world, like racism, imperialism, industrialization, and globalization. History majors develop skills that are vital to meaningful careers and engaged citizenship. They become adept at locating and analyzing primary sources; formulating arguments supported by evidence; and presenting their findings through cogent writing, oral communication, and public presentations.
Majors begin their studies with introductory courses in United States, European, and World history, then move toward greater depth in an area concentration of their choice. Elective courses allow students to focus on specific topics that interest them, such as genocide and transnational social movements, African and African American history, or women and gender inequality. Courses integrate interdisciplinary analyses through film, art, culture, and travel. Students experience history come alive by interning at museums, archives, and other public history sites. Majors may also produce a substantive piece of original scholarship by completing an optional Honors thesis. The major culminates in a senior seminar focused on the craft of historical scholarship and education.
Learning Goals: History Major
- Students will demonstrate breadth of knowledge in American, European, and World history, and depth of knowledge in an area focus of their choice.
- Students will demonstrate research skills appropriate to the discipline, including the following:
- Posit a succinct and arguable thesis
- Organize and analyze evidence from multiple sources
- Adhere to genre and disciplinary conventions
- Demonstrate conversancy with different schools and methods of historical interpretation
- Communicate effectively and clearly in written and oral assignments
- Apply their skills in an appropriate internship setting
- Explore opportunities for graduate study as indicated by number of students applying to graduate programs
Degree Requirements
I. Required Core (21 Credits):
II. Choose ONE Regional Specialization (9 Credits, all at 3000-level or above)
American History
| CHIST 3200 | Human Rights, Social Justice, and the Constitution in America | 3 |
| CHIST 3250 | Black/Brown Power! Rethinking the Civil Rights Movement | 3 |
| CHIST 3322 | African American History | 3 |
| CHIST 3328 | America Since World War II | 3 |
| CHIST 3500 | History of Boston | 3 |
| CHIST 4349 | Senior Thesis in History | 4 |
| CHUMS 3331 | The Shock of the New: European and American Culture at the Turn of the 20th Century | 3 |
*Students may take either
CHIST 3200 or 3400, but not both.
**Senior theses must be on a topic in the student’s chosen regional specialization.
European History
| CHIST 3315 | Nazi Germany and the Holocaust | 3 |
| CHIST 3450 | History of International Humanitarian Organizations | 3 |
| CHIST 4349 | Senior Thesis in History | 4 |
| CHUMS 3600 | Medieval History and Literature | 3 |
| CHUMS 3331 | The Shock of the New: European and American Culture at the Turn of the 20th Century | 3 |
| CHUMS 3700 | Study-Travel: Paris at the Crossroads | 3 |
**Senior theses must be on a topic in the student’s chosen regional specialization.
World History
**Senior theses must be on a topic in the student’s chosen regional specialization.
III. Professional/Experiential Component (10 Credits):
If the student declares an Education Major or Minor, the internship requirement is satisfied with student teaching in the Major or Minor. If the student declares any other double major, the internship requirement must be satisfied in the major with the greater number of credits in its experiential component. If they are the same, the student may choose one. Every effort will be made to have one of the internships encompass the objectives of the other major. Students may choose to do an additional internship in their other major.
| CHUMS 2200 | Internship Planning and Preparation | 1 |
| CHUMS 3100 | Field Work and Seminar in the Humanities I | 3 |
| CHUMS 4100 | Humanities Field Work and Seminar II | 4-6 |
Other Requirements: Foreign Language competency
- Taking two semesters of American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German Italian, Portuguese or Spanish at the university level.
- If students enter Lesley with the proficiency to take American Sign Language II, Chinese II, French II, German II, Italian II or Spanish II, Portuguese II, and they pass that course, this will also satisfy the foreign language competency.
- Students who have already achieved a proficiency equal to two full semesters of college language instruction before entering Lesley have the following options for satisfying this requirement:
- Before entering Lesley, students may take an AP language exam or CLEP exam and satisfy the language requirement if they score a grade of four or higher (AP) or 50 or above (CLEP).
- After entering Lesley, students who wish to demonstrate language competency will be referred the Foreign Language Coordinator.
- Students may take a competency exam in any of the languages offered at Lesley under the supervision of the Foreign Language Coordinator. This exam will be equivalent to a final exam given to students in American Sign Language II, Chinese II, French II, German II, Italian II, Portuguese II, or Spanish II. A grade of B or higher in this test will waive the language requirement; a grade ranging from C to B- will place student at the second semester level.
- Students who wish to demonstrate language competency in any other foreign language must take the CLEP or an equivalent exam as approved by the Foreign Language Coordinator.