History

Faculty

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Chair

Kriste Lindenmeyer

Professors

Warren Cohen
James Grubb
Sandra Herbert
John Jeffries
Aristeides Papadakis
Robert K. Webb
Ka-Che Yip

Associate Professors

Rebecca Boehling
Terry Bouton
Kate Brown
Colin B. Burke
Amy Froide
Marjoleine Kars
Daniel Ritschel
Anne Sarah Rubin
Joseph N. Tatarewicz
Constantine Vaporis

Assistant Professors

Susan McDonough
Denise Meringolo
Michelle Scott

Affiliate Research Professor

G. Rickey Welch

Senior Research Scholar

Linda Lear

Professor of the Practice

Barry Lanman

Adjunct Associate Professors

Clayton Laurie
Howard Smead

Courses in this program are listed under HIST.

The history major and minor programs enable students to develop analytical and communication skills and serve to broaden their perspective on the past. In addition to encouraging mature judgments, the history curriculum trains students to work sensibly and logically with a wide variety of evidence.

The UMBC Department of History boasts an award-winning faculty of internationally recognized scholars who take teaching as seriously as they do research. Small class sizes create an exciting atmosphere for learning as does an array of innovative courses. The department's faculty and programs also help students learn how to apply the knowledge and the analytical skills gained through the study of history satisfying careers and life-long learning.

Career and Academic Paths

Choosing to major or minor in history is excellent preparation for a variety of professional careers. The study of history provides skills in analytical thinking, writing and speaking. Graduates work in fields such as communications, marketing, management, education, government service, public history and research. Many are engaged in social entrepreneurship through employment with non-profit foundations and think tanks. The study of history also provides exceptional preparation for a wide range of graduate programs and law school. At UMBC, history students regularly meet with faculty advisors to devise a personalized path of study matching future goals. Students seeking teacher certification follow a specially designed course of study offered in conjunction with UMBC's Department of Education and approved by the Maryland State Department of Education.

Academic Advising

Students are assigned or may request a specific academic advisor from the department’s regular faculty when declaring history as a major or minor. Advisees are urged to utilize information on the Department of History Web site (www.umbc.edu/history), frequently consult with their faculty advisor, and take part in department activities, especially the History Student Council which holds meetings about career opportunities as part of its activities.

Prelaw Advising

Advisor: Amy Froide. The study of history provides excellent preparation for careers in law, and the history major traditionally has been one of the most heavily represented undergraduate majors in American law schools. Recognizing this, the history department provides supplemental pre-law advising to those students considering law school.

Major Program

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History consists of 39 credits distributed as follows:

Required courses (15 credits)

HIST 110
Western Civilization to 1700
OR
HIST 111
Western Civilization 1700 to the Present

HIST 101
American History to 1877
OR
HIST 102
American History: 1877 to the Present

HIST 103
East Asian Civilization
OR
HIST 200
Themes in World History

HIST 201
Introduction to the Study of History

HIST 496
Historical Research (American)
OR
HIST 497
Historical Research (non-U.S.)

Elective Courses (24 credits)
Electives must be distributed in such a way that each student has a minimum of nine credits in American history and a minimum of 12 credits in European, Asian, Latin American or African history.

At least 15 of the 24 elective credits must come from history courses numbered 400 and above. The only 100-level courses that may be included are HIST 103 and either HIST 101 or 102.

No grade lower than “C” in any course will be counted toward the major with the exception of HIST 391 (a P/F course). Students may apply up to three credits earned in HIST 391 as elective credits for the history major. The CEEB Advanced Placement Examination allows students achieving a minimum score to be exempted from the corresponding required 100-level courses and to receive credit toward both the history major and the university’s graduation requirements.

Minor Program

Recognizing that a basic understanding of history is a crucial component of a liberal undergraduate education rather than a luxury, the department offers a minor in history. It allows students to complement their career interests and vocational goals by studying history as an ancillary field. To earn a minor in history, in addition to a major in another discipline, students must complete a total of 18 credits in history.
As with the major program, the minor requires that students complete two broad introductory-level courses.

The required minimum score on CEEB Advanced Placement examinations may exempt a student from three of the six credits required in 100-level courses. The minor then provides great flexibility, allowing students the opportunity to concentrate on particular historical eras, interests or areas. The minor consists of 18 credits distributed as follows:

Required Courses (6 credits)

HIST 110
Western Civilization to 1700
OR
HIST 111
Western Civilization 1700 to the Present

HIST 101
American History to 1877
OR
HIST 102
American History: 1877 to the Present

Elective Courses (12 credits)
At least nine of these credits must be selected from 300- or 400-level history courses. No grade lower than a “C” in any course will be counted toward the minor.

Minor in East Asian History

The department offers a minor in East Asian history that gives concrete recognition to students who have achieved a broad understanding of East Asia through the completion of the required program. It will provide excellent preparation for students pursuing careers in international affairs, education, journalism, business and law.

Required Courses

HIST 103
East Asian Civilization
(SS or C)
HIST 200
Themes in World History (SS)

Elective Courses (12 credits)
Electives must be distributed in such a way that each student has six credits in Chinese and six credits in Japanese history. No grade lower than a “C” in any course will be counted toward the minor.

The 12 credits should be selected from the following courses: HIST 381, 383, 385, 387, 388, 458, 459, 477, 478, 479, 480, 494 and 497 (as applicable).

History/Social Studies Secondary Education Program

The Department of History offers a program for history majors seeking certification to teach history/social studies at the secondary level. This program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education. In completing the specific requirements of this program, students also must complete the normal requirements for the history major described above. In addition, students must be admitted to and complete UMBC’s Secondary Teacher Education Program. Upon successful completion of the course work and student teaching, students are recommended for teacher certification in the state of Maryland.

The history/social studies secondary education program consists of 48 credits distributed as follows:
History Major core requirements (15 credits)

HIST 110
Western Civilization to 1700
OR
HIST 111
Western Civilization 1700 to the Present

HIST 101
American History to 1877
OR
HIST 102
American History, 1877 to the Present

HIST 103
East Asian Civilization
OR
HIST 200
Themes in World History

HIST 201
Introduction to the Study of History

HIST 496
Historical Research (American)
OR
HIST 497
Historical Research (non-U.S.)

Social Studies Emphasis (teacher certification) (33 credits)

Required History Courses (6 credits)

HIST 407
The Founding of the American Nation
HIST 443
The United States Since 1945

Required Supplementary Social Studies Courses (9 credits)

ECON 101
Principles of Microeconomics
OR
ECON 102
Principles of Macroeconomics

An introductory geography course

POLI 100
American Government and Politics

Elective History Courses (18 credits)
At least one course must relate to each of the following areas:

Anthropology and sociology
A pluralistic society

Current affairs and controversial issues. (See either history or education advisors for a list of recommended courses in these areas.)

For a description of the 39 credits in teacher education courses, see the Secondary Education Program of the UMBC Department of Education.

Departmental Honors Program

The honors program offered by the Department of History requires a minimum of 42 credits. Students seeking departmental honors follow the rules for the history major and as part of that program take two 300- or 400-level history courses that are either already offered as Honors College courses ("H") or are 300 or 400 history courses adapted by the instructor to satisfy the departmental honors requirement. In addition, departmental honors students take the two-term History 498-499 sequence (Honors Thesis in History) in place of History 496 or 497. Students must earn at least a “B” in the 498-499 sequence to qualify for departmental honors.

Departmental honors students must complete a minimum of 21 credits in UMBC History courses and graduate with at least a 3.5 GPA in history courses.

Interested students should consult with a department advisor about enrollment in the program no later than the fall semester of their junior year.

Accelerated B.A./M.A. Program

1. History majors interested in taking graduate-level courses as an undergraduate may apply to enter the department’s accelerated B.A./M.A. program offered by the department. After earning the undergraduate degree, if accepted into the Historical Studies Master’s Program, accelerated B.A./M.A. students may count up to nine credits earned as an undergraduate toward the M.A. degree. Students should apply in the junior year to begin the program during the senior year. For further information, contact the Department of History.

2. Students with scores of at least three on the CEEB Advanced Placement examinations in American and European history may qualify for an accelerated B.A./M.A. program. For further information, contact the Department of History.

Evening and Part-time Options

The history major and minor programs can be completed by evening or part-time students. A significant number of courses, including required courses, are offered in the late afternoon, evening and in the winter and summer sessions. It should be noted, however, that not all courses are offered frequently or on a regular basis at those times.

Special Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to enhance their classroom experience by participating in internships in such organizations as the Maryland Historical Society, the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, the Baltimore Museum of Industry and other museums, archives and historical societies in the region. One agency wrote to thank UMBC’s history department for the “wonderful employees and interns you have been sending us… To say we are satisfied with the quality of the people would be an understatement.” For further information about internship opportunities, contact the Department of History or visit the Department of History Web site www.umbc.edu/history.

Student Organizations

History Student Council
All students are encouraged to participate in the History Student Council. The council meets monthly for lectures and informal discussions on historical topics and careers. The council also sponsors guest speakers and field trips to museums and historic sites.

Phi Alpha Theta
Qualified history majors may apply to join Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society. Members attend and often present papers at the yearly regional Phi Alpha Theta conference held at an area university. Information on the society is available in the history office.