Department Contact:
Dr. Denise Holladay Damico
Program Description:
Studying History encourages “respect for the uniqueness of the individual person,” drawing upon the understanding that History is “people making choices and those choices making a difference.” If knowledge is power, studying the past cultivates “a humble and generous attitude toward learning.” At Saint Francis University, our History curriculum encourages “Solidarity and Reconciliation” through careful study of the categories of race, class, gender, and place, in the U.S., Europe, and throughout the world, emphasizing the ways in which we form “a Community that transcends particular nations and cultures.” History students learn to reason critically and analytically, to synthesize large bodies of information, and to write clearly and effectively - skills that are applicable to any job setting.
Students take courses in U.S. Constitutional Law, civil liberties and civil rights, and business law. Students study case law, logic, writing, and public speaking, while developing and refining their communications skills and critical reasoning abilities. Students will also learn how to do political and policy research. The specialization provides a unique preparation for law school as students will receive professional advising from a Pre-Law adviser. Saint Francis University offers two highly competitive early admission programs for pre-law students, in collaboration with Duquesne University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law and Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law. These partnerships provide special academic opportunities for qualified students to earn both an undergraduate degree and a law degree in just six years rather than seven. Either program can easily be completed with the History major.
Paralegal courses can be taken as pre-law electives. This makes it very feasible for interested students to complete the pre-law specialization and the paralegal minor simultaneously.
Student Learning Outcomes:
History majors will:
Goal 1: Demonstrate effective research skills in the discipline of History
- Objective 1: Analyze primary source documents.
- Objective 2: Interpret secondary sources from the field of History and related disciplines.
- Objective 3: Develop an original argument appropriate to the discipline of History.
Goal 2: Address historical issues and contexts using critical thinking.
- Objective 1: Evaluate the credibility of secondary sources, including differentiating between sources that are peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed.
- Objective 2: Synthesize diverse types of evidence to draw conclusions.
- Objective 3: Effectively use contextually appropriate evidence to demonstrate an argument.
Goal 3: Engage in historical thinking that promotes the Franciscan value of Higher Education “Solidarity and Reconciliation” by
- evaluating how different historical narratives are created at different places and times and
- how power and privilege play a role in those creations, ultimately encouraging students to
- consider how Community transcends particular nations and cultures.
Estimated Completion Time:
Typically four years of full-time study
Capstone Requirement:
HIST 407: History Seminar.
Graduation Requirements:
A candidate for graduation must satisfy the following requirements:
- Complete all requirements for an approved program of study;
- Complete the minimum number of credits (128 for a bachelor’s degree; 64 for an associate’s degree);
- Repeat for an acceptable passing grade any course required for the major in which the grade of “F” has been received;
- Complete the last 30 credits for the degree at SFU;
- Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better in all courses taken at SFU;
- Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better in all major or collateral requirements;
- Satisfy the requirements of the General Education core curriculum;
- Satisfy the capstone requirement as specified by the major department(s);
- Submit a completed Application for Degree form at least one semester prior to graduation date; and
- Satisfy financial obligations to the University.
- Students must complete a concentration in History, or an academic minor in another discipline, or a second major in another discipline.
- students must complete an experiential learning requirement. Options include: HIST 111 or HIST 333, internship (opportunities available at Keirn Family World War II on campus, or elsewhere), study abroad, student teaching, or other opportunities in consultation with academic advisor.
Total Credits Required:
128 credits minimum