History, B.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

Major Hours: 36

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 48


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Program Code: B505

Major Requirements

  • Some courses required for the major may also fulfill University General Education and/or Dodge College of Arts & Sciences Requirements.
Required Surveys
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
HIST 2573The History Sleuth3
Lower-Division Survey Requirements
Choose one course each from three of the following categories:9
Premodern Western Civilization
Modern Western Civilization
Premodern Non-Western Civilization
Modern Non-Western Civilization
Additional History Requirements
Choose 21 elective hours, which must include at least one Colloquium course and one Capstone course: 1,221
Special Topics Colloquium
Undergraduate Seminar in History (Senior Capstone)
Total Credit Hours36
1

21 major elective hours of HIST courses at the 2000-level or above. At least 15 of these hours must be taken at OU at the 3000-level or above. 

Fifteen (15) of these hours must be taught by History Department faculty. Six (6) of these hours may be taught by affiliated faculty in other departments. 

Fifteen (15) of these hours must fall within a departmentally approved geographic or thematic field. Lists of fields and of the courses approved for each field may be obtained in the History Department or on the departmental website.

2

A 2000-level course that has been used to fulfill a survey requirement can not be used toward the 21 additional history requirements hours.

Lower-Division Survey Requirement Course Lists

PREMODERN WESTERN CIVILIZATION

HIST 1113History of Medieval Europe3
HIST 1613Western Civilization I3

MODERN WESTERN CIVILIZATION

HIST 1223Europe, 1500 to 18153
HIST 1233Europe since 18153
HIST 1563The Jews: From Abraham to Zionism3
HIST 1623Western Civilization II3

PREMODERN NON-WESTERN CIVILIZATION

HIST 1723East Asia to 16003
HIST 2013Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations3
HIST 2613Colonial Hispanic American History, 1492-18103

MODERN NON-WESTERN CIVILIZATION

HIST 1543Introduction to American Indian History3
HIST 1733East Asia Since 16003
HIST 1923World Civilization 1600-Present3
HIST 2623Modern Latin America 1810-Present3
HIST 2703African Societies and Cultures3
HIST 2713Survey of African Civilization3

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and Dodge College of Arts & Sciences requirements must be from the approved General Education course list published in the Class Schedule or at http://www.ou.edu/gened/coursesCourses graded P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition (6 hours)
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language (0-13 hours in the same language)
The college requirement cannot be met by high school coursework.
Beginning Course0-5
Beginning Course, continued0-5
Intermediate Course (2000 level) 1,20-3
Mathematics (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education Mathematics list3
Core Area II: Natural Science (7 hours, including one laboratory component)
Biological Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: BIOL, HES, MBIO, or PBIO 13-4
Physical Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: AGSC, ASTR, CHEM, GEOG, GEOL, GPHY, METR, or PHYS 13-4
Core Area III: Social Science (6 hours)
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course from the General Education Social Science list3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities (18 hours)
Artistic Forms
Choose one course from the General Education Artistic Forms list3
Western Culture
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
Choose one course from the General Education Western Culture list (excluding HIST 1483/1493)3
World Culture
Choose one course from the General Education World Culture list3
Additional Core IV Upper-Division Arts & Humanities courses
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Core Area V: First Year Experience (3 hours)
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours56
1

College of Arts and Sciences Requirements: college requirements are not automatically fulfilled by a previous degree.

2

One course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level

3

6 upper-division hours, 2 courses, at the 3000- 4000-level. Must be outside the major.

Free Electives

Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree including 48 upper-division hours.

Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements

Arts and Sciences Hours: At least 80 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BA degree. At least 55 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BS degree.
Pass/No Pass Enrollment: A maximum of 16 semester hours of free elective credit may be attempted under this option.
Individual Studies (e.g., courses titled “Independent Study”): A maximum of 12 total semester hours may be counted toward graduation, excluding Honors Reading and Honors Research.
P.E. Courses: No physical education activity courses will be counted toward the 120 semester hours of acceptable credit for graduation.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:

  • At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the awarding institution.
  • At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major work must be completed in residence at OU.
  • OU correspondence courses are not considered resident credit.

Grade Point Averages: Students must earn a minimum over all 2.00 for each of the following: Combined Retention GPA (all college grades), OU Retention GPA, GPA for all major courses, and GPA for all major courses taken at OU. Some schools and departments of the College have higher minimum grade point averages required for their students.
 

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

This plan shows one possible grouping of courses that would allow students to graduate in four years. Please refer to the front of the degree checksheet for official requirements. Students must consult with Dodge College of Arts and Sciences and/or Department of History academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy University, College of Arts and Sciences, and History major requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
First Year Experience (Core V) 3
Math (Core I) 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 5
 Credit Hours17
Second Semester
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
Beginning Language continued (Core I) 5
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 4
 Credit Hours15
Sophomore
First Semester
HIST 2573 The History Sleuth 3
HIST II. Additional Survey Requirement 1 3
HIST II. Additional Survey Requirement 1 3
Intermediate Language 3
Free Elective, lower-division 1
 Credit Hours13
Second Semester
HIST II. Additional Survey Requirement 1 3
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3
Social Science (Core III) 3
Artistic Forms (Core IV) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
 Credit Hours15
Junior
First Semester
HIST III. Additional History Requirement 2 3
HIST III. Additional History Requirement 2 3
HIST III. Additional History Requirement 2 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
HIST 3573 Special Topics Colloquium 2 3
HIST III. Additional History Requirement, upper-division 2 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
HIST III. Additional History Requirement, upper-division 2 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
HIST 4973 Undergraduate Seminar in History 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120
1

At least one of these courses must be an approved World Culture General Education course and selected from the survey requirement course lists. 

2

Twenty-one major elective hours of HIST courses at the 2000-level or above. At least 15 of these hours must be taken at OU at the 3000-level or above. These hours must include at least one Colloquium (HIST 3573) and a Senior Capstone Seminar (HIST 4973). Fifteen (15) of these hours must fall within a departmentally approved geographic or thematic field. Lists of fields and of the courses approved for each field may be obtained in the History Department or on the departmental website