Undergraduate History Programs

History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme.
― Mark Twain

Bachelor of Arts Degree in History

The University of South Alabama offers courses leading to the award of the Bachelor of Arts degree. For a description of these courses and the degree requirements, please see the University Bulletin's section on the Department of History.

Minor in History

Students majoring in other departments may select history as their minor. This minor requires 21 hours of courses as prescribed in the University Bulletin.

History Major- Four Year Plan   

 

HISTORY - SAMPLE 4 YEAR PLAN (2018-2019 USA Bulletin)

Fall - Year 1

 

 

 

Course

Course Description

Pre-requisite

Credit Hours

CAS 100

First Year Experience - College Success

 

2

EH 101*

English Composition I

 

3

HY 101/ HY 121

History of Western Civilization I/ History of World Civilization I

 

3

Natural Science with Lab

 

 

4

Foreign Language I

 

 

3

 

 

 

Total: 15

Spring - Year 1

 

 

 

Course

Course Description

Pre-requisite

Credit Hours

EH 102 or Honors

English Composition II

EH 101 or test  score 

3

Math Course

MA 110 or higher

 

3

Foreign Language II

 

 

3

Social/Behavioral Elective

 

 

3

HY 102/ HY 122

History of Western Civilization II/ History of World Civilization II

 

3

 

 

 

Total: 15

Fall - Year 2

 

 

 

Course

Course Description

Pre-requisite

Credit Hours

HY 135

US History to 1877

 

3

Fine Arts Elective

 

 

3

Natural Science with Lab

 

 

4

English Literature

 

EH 102 or Honors

3

Humanities Elective

 

 

3

 

 

 

Total: 16

Spring- Year 2

 

 

 

Course

Course Description

Pre-requisite

Credit Hours

HY 136

US History Since 1877

 

3

Humanities Elective

 

 

3

Minor Course

 

 

3

CA 110

Public Speaking

 

3

Social/Behavioral Elective

 

 

3

 

 

 

Total: 15

Fall - Year 3

 

 

 

Course

Course Description

Pre-requisite

Credit Hours

History Elective

African, Asian, Latin American, or Middle Eastern History

 

3

History Elective

 

 

3

Natural Science with Lab

 

 

4

Elective

 

 

3

Minor Course

 

 

3

 

 

 

Total: 16

 

Page 1

Spring - Year 3

 

 

 

Course

Course Description

Pre-requisite

Credit Hours

History Elective

300 level or higher (W)

 

3

History Elective

300 level or higher

 

3

Minor Course

 

 

3

Minor Course

 

 

3

Elective

 

 

3

 

 

 

Total: 15

Fall - Year 4

 

 

 

Course

Course Description

Pre-requisite

Credit Hours

HY 441/442/443/444

History Research Seminar

 

3

History Elective

300 level or higher

 

3

Minor Course

 

 

3

Minor Course

 

 

3

Elective

 

 

3

 

 

 

Total: 15

Spring- Year 4

 

 

 

Course

Course Description

Pre-requisite

Credit Hours

History Elective

400 level

 

3

History Elective

 

 

3

Minor Course

 

 

3

Elective

 

 

3

Elective

 

 

1

 

 

 

Total: 13

 

Total degree hours: 120

All italicized courses meet general education requirements. 
*Students who earn an English ACT score of 27 or an SAT Reading score of 550 can opt out of EH 101.
** Must have one history elective and one literature elective. In addition, students must choose a second history or literature to complete a two-part sequence. History majors will complete a history sequence.

All Arts and Sciences majors require a minor between 18 and 24 hours. This plan incorporates a 21 hour minor. 

Two designated writing (W) courses are required with at least one course chosen from offerings in the student's major or minor. Courses carrying this required credit are identified in the University Bulletin by a (W) after the course title.

The Sample 4-year plan is designed as a guide for students preparing for their course selections. This information provides only a suggested schedule. Actual course selections should be made in consultation with an advisor.  

 

Writing & Research Seminar Courses:

 

  • W Course & Research Seminar Overview:
    • Students should avoid at all costs taking the W course and the Research Seminar in the same semester. The work load is too onerous.
    • Ideally, one of these courses will be taken in the student’s junior year; the other will be taken during his or her senior year.
    • Ideally, the W course should come before the Research Seminar course.
  • W Course:
    • The W course should be taken early on in the student’s slate of upper-division history courses, but it should not be the student’s first upper-division history course.
  • Research Seminar:
    • In the spirit of understanding the Research Seminar as “doing history after learning history,” it should not be the student’s first 400-level course. It should be taken after the student has completed a couple of 400-level courses.
    • The Research Seminar ideally should be taken in the first semester of the senior year. (If it is taken during the student’s last semester of the senior year, and the student fails the course, he or she will not be able to graduate on time.)

AP Credit in History 

 

AP World History 4 equals 3 credits HY 121

AP World History 5 equals 6 credits HY 121, 122

AP European History 4 or 5 equals 3 credits HY 102 

AP American History 4 equals 3 credits HY 136

AP American History 5 equals 6 credits HY 135, HY 136 

 

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit in History


History of the Americas (Higher Level)  Score 5 equals 3 credits HY 135

History of Asia and Oceania (Higher Level) Score of 5 equals 3 credits HY 104 

History of Europe (Higher Level) Score of 5 equals 3 credits HY 102