History
In a world so focused on science and technology, what’s the demand for a liberal arts degree like history? A history degree isn’t only about learning the facts about major societal events or ancient civilizations. It’s also about teaching you to think critically, creatively, and even empathetically about the context, the cultures, and the conflicts that inspired those events, civilizations, and ultimately—your life today.
You can choose to major or minor in History.
You’ll learn how to:
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Think critically about American history
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Appreciate African Americans’ contributions to the development of American society
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Value history and culture of other countries
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Analyze, synthesize, and interpret historical events
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Understand the impact of the past on the present
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Use research methods to collect, analyze, and evaluate historical data
Study the Past, Change the Future
Choose 1 of 4 history concentrations:
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African American history
-
African history
-
History/social studies education
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United States history
Regardless of your chosen concentration, our history degree prepares you for graduate or professional school, teaching, or any other career with research or analytical responsibilities. Students interested in a specific concentration should notify their advisor as early as possible, so the department can assign an advisor.
750+ Course Options
The Coppin State University Academic Catalog has a wide variety of skill-building courses designed to inspire and prepare you to be in-demand professionals and transformational leaders.
Program Requirements
To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in History, you must complete 120 credit hours. These credit hours split among:
General electives
Major courses
Concentration requirements
General Education Requirements (12 credits)
All history majors must take a pair of GER courses for 6 credits. Choose from the following groups:
| Course | Name |
|---|---|
| HIST 201 | World History I |
| HIST 202 | World History II |
| OR | |
| HIST 203 | U.S. History I |
| HIST 204 | U.S. History II |
| OR | |
| HIST 205 | African American History I |
| HIST 206 | African American History II |
Note: Students may not mix courses from different groups.
Remember! You must complete all major and prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher.
How to Choose a Concentration
All history majors may choose a concentration, if desired. We recommend you tell the department as soon as possible, so we can assign an advisor to help you design your course schedule based on your different concentration requirements.
Each concentration has the same section requirements:
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Survey courses
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Upper level courses
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Departmental electives
Remember, you must earn a grade of C or higher in any courses required for the history major—and that includes your concentration courses as well.
Each section below details the specific concentration requirements.
African History Concentration
This concentration requires 36 credits.
In addition to GER requirements, African history majors must also take 6 more survey credit hours from the following options.
Course | Name | |
|---|---|---|
HIST 201 | World History I | |
HIST 202 | World History II | |
OR | ||
HIST 203 | U.S. History I | |
HIST 204 | U.S. History II | |
OR | ||
HIST 205 | African American History I | |
HIST 206 | African American History II |
African history majors must also take the following courses:
Course | Name | |
|---|---|---|
HIST 207 | Introduction to Africa | |
HIST 315 | Modern Africa | |
HIST 440 | Seminar in African History | |
HIST 423 | Methods of Historical Research | |
GEOG 101 | Elements of Geography | |
OR | ||
GEOG 102 | World Regional Geography |
African history majors must also take at least 15 departmental electives, across concentration electives, support electives, and geography electives. Students may also take electives not included on this list, but must first get departmental approval.
Concentration Electives (6 credits)
Course | Name |
|---|---|
HIST 313 | Ancient Africa |
HIST 405 | History of Latin America |
HIST 430 | History of West Africa |
HIST 432 | History of Central Africa |
HIST 436 | History of South Africa |
HIST 438 | History of East Africa |
HIST 442 | Special Topics in History |
Support Electives (6 credits)
Course | Name |
|---|---|
HIST 304 | Problems I |
HIST 305 | Problems II |
HIST 354 | Modern Civil Rights |
HIST 404 | Modern Asia |
HIST 407 | U.S. Foreign Policy |
HIST 410 | Europe I |
HIST 411 | Europe II |
HIST 426 | History of the Middle East |
HIST 442 | Special Topics in History |
HIST 450 | Seminar in Global Studies |
Geography Electives (3 credits)
Course | Name |
|---|---|
GEOG 101 | Elements of Geography |
GEOG 102 | World Regional Geography |
GEOG 302 | North American Geography |
GEOG 303 | Tools and Technology |
GEOG 304 | Latin America |
GEOG 306 | Urban Geography |
GEOG 402 | Political Geography |
GEOG 405 | Geography of Africa |
African-American History Concentration
This concentration requires 36 credits.
In addition to GER requirements (HIST 201/202 or HIST 203/204), African American history majors must also take 6 more survey credit hours.
Course | Name | |
|---|---|---|
HIST 205 | African American History I | |
HIST 206 | African American History II |
African American history majors must also take the following courses:
Course | Name | |
|---|---|---|
HIST 420 | Seminar in African-American History | |
HIST 423 | Methods of Historical Research | |
GEOG 101 | Elements of Geography | |
OR | ||
GEOG 102 | World Regional Geography |
African American history majors must also take at least 21 departmental electives, across concentration electives, support electives, and geography electives. Students may also take electives not included on this list, but must first get departmental approval.
Concentration Electives (9 credits)
Course | Name | |
|---|---|---|
HIST 207 | Introduction to Africa | |
OR | ||
HIST 304 | Problems I | |
HIST 430 | History of West Africa | |
OR | ||
HIST 305 | Problems II | |
HIST 318 | African Americans in Cities | |
HIST 348 | African American Women | |
HIST 350 | African American Intellectual History | |
HIST 354 | Modern Civil Rights Movement | |
HIST 393 | Civil War and Reconstruction | |
HIST 442 | Special Topics in History |
Support Electives (9 credits)
Course | Name |
|---|---|
HIST 301 | History of Maryland |
HIST 304 | Problems I |
HIST 305 | Problems II |
HIST 313 | Ancient Africa |
HIST 315 | Modern Africa |
HIST 319 | Urban America |
HIST 405 | Latin America |
HIST 407 | U.S. Foreign Policy |
HIST 410 | Europe I |
HIST 411 | Europe II |
HIST 428 | History of Women |
HIST 442 | Special Topics in History |
HIST 450 | Seminar in Global Studies |
Geography Electives (3 credits)
Course | Name |
|---|---|
GEOG 101 | Elements of Geography |
GEOG 102 | World Regional Geography |
GEOG 202 | Geography of Maryland |
GEOG 302 | North American Geography |
GEOG 303 | Tools and Technology |
GEOG 306 | Urban Geography |
GEOG 405 | Geography of Africa |
United States History Concentration
This concentration requires 36 credits.
In addition to GER requirements (HIST 201/202 or HIST 205/206), U.S. history majors must also take 6 more survey credit hours from the following options.
Course | Name | |
|---|---|---|
HIST 203 | U.S. History I | |
HIST 204 | U.S. History II |
U.S. history majors must also take the following courses:
Course | Name | |
|---|---|---|
HIST 422 | Seminar in American History | |
HIST 423 | Methods of Historical Research | |
GEOG 101 | Elements of Geography | |
OR | ||
GEOG 102 | World Regional Geography |
U.S. history majors must also take at least 21 departmental electives, across concentration electives, support electives, and geography electives. Students may also take electives not included on this list, but must first get departmental approval.
Concentration Electives (9 credits)
Course | Name |
|---|---|
HIST 301 | History of Maryland |
HIST 304 | Problems I |
HIST 305 | Problems II |
HIST 319 | Urban America |
HIST 354 | Modern Civil Rights Movement |
HIST 393 | Civil War and Reconstruction |
HIST 407 | U.S. Foreign Policy |
HIST 428 | History of Women |
HIST 442 | Special Topics in History |
Support Electives (9 credits)
Course | Name |
|---|---|
HIST 318 | African Americans in Cities |
HIST 350 | African American Intellectual History |
HIST 405 | Latin America |
HIST 406 | Russia |
HIST 410 | Europe I |
HIST 411 | Europe II |
HIST 424 | Internship |
HIST 430 | West Africa |
MNSC | Economic History of U.S. |
Geography Electives (3 credits)
Course | Name |
|---|---|
GEOG 202 | Geography of Maryland |
GEOG 302 | North American Geography |
GEOG 303 | Tools and Technology |
GEOG 306 | Urban Geography |
GEOG 342 | Political Geography |
History lives in the Department of Humanities in the School of Arts & Sciences within the College of Arts & Sciences, and Education.