Program Description
The discipline of History is a systematic study of the past often accompanied by an attempt to use the knowledge to help explain human nature and contemporary affairs. Courses within the discipline strive to provide the student with the foundation of a liberal arts education. Knowledge of the history of mankind serves as a framework that helps to unify all other areas of study, producing an integrated overview of the human condition. History also helps the student appreciate and understand the contributions of a diverse population in an every-shrinking world. History is a study of the past by the present for future generations.
History offers a major, a minor, a significant portion of the required courses for the Social Studies endorsement in the secondary education major, a graduate certificate, and a field of study in the Interdisciplinary Master of Arts graduate program. Both the major and minor degree programs can be taken completely online. In fact, the online program has been ranked #37 in the “Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees in History” according to Study.com (See Ranking Page). Four courses in History contribute to General Education Area V (Humanities); these courses are included in the statewide articulation agreement to facilitate transfer within all state institutions of higher learning in New Mexico. In addition, the New Mexico Public Education Department requires all students in the Teacher Education Program to complete nine credit hours in History, including History of New Mexico. History contributes significantly to requirements for the Pre-Law Minor, Latin American Studies Minor, and provides elective courses in other major and minor degree programs. History, therefore, provides a significant component of the General Education and degree requirements at Western New Mexico University.
Student Learning Outcomes for History
- Students will be able to explain in their work how humans in the past shaped their own unique historical moments and were shaped by those moments, and how those cultures changed over the years that was covered in the class.
- Students will distinguish between primary and secondary sources, identify and evaluate evidence and empathize with people in their historical context.
- Students will summarize and appraise different historical interpretations and evidence in order to construct past events.
- Students will apply historical knowledge and historical thinking in order to infer what drives and motivates human behavior in both past and present.
Degree Requirements
Supporting Course Work: Students will complete 31 credit hours of General Education requirements that count towards the history degree. You will also complete 42 upper division credits. You are required to select a minor outside the history discipline an complete 9 credit hours of Writing Intensive courses.
Students may choose either a Baccalaureate in Arts (B.A.) or a Baccalaureate in Science (B.S.)
- B.A. Requirements: Students will complete any upper division Spanish course, or one of the following: SPAN 202, SPAN 214, or SPAN 252
- B.S. Requirements: Students seeking a B.S. in history will complete an additional six credit hours in Math, and/or Computer Science,and/or GEOG/PSY/SOC 323, Social Statistics, beyond the General Education requirements.
History Core Requirements:
- HIST 1150 World Civilization I — 3 credits
- HIST 1160 World Civilization II — 3 credits
- HIST 1110 American History I — 3 credits
- HIST 1120 American History II — 3 credits
- HIST 407 History and Historians — 3 credits
- HIST 496 Senior Seminar in the Social Sciences — 3 credits
- HIST ___ Guided electives (6 credits must be upper division) — 9 credits
History Core Requirements = 36 minimum
History Major Degree Plan — Download Here
Here you will find the history major degree plan. This will give you an idea of what courses will be taken. Just prior to graduation, the student will fill out this degree plan, get appropriate signatures and submit it to the Registrar’s Office. It is also advised that they do a degree audit as they approach the semester they plan to graduate. It is best to print this out and bring it to your history advisor for their review.
History Minor Degree Plan — Download Here
Here you will find the history minor degree plan. This will give you an idea of what courses will be taken. Just prior to graduation, the student will fill out this degree plan, get appropriate signatures and submit it to the Registrar’s Office. It is also advised that they do a degree audit as they approach the semester they plan to graduate. It is best to print this out and bring it to your history advisor for their review.
Admissions
Students may declare a major or minor in history upon enrollment to the university. Generally, students will choose their major in the spring semester of their Sophomore year. To apply to WNMU and declare a major or minor in history, click on the link below.
Apply to WNMU here.
This link will allow you apply to WNMU.