Welcome to the Dept. of History, Geography, & General Studies

The Department of History, Geography & General Studies is primarily responsible for the instruction of courses in History (HIST) and Geography (GEOG). To complement course offerings, two undergraduate degrees, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in General Studies, and one graduate degree, the Master of Arts (M.A.) in History, may be earned through this instructional unit. Minors are available in History, Geography, African Studies, African American Studies, and Women's Studies for students majoring in a discipline that requires the declaration of a minor.

History

The Department has a diverse mission that encompasses three distinct academic disciplines. Through the program of study in History, the Department is committed to providing students with modern research skills and computer skills that are appropriate to the discipline and to their chosen careers. On a more abstract level, it is the goal of the Department to increase students' awareness of the nature of history, the historical process, and intellectual historical awareness, as well as to expand their knowledge of world history and American history while emphasizing the role of African Americans and other minorities.

Geography

Through course offerings and the minor available in Geography, students are introduced to the environmental, cultural, and human aspects of the world and its various regions. In addition, they develop skills, through hands-on training, in areas such as cartography and geographic information systems. Through all programmatic offerings in the Department, students are prepared for careers in either the public sector or private industry, for post-graduate professional degrees (in law, medicine, or business, for example), and for graduate studies in either History or Economics. On a broader level, members of the Department view knowledge of history, geography, and economics as fundamental to the understanding of one's background and to developing an appreciation of diverse peoples and cultures, as students are prepared to function effectively as citizens of their community, their nation, and the world.

General Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in General Studies offers a broad interdisciplinary program that can be tailored to match a wide variety of educational and professional goals of students. Those pursuing a B.A. in General Studies are strongly encouraged to consult with an advisor to formulate a coherent and professionally practical program for this major. The specialty within the General Studies major is a focus (concentration) area agreed upon by the student and advisor. Fifteen (15) credits must be at the 300 and 400 level and courses may be taken in more than one department to fulfill the specialty component. Students must obtain a grade of “C” or better in all major and specialty courses.