2023-2024 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

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 industrialization, imperialism, globalization, racism, and environmental change. 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 through upper-level electives of their choice. These 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 gain direct experience in the field by interning at museums, archives, and other public history sites. Majors also produce a substantive piece of original scholarship in the junior writing seminar and have the option to write an Honors thesis during their senior year. The major culminates in a capstone seminar focused on the craft of historical scholarship and education.

Learning Goals: History Major

  • Students will demonstrate breadth of knowledge in United States, European, and world history, and depth of knowledge in subject areas 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

Degree Requirements

I. Required Core (21 Credits):

CHIST 1501World History I

3

CHIST 1502World History II

3

CHIST 2121United States History to 1865

3

CHIST 2330United States History from 1865

3

CHIST 2317Power and Inequity in Modern Europe

3

CHIST 3800Junior Writing Seminar in History

3

CHIST 4800Senior Seminar in History

3

II. Electives (9 Credits):

CHIST 3200Human Rights, Social Justice, and the Constitution in America

3

CHIST 3250Black/Brown Power! Rethinking the Civil Rights Movement

3

CHIST 3322African American History

3

CHIST 3328America Since World War II

3

CHIST 3350Latin America Since 1900

3

CHIST 3360Africa in World History

3

CHIST 3425World War I in Global Perspective: Power & Inequity

3

CHIST 3450International Humanitarianism: History and Ethics

3

CHIST 3500History of Boston

3

CHIST 3600Africa in Film

3

CHIST 3700Travels in History

3

CHIST 3888Selected Topics in History

3

CHIST 4349Senior Thesis in History

4

CHUMS 3331The Shock of the New: European and American Culture at the Turn of the 20th Century

3

CHUMS 3500Postcolonial History, Literature, Ethics

3

CHUMS 3700Study-Travel: Paris at the Crossroads

3

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 2200Internship Planning and Preparation

1

CHUMS 3100Field Work and Seminar in the Humanities I

3

CHUMS 4100Humanities Field Work and Seminar II

4-6

*CHUMS 2200 or any 1000-level field-based course (e.g., CEDUC 1352CHMSR 1551CMGMT 1451; CMGMT 1701).
CHUMS 4100 must be taken at 6 credits

Other Requirements: Foreign Language competency

  1. Taking two semesters of American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German Italian, Portuguese or Spanish at the university level.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.