Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
In Cal Poly’s History Department, students explore history as a living tradition as well as a vibrant field of study. History deepens students’ understanding of different peoples and cultures, examining ideas of race, gender, class and cultural diversity. Students use research and critical tools to explore and articulate multiple perspectives on the present and future.
Program Learning Objectives
- Analyze diverse primary and secondary sources to construct well-supported historical interpretations.
- Communicate historical knowledge effectively through analytical writing and other modes of presentation.
- Evaluate multiple perspectives, theoretical concepts, and historiographic debates in historical research.
- Design and conduct original historical research that demonstrates critical thinking and analytical skills.
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of global and national historical developments and the contributions of diverse and historically marginalized groups.
- Identify paths toward diverse careers that utilize critical thinking, research synthesis, and communication skills.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
In addition to the program requirements listed on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:
- 40 units of upper-division courses
- 2.0 GPA
- Graduation Writing Requirements (GWR)
- U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)
Note: No Major or Support courses may be selected as credit/no credit. In addition, no more than 12 units of cooperative or internship courses can count towards your degree requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MAJOR COURSES | ||
| HIST 1100 | Historical Inquiry | 4 |
| HIST 1101 | Learn by Doing History | 3 |
| HIST 2201 | United States History to 1877 (4A) 1 | 3 |
| HIST 2202 | United States History Since 1877 | 3 |
| HIST 2222 | World History to 1500 (4B) 1 | 3 |
| HIST 2223 | World History since 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 3303 | Research and Writing Seminar in History | 4 |
| HIST 3304 | Historiography | 4 |
| HIST 4460 | Senior Project I | 2 |
| HIST 4461 | Senior Project II | 2 |
| History Electives | ||
| Select any 2000 level HIST courses | 6 | |
| Select any 3000-4000 level HIST courses 2, 3 | 8 | |
| Global Histories Electives | ||
| Select from the following: 2, 4 | 8 | |
| Cultures of the African Diaspora | ||
| East Asian Cultures and Civilizations | ||
| Modern Middle East | ||
| Modern East Asia | ||
| The City in the Modern World | ||
| A Cultural History of Southeast Asia | ||
| The Age of Revolution in the Americas | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Modern Latin America | ||
| Modern Korea | ||
| Modern Japan | ||
| Modern China | ||
| Southeast Asia in 20th and 21st Century | ||
| The History of Vietnam | ||
| The Indian Ocean | ||
| Precolonial African History | ||
| Questions and Issues in Latin American History | ||
| Questions and Issues in Asian History | ||
| Questions and Issues in African History | ||
| Arabia and the Arab Gulf States | ||
| Imperialism and Postcolonial Studies | ||
| SUPPORT COURSES | ||
| Select any GE Upper-Division 4 course not in HIST 1 | 3 | |
| World Languages Requirement | ||
| Select from the following: 5 | 4 | |
| Intermediate Chinese Language and Culture I | ||
| Intermediate French Language and Culture I | ||
| Intermediate German Language and Culture | ||
| Intermediate Italian I | ||
| Intermediate Japanese I | ||
| Intermediate Spanish I | ||
| Intermediate World Language and Culture I | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) | ||
| (See GE program requirements below) | 34 | |
| FREE ELECTIVES | ||
| Free Electives 6, 7 | 26 | |
| Total Units | 120 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.
- 2
A minimum of two 4000-level courses is required across History electives and Global Histories electives.
- 3
HIST 4400 and HIST 4467 may not count towards the History Electives.
- 4
Choose two courses (8 units) that focus on regions and themes outside of the U.S. and Europe. This includes courses on Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as comparative or transregional courses that explore global themes such as urbanism, imperialism, or migration.
- 5
Additional prerequisites may be needed to complete this requirement.
- 6
If a General Education (GE) course is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
- 7
Free Electives may need to be at the 3000-4000 level to ensure completion of the required minimum of 40 units of upper-division courses.
General Education (GE) Requirements
- 43 units required, 9 of which are specified in Major and/or Support.
- If any of the remaining 34 Units is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
- See the complete GE course listing.
- A grade of C- or better is required in one course in each of the following GE Areas: 1A (English Composition), 1B (Critical Thinking), 1C (Oral Communication), and 2 (Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning).
| Lower-Division General Education | ||
| Area 1 | English Communication and Critical Thinking | |
| 1A | Written Communication | 3 |
| 1B | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| 1C | Oral Communication | 3 |
| Area 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning | |
| 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| Area 3 | Arts and Humanities | |
| 3A | Arts | 3 |
| 3B | Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English | 3 |
| Area 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) | |
| 4A | American Institutions (Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement) (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| 4B | Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Area 5 | Physical and Life Sciences | |
| 5A | Physical Sciences | 3 |
| 5B | Life Sciences | 3 |
| 5C | Laboratory (may be embedded in a 5A or 5B course) | 1 |
| Area 6 | Ethnic Studies | |
| 6 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Upper-Division General Education | ||
| Upper-Division 2/5 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning or Physical and Life Sciences | 3 |
| Upper-Division 3 | Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| Upper-Division 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| Total Units | 34 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.