Dec 10, 2024  
Mercy University 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Mercy University 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

History, B.A.


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Caitlin Wiesner, Ph.D., Program Director
(914) 888-5134
cwiesner@mercy.edu 

Bachelor of Arts

General Liberal Arts and Science  
General Education Requirements 60 credits
Major Concentration  
History 39 credits
Open Electives 21 credits
Total 120 credits

Major Concentration in History:

Students must take 10 major courses numbered at the 200 or 300 level under the five fields of study: United States; Europe; Asia; Atlantic World; and Ideas, Theories, and Practices. For these 10 courses, students must take at least 2 courses in 3 fields of study. No more than 4 courses in each field of study will count towards the major. At least five of the major courses in the fields of study must be at the 300 level.

In addition to the 10 fields of study courses, History majors are required to take 3 courses on historical methodology.

  1. The first, HIST 220 - Intro Research Methods , requires successful completion of ENGL 111  as a prerequisite.
  2. The second, HIST 320 - Historiography/Historical Meth , may only be taken after the successful completion of 18 credits in history.
  3. The final course, HIST 495 - Senior Seminar in History , may only be taken after successful completion of HIST 320 .

It is recommended that majors should not take more than one additional history course in the same semester as HIST 320  and HIST 495  because these courses require students to create produce original research. HIST 320  and HIST 495  may not be taken in the same semester.

Fields of Study


Students must take at least two courses in three fields of study. No more than 3 courses in each concentration will count towards the major.

Total Program Credits: 39


Note(s)


The major concentration in history has a 21-credit residency requirement.

Please note that the history major’s course numbering system reflects the different types and objectives of courses offered at each level. The different course levels are not distinguished by the amount of work expected, but rather by their objective, background knowledge they presume, and complexity of the ideas presented to students.

100-level courses

These courses are open to all students and are intended to provide a basic understanding of the history of peoples and geographic regions over relatively long time spans. They will provide students with the background necessary for more advanced study and most meet the University’s General Education requirements. They are appropriate for all students at every level of the institution.

Courses include: 

200-level courses

These courses are largely open to all students (a few may require Prerequisites in addition to successful completion of ENGL 111    ) and are intended to be a more focused examination of a particular group, smaller geographic region, or more contracted time frame. They will provide students with more advanced study on a comparatively smaller subject. They are appropriate for majors and non-majors, but are not suitable for incoming freshmen or new transfer students without prior history credits. By having a narrower focus, the ideas and complexity of the course is greater than those offered at the 100-level. Note: this does not apply to HIST 295 - Topics in History .

300-level courses

A larger number of these courses may require Prerequisites. These courses have narrower foci and introduce more complicated theoretical models and historiography. They are intended for majors, but will admit non-majors who meet admission requirements. Non-majors interested in the subject or possessing modest background knowledge can be successful in these courses.

400-level courses

Capstone course taken during senior year.

The History Minor


15 Credits

Students who choose to Minor in the History Concentration Must Complete:

Students must take 4 courses at the 200 level and above slotted under the five fields of study: United States, Europe, Asia, Atlantic World, and Ideas, Theories, and Practices.

In addition, History Minors are required to take HIST 220 - Intro Research Methods , a course focused upon historical methodology. This requires successful completion of ENGL 111    . History minors are not required to take HIST 320  or HIST 495 .

The 4+1 Program


History majors planning on pursuing a career in teaching Social Studies at the Middle Childhood and/or Adolescence Education level may apply to the Four-Plus-One Program, offered jointly by the School of Education and the School of Liberal Arts. The program is designed to allow majors to begin their Graduate Education coursework during their upper junior year. These courses will be counted jointly towards their undergraduate and graduate degrees. For specific program eligibility and requirements, please refer to the School of Education  section.

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