Historical Studies: B.A., B.S.

Historical Studies concentrations should be tailored to students’ needs and interests. The result of the educational planning process should be a degree program with a coherent set of courses that are affiliated with and build upon each other. A sample of concentration titles in Historical Studies, approved by the academic review process, include American History, Historical Studies, Military History, Western or European History, and World History.

Students can make a case for courses outside of those mapped here that meet the same learning objectives in their rationales.

The history faculty expects that bachelor degree programs in historical studies will consist of the following elements and allow students to acquire specific enabling skills and competencies. As students write their rationale essays, they should demonstrate how their degree program meets these guidelines, aligning their courses and other learning activities to the elements belowThe courses listed below will meet each foundation, though these lists are not exhaustive.

Foundation # 1: Introductory Learning

Students will be able to demonstrate a foundation for advanced learning in historical studies by completing one or more introductory courses (depending on concentration) in their area or topic.

Concentration in American History
HIST 2025US History to 1865: What Does it Mean to be a Free Nation?4
HIST 2030US History From 1865 to the Present4
Concentration in Historical Studies
HIST 1070Global History from the 15004
HIST 1075Global History to 15004
HIST 1115Western Civilization I4
HIST 1120Western Civilization II4
HIST 2025US History to 1865: What Does it Mean to be a Free Nation?4
HIST 2030US History From 1865 to the Present4
Concentration in Global History
HIST 1070Global History from the 15004
HIST 1075Global History to 15004
HIST 1115Western Civilization I4
HIST 1120Western Civilization II4

Foundation #2: Breadth

The intention of this foundation is for mentors and students to locate one or more courses that broaden the learning in the concentration. Breadth might be defined in terms of geography, time period, national or cultural experience, or, even, methodology. A concentration in American History or Historical Studies, for example, might include one or more courses on Africa, China, or Europe.

Foundation #3: Diversity

HIST 1010African- American History to 18614
HIST 1015African-American History: 1861 –19414
HIST 1030American Military History4
HIST 2013Race in United States Politics4
HIST 2025US History to 1865: What Does it Mean to be a Free Nation?3-4
HIST 2030US History From 1865 to the Present3,4
HIST 2035Women & Work in American History4
HIST 2045American Environmental History: Introduction4
HIST 2050History of American Medicine and Public Health: Introductory4
HIST 2055History of American Families and Children: Introductory4
HIST 2060History of Social Welfare: Introductory4
HIST 2065Long Island History: Introduction4
HIST 2137The Civil War: Introduction4
HIST 3060American Environmental History4
HIST 3070American Immigration4
HIST 3085American Labor History4
HIST 3086U.S. Unions since the 1960s4
HIST 3090American Military History: Advanced4
HIST 3100American Religious History I4
HIST 3110American Urban & Suburban History4
HIST 3115American Women's History4
HIST 3152History of Social Welfare in the US: Advanced4
HIST 3190Fashion in U.S. History4
HIST 3200Food in American History4
HIST 3230Health & Wellness in American History4
HIST 3237History of the American Presidency4
HIST 3242American Religious History II4
HIST 3250History of American Popular Culture4
HIST 3255History of American Sexuality4
HIST 3272History of American Families and Children: Advanced4
HIST 3320Jews of Russia Poland Ukraine: 1772-19174
HIST 3345Modern American History4
HIST 3385New York State History4
HIST 3440American Ethnic History4
HIST 3590Hip Hop America: The Evolution of a Cultural Movement4
HIST 3605Madness in American History4
HIST 3630The Civil Rights Movement4
HIST 3635Foundations in American History: Advanced4
HIST 3645American Revolutionary War Residency4
HIST 3650Civil War History4
HIST 3655Adirondack History4
HIST 3665Long Island History: Advanced4
HIST 3690History of Antisemitism4
HIST 3710Jews in US History: 1654-present4
HIST 3715Movin' on Up: Class in America in the Movies4
HIST 3720The Holocaust4
HIST 4005Mad Men Mad Women: History of Women in the Twentieth Century4
HIST 4010Rock and Roll History4

Foundation #4: Links to Other Disciplines

At least one course must link the student’s program to other disciplines, including but not limited to anthropology, economics, literature, political science, psychology, and sociology. The department encourages mentors and students to choose courses outside of the department that supports learning in the student’s concentration.

A concentration in World History might, for example, incorporate a course outside of the discipline in economics (e.g., ECON 3110 Social and Economic Contexts of Globalization), literature (e.g., LITR 3140 West African Literature), or political science (POLI 3065 International Politics and Relations).  

Foundation #5: Independent Inquiry, Research, and Analysis     

At least one upper-level course must require the student to conduct independent inquiry and research. 

In that course the student is asked to evaluate primary and secondary sources that record and interpret the past toward completion of a final research project, documented using the Chicago Manual of Style.

One or more of the following courses, equivalent transcript credit, or prior learning will meet this guideline:

HIST 300519th Century Eastern Europe4
HIST 3012Hillary vs. Trump: The 2016 Presidential Election4
HIST 3050American Colonial History: Advanced4
HIST 3090American Military History: Advanced4
HIST 3110American Urban & Suburban History4
HIST 3125Ancient Rome: Republic & Empire: Advanced4
HIST 3152History of Social Welfare in the US: Advanced4
HIST 3180Enlightenment: Advanced Research4
HIST 3207Age of Jackson4
HIST 3212Age of Reagan4
HIST 3215Generals of the American Civil War4
HIST 3217Progressivism & Normalcy4
HIST 3222The Liberal Ascendancy4
HIST 3225German Nationalism 1800-Present4
HIST 3227Federalists and Jeffersonians4
HIST 3232The Great War 1914-19184
HIST 3237History of the American Presidency4
HIST 3242American Religious History II4
HIST 3245Historiography & Methods4
HIST 3260History of Christianity4
HIST 3260History of Christianity4
HIST 3272History of American Families and Children: Advanced4
HIST 3277French Revolution4
HIST 3282Europe in the Global Age: 1950-present4
HIST 3305Imperial Russia4
HIST 3315Jews of Habsburg Austria: 1670-19184
HIST 3320Jews of Russia Poland Ukraine: 1772-19174
HIST 3325Jews & Germans: 1770-19334
HIST 3345Modern American History4
HIST 3345Modern American History4
HIST 3355Modern Russia4
HIST 3370Nationalism in Modern Europe4
HIST 3375Native American Histories & Cultures: Advanced4
HIST 3382History of New York City4
HIST 3400Pirates & Privateers4
HIST 3420Revolutionary America: Advanced4
HIST 3495The Great Depression & the New Deal4
HIST 3510The Reformation4
HIST 3535World War II4
HIST 3500History of Warfare in Western World4
HIST 3570Women in the Middle East4
HIST 3635Foundations in American History: Advanced4
HIST 3645American Revolutionary War Residency4
HIST 3650Civil War History4
HIST 3665Long Island History: Advanced4
HIST 3670Barack Obama & His Presidency4
HIST 3675History of America in the 1960s Era4
HIST 3685History of American Politics: 1974-20084
HIST 3690History of Antisemitism4
HIST 3705History of the US Navy4
HIST 3710Jews in US History: 1654-present4
HIST 3715Movin' on Up: Class in America in the Movies4
HIST 3720The Holocaust4
HIST 3725The Evangelical Right in American Politics and Culture4
HIST 3730The Tea Party in American Politics4
HIST 4006History of Conservative Talk Radio, Media, and U.S. Politics4
HIST 4015Multiethnic Empire: Habsburg Austria -1740-19184
HIST 4020Senior Thesis I: Research4
HIST 4025Senior Thesis II: Writing & Presentation4
HIST 4122Contemporary Issues in US Immigration4

Students need at least 24 advanced level credits in their concentration area for bachelor’s degrees.

  • Foundation 1: Introductory Learning, Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of historical processes and historical developments that have shaped social change and contemporary human problems as presented in a survey course or courses.
  • Foundation 2: Breadth, Students will be able to demonstrate learning that goes beyond a single time period, national or cultural experience.
  • Foundation 3: Diversity, Students will be able to demonstrate learning that reflects an understanding of diversity.
  • Foundation 4: Links to Other Disciplines, Students will be able to explain how the study of history is related to other disciplines.
  • Foundation 5: Independent Inquiry, Research, and Analysis, Students will be able to analyze and evaluate primary and secondary sources.

Concentration in Public History

Students who wish to pursue a concentration in Public History must complete the courses listed below along with additional courses to meet all of the Historical Studies guidelines. 

HIST 3410Public History: A Shared Conversation with the Past4
HIST 3240Historic Preservation4
HIST 4050Historical Studies Internship4
MUSE 3015Museum Studies4