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African American women at Atlanta University, c. 1900

Department of History at Western Kentucky University


Students will find a strong sense of community in the History Department. The department is home to the History Club and chapters of Phi Alpha Theta, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), and the Berkshire Conference of Women Historians. The department also hosts an annual undergrduate research conference and sponsors department, campus, and community programming.

The Department of History at WKU's programs allow students to explore and focus on their interests while developing the skills for success in business, law, government, education, non-profits, and other careers. Students will learn in small classes through hands-on engagement, whether through immersive, role-playing games set in the past, by examining documents or objects, or through site visits. Students also have the opportunity of gaining hands-on experience through our many internship programs. 

 

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UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Asian Studies, Bachelor of Arts (6002)


  • Undergraduate
  • AB
  • Arts & Letters
  • History

Overview

Asian Studies

The Asian Studies major at WKU is interdisciplinary, drawing on a wide range of fields including Religious Studies, History, Geography, Modern Languages, Political Science, Anthropology, Art, and others. The major facilitates the understanding of the continent and its peoples, including their languages, religions, cultures, history, and politics. It provides students with an understanding of the Asian past and the knowledge to put current issues and problems into broader historical, religious, cultural, and political contexts. The flexible program pairs well with many majors to advance students' academic and professional goals.

Program Requirements (30 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

Course List
Religion (6 Hours)
Select two of the following courses:6
RELS 102
World Religions
RELS 302
Buddhism
RELS 303
Hinduism
RELS 306
Islam
RELS 317
Confucianism
RELS 318
Daoism
RELS 319
Religions of Asia
RELS 322
Pilgrimage, Islam and Modernity
RELS 335
Islam, Sexuality, and Gender
Language (6 Hours)
Select one of the following one-year sequences:6
CHIN 101
CHIN 102
Elementary Chinese I
and Elementary Chinese II
CHIN 201
CHIN 202
Intermediate Chinese I
and Intermediate Chinese II
CHIN 301
CHIN 302
Advanced Intermediate Chinese I
and Advanced Intermediate Chinese II
CHNF 101
CHNF 102
Intensive Elementary Chinese I
and Intensive Elementary Chinese II
CHNF 201
CHNF 202
Intensive Intermediate Chinese I
and Intensive Intermediate Chinese II
CHNF 301
CHNF 302
Intensive Advanced Chinese I
and Intensive Advanced Chinese II
JAPN 101
JAPN 102
Elementary Japanese I
and Elementary Japanese II
History and Politics (6 Hours)
Select two of the following courses:6
HIST 351
Asian American History
HIST 370
Modern South Asia: from Empires to Nations
HIST 378
History of Yoga: Tradition, Literature, Practice
HIST 379
Gandhi: The Creation of a Global Legacy
HIST 449
Korea and Vietnam
HIST 460
Traditional East Asia
HIST 461
Modern East Asia
HIST 462
History of the Middle East
HIST 466
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Local and Global Influences
HIST 471
Modern China
HIST 472
Modern Japan
IA 352
International Relations of the Middle East
PS 359
Politics of North Korea
PS 364
Chinese Politics
IA 365
Government and Politics of the Middle East
PS 366
Government and Politics in East Asia
Electives (9 Hours)
Select three of the following courses not already counted toward the major from at least two different areas of study:9
ANTH 333
The Archaeology of Ancient China
ARC 401
Topics in Asian Religions and Cultures
ARC 498
Study in Asian Religions and Cultures
ART 407
Islamic Art and Architecture
CHIN 101
Elementary Chinese I
CHIN 102
Elementary Chinese II
CHIN 201
Intermediate Chinese I
CHIN 202
Intermediate Chinese II
CHIN 208
Chinese Calligraphy
CHIN 301
Advanced Intermediate Chinese I
CHIN 302
Advanced Intermediate Chinese II
CHIN 401
Advanced Chinese I
CHIN 402
Advanced Chinese II
CHNF 201
Intensive Intermediate Chinese I
CHNF 202
Intensive Intermediate Chinese II
CHNF 301
Intensive Advanced Chinese I
CHNF 302
Intensive Advanced Chinese II
CHNF 420
Media Chinese
CHNF 430
Chinese Culture
CHNF 440
Chinese Tradition
CHNF 450
Classical Chinese
GEOG 465
Geography of East Asia
HIST 351
Asian American History
HIST 370
Modern South Asia: from Empires to Nations
HIST 378
History of Yoga: Tradition, Literature, Practice
HIST 379
Gandhi: The Creation of a Global Legacy
HIST 449
Korea and Vietnam
HIST 460
Traditional East Asia
HIST 461
Modern East Asia
HIST 462
History of the Middle East
HIST 466
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Local and Global Influences
HIST 471
Modern China
HIST 472
Modern Japan
JAPN 101
Elementary Japanese I
JAPN 102
Elementary Japanese II
JAPN 201
Intermediate Japanese I
JAPN 202
Intermediate Japanese II
IA 352
International Relations of the Middle East
PS 359
Politics of North Korea
PS 364
Chinese Politics
IA 365
Government and Politics of the Middle East
PS 366
Government and Politics in East Asia
RELS 100
The New Testament
RELS 101
The Old Testament/ Hebrew Scriptures
RELS 102
World Religions
RELS 302
Buddhism
RELS 303
Hinduism
RELS 306
Islam
RELS 317
Confucianism
RELS 318
Daoism
RELS 319
Religions of Asia
RELS 322
Pilgrimage, Islam and Modernity
RELS 335
Islam, Sexuality, and Gender
Senior Seminar (3 Hours)
Select one of the following courses:3
RELS 496
Senior Seminar
HIST 498
Senior Seminar
HON 404
Honors Thesis / Project II
Total Hours30

Note: students must take courses from at least four different programs. At least 15 hours must be at the 300-level or above. A second major or minor is required.

Finish in Four Plans

Finish in Four Plan - Asian Studies (6002)

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
COMM 145 or ENG 1003COMM 145 or ENG 1003
HIST 101 or HIST 1023RELS 1023
Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences3MATH 109 (or higher)3
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science w/lab3
Asian Language Course (101)3Asian Language Course (102)3
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Asian Studies Elective (or additional language work)3Asian Studies Elective (or additional language work)3
Asian History or Politics Course3Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) 3
ENG 2003Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global)3
2nd Major/Minor Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Asian Religion Course3Asian Studies Elective3
ENG 3003Asian History or Politics Course3
2nd Major/Minor Course3Colonnade: Connections (Systems)3
2nd Major/Minor Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Asian Studies Senior Seminar32nd Major/Minor Course3
2nd Major/Minor Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
2nd Major/Minor Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Total Hours 120

History, Major (695E, 695)

Program Requirements (33-48 hours)

The History program offers two degree pathways: The History major requires a minimum of 33 credit hours and the completion of a second major or minor. The extended History major requires a minimum of 48 unduplicated credit hours. No second major or minor is required for students completing the extended major.

View Program Requirements

Legal Studies (6001)


  • Undergraduate
  • AB
  • Arts & Letters
  • History

Overview

The Legal Studies program consists of 18 hours of core courses in Political Science, History, and Professional Legal Studies (including a capstone experience), and 18 hours of electives from many disciplines across Western Kentucky University. A second major, minor, or certificate is required.

The program provides students an interdisciplinary perspective while fostering greater understanding of the law as it relates to history, the sciences, and ethics in the United States and around the world.  While the program appeals to pre-law students, it also serves as a background for a wide variety of careers, including public administration, academics, government, diplomatic corps, homeland security, non-governmental organizations, and law enforcement.

​Legal Studies allows students from many disciplines to focus their studies using their individual disciplinary interests as a launching point for exploring how the study of law cuts across disciplinary lines. It offers courses in a wide range of subjects, including American legal history, political process, constitutional law, philosophy and ethics, sociology and criminal justice, business, journalism and broadcasting, economics and property law, English, and environmental law and regulations.

The Legal Studies program does not prepare students to work as paralegals and is not approved by the ABA to do so.

Program Requirements (36 hours)

Course List
Program Core Courses
PS 220Judicial Process3
PLS 250Legal Research and Writing I3
PS 326Constitutional Law3
HIST 445American Legal History to 18653
HIST 446American Legal History Since 18653
LS 495Senior Seminar in Legal Studies3
Required Ethics course (choose one)3
SMC 301
Mass Communication Law and Ethics
PLS 200
Legal Ethics
PHIL 350
Ethical Theory
PS 338
Government and Ethics
Required International/Comparative Elective course (choose one):3
PS 355
International Organization and Law
PLS 375
Comparative Legal Systems
HIST 380
Human Rights in History
CRIM 430
Comparative Systems of Juvenile Justice
CRIM 448
International Justice and Crime
GEOG 487
Environmental Management and Law
Required Business Elective (choose one):3
MGT 200
Legal Environment of Business
PLS 283
Property Law
MGT 301
Business Law
ECON 390
Economics, Law, and Public Choice
PLS 392
Corporate Law
ECON 434
The Economics of Poverty and Discrimination
Required Law and Justice Elective (choose one):3
PLS 324
Women and the Law
PS 328
Criminal Justice Procedures
CRIM 330
Criminology
CRIM 361
Race, Class, and Crime
CRIM 432
Sociology of Criminal Law
CRIM 446
Gender, Crime, and Justice
PSY 470
Psychology and Law
Unrestricted Electives (6 hours needed from at least two disciplines.6
SMC 301
Mass Communication Law and Ethics
CRIM 330
Criminology
CRIM 332
Juvenile Delinquency
CRIM 361
Race, Class, and Crime
CRIM 430
Comparative Systems of Juvenile Justice
CRIM 432
Sociology of Criminal Law
CRIM 446
Gender, Crime, and Justice
CRIM 448
International Justice and Crime
ECON 390
Economics, Law, and Public Choice
ECON 434
The Economics of Poverty and Discrimination
ENG 301
Argument and Analysis in Written Discourse
ENG 412
Theories of Rhetoric and Persuasive Writing
GEOG 487
Environmental Management and Law
HIST 380
Human Rights in History
HIST 430
History of the Civil Rights Movement in America
LS 498
Internship in Legal Studies
MGT 200
Legal Environment of Business
MGT 301
Business Law
MGT 400
Employment Law
PHIL 215
Symbolic Logic
PHIL 323
Social Ethics
PHIL 350
Ethical Theory
PHIL 427
Philosophy of Law
PLS 200
Legal Ethics
PLS 283
Property Law
PLS 324
Women and the Law
PLS 375
Comparative Legal Systems
PLS 392
Corporate Law
PLS 499
Internship in Paralegal Studies
PSY 470
Psychology and Law
PS 311
Public Policy
PS 327
Civil Liberties
PS 328
Criminal Justice Procedures
PS 338
Government and Ethics
PS 355
International Organization and Law
Total Hours36

Finish in Four Plans

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 1003HIST 101 or HIST 1023
Colonnade: Quantitative Reasoning3COMM 1453
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with Lab3PS 2203
Colonnade: Social and Behavioral Studies3World Language (if needed) or General Elective3
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3Colonnade: Literary Studies3
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
HIST 4453HIST 4463
PLS 2503Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences3Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3
World Language II (if needed) or General Elective3Connections - Systems or Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course (PS 220 Recommended)3
Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3Connections - Local to Global3
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
PS 3263Required Legal Studies Elective3
Connections - Social and Cultural3ENG 300 or COMM 2003
Required Legal Studies Elective3Required Legal Studies Elective3
Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3
Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Required Legal Studies Elective 3LS 4953
Unrestricted Legal Studies Elective3Unrestricted Legal Studies Elective3
Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3
Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3
Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3Second Major, Minor, or General Elective Course3
 15 15
Total Hours 120

Religious Studies, Bachelor of Arts (769)


  • Undergraduate
  • AB
  • Arts & Letters
  • History

Overview

The academic study of religion provides the student with the methodological orientation necessary to comprehend the central beliefs, ethical practices, ritual systems, and social institutions of diverse religious traditions in their historic, contemporary and global contexts. Study in this field is multicultural and comparative, examining the patterns of life and moral worlds of societies past and present, our own as well as others. The student learns to probe for the structure, function and meaning of religion through those rites of passage, sacred narratives, faith communities, and codes of behavior that give meaning to human existence.

Program Requirements (30 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

The major in Religious Studies requires a minimum of 30 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least fifteen hours must be at the 300- or 400-level. A minor or second major is required.

Course List
World Religions
RELS 102World Religions3
Religious Traditions, Comparative Approaches, and Restricted Electives
Select six courses from the following:18
RELS 100
The New Testament
RELS 101
The Old Testament/ Hebrew Scriptures
RELS 211
Jesus in Film
RELS 222
Christians, Jews, and Pagans in the Greco-Roman World
RELS 242
The Meaning of Life; Atheism to Zen
RELS 300
The Life of Jesus
RELS 302
Buddhism
RELS 303
Hinduism
RELS 304
Judaism
RELS 305
Christianity
RELS 306
Islam
RELS 309
Global Christianity
RELS 317
Confucianism
RELS 318
Daoism
RELS 319
Religions of Asia
RELS 322
Pilgrimage, Islam and Modernity
RELS 331
Islam in America: Hope & Hip Hop
RELS 333
Women and Religion
RELS 335
Islam, Sexuality, and Gender
RELS 340
Popular Culture and the Religious Marketplace
RELS 341
Religion and the Environment
RELS 455
Saints, Monsters and Superheroes
Electives
Select two courses from the following: 16
Any RELS course not already counted toward the major.
ANTH 446
Anthropology of Religion
ART 316
Medieval Art & Architecture
ART 407
Islamic Art and Architecture
ENG 396
Mythology
ENG 487
Dante’s Divine Comedy and Its Influences
HIST 318
Age of the Reformation
HIST 407
The Crusades: West Meets East
HIST 454
History of Religion in America
PSYS 451
Psychology of Religion
SOCL 322
Religion in Society
Senior Seminar
RELS 496Senior Seminar3
Total Hours30
1

9 Hours must be in religious studies courses;  Students may count up to 1 year of language sequence in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, or Latin, or other languages approved by the Department Chair.

Finish in Four Plans

Finish in Four Plan

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
COMM 145 or ENG 1003ENG 100 or COMM 1453
HIST 101 or HIST 1023MATH 109 (or higher)3
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w. Lab3-4Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences3
RELS 1023Religious Traditions, Comparative Approaches, and Restricted Electives Course3
General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Science3
 15-16 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 2003Colonnade Connections Course3
Religious Traditions, Comparative Approaches, and Restricted Electives Course3Religious Traditions, Comparative Approaches, and Restricted Electives Course3
Religious Traditions, Comparative Approaches, and Restricted Electives Course3Religious Studies Elective3
General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3
General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Religious Traditions, Comparative Approaches, and Restricted Electives Course3Religious Traditions, Comparative Approaches, and Restricted Electives Course3
ENG 3003Colonnade Connections Course3
Colonnade Connections Course3General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3
General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3
General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
RELS 4963Religious Studies Elective3
General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3
General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3
General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3
General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Second Major or Minor3
 15 15
Total Hours 120-121

Social Studies, Bachelor of Arts (592)


  • Undergraduate
  • AB
  • Arts & Letters
  • History

Overview

The Social Studies major, a 51-credit-hour program, is interdisciplinary by design: students must complete courses in History, Political Science, Economics, and Geography, with elective options in History, Political Science, Geography, Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology. This program of study provides students with a strong foundation in history and equips them with the skills to collect, analyze, and summarize data and the ability to apply those skills to construct arguments and use evidence to support them. The Social Studies major prepares students to bring a range of skills from the social and behavioral sciences, economics, and geography to the study of the past. The major is designed to prepare students to teach Social Studies in grades 8-12, and students who complete this major may become eligible for teacher certification in Social Studies. Social Studies, particularly when combined with a second major in History, enables students to pursue careers in education (at all levels), library sciences, management, law, administration, and sales. Social Studies graduates are well suited for work in local, state, and federal government; banking; journalism; and politics. Many businesses seek job candidates with a strong background in the liberal arts because of their critical thinking, analytic, and writing abilities. Students with a major in Social Studies who pursue teacher certification receive a 12-hour waiver in the upper-division hour requirement in the major field. In choosing elective courses, students should consider the number of upper-division courses required for graduation. No minor or second major is required.

Concentrations

  • General (No Concentration)
  • Teacher Education (TCHR)

Program Requirements (51 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

Course List
History
HIST 101World History I3
HIST 102World History II3
HIST 240The United States to 18653
HIST 241The United States Since 18653
HIST 498Senior Seminar3
Select 12 hours of upper-division courses including a course from each of the following areas:12
United States 1
Europe 2
Global South 3
Ancient to Early Modern 4
Political and Behavioral Sciences
PS 110American National Government3
IA 250International Politics3
Select two courses, each from a different discipline, from the following (at least three hours must be upper division):6
ANTH 120
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 342
Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean
ANTH 360
Applied Anthropology – Understanding and Addressing Contemporary Human Problems
ANTH 388
Foodways
PS 310
The American Presidency
PS 316
The Legislative Process
PS 326
Constitutional Law
PS 327
Civil Liberties
PS 328
Criminal Justice Procedures
IA 357
U S Foreign Policy
PS 370
American Political Parties and Interest Groups
PS 373
Minority Politics
PS 374
Women and Politics
PS 435
American Political Thought
PSYS 350
Social Psychology
or PSY 350
Social Psychology
SOCL 100
Introductory Sociology
SOCL 322
Religion in Society
SOCL 362
Social Institutions: Race, Class, and Gender
SOCL 363
Population, Society, and Development
SOCL 375
Diversity in American Society
SOCL 376
Sociology of Globalization
Economics
ECON 202Principles of Economics (Micro)3
ECON 203Principles of Economics (Macro)3
Geography (at least three hours must be upper division):
GEOG 110World Regional Geography3
or GEOG 330 Introduction to Cultural Geography
Select one of the following not already counted toward the major:3
GEOG 110
World Regional Geography
GEOG 226
Our Dangerous Planet
GEOG 227
Our Vulnerable Planet
GEOG 330
Introduction to Cultural Geography
GEOG 352
Geography of Kentucky
GEOG 378
Food, Culture, and Environment
GEOG 380
Global Sustainability
GEOG 465
Geography of East Asia
GEOG 480
Sustainable Cities
HIST 375
Spatial History
Total Hours51
1

United States: HIST 302HIST 303, HIST 316, HIST 320, HIST 321, HIST 325, HIST 329, HIST 343, HIST 347, HIST 348, HIST 349, HIST 352, HIST 353, HIST 354, HIST 358, HIST 359, HIST 390, HIST 430, HIST 440, HIST 441, HIST 442, HIST 443, HIST 444, HIST 445, HIST 446, HIST 447, HIST 449, HIST 450, HIST 451, HIST 453, HIST 454, HIST 456, HIST 457, HIST 458, HIST 464, HIST 494

2

Europe: HIST 305, HIST 306, HIST 307, HIST 308​, HIST 317, HIST 318, HIST 322, HIST 323, HIST 324,HIST 334HIST 335HIST 338HIST 340HIST 407HIST 419HIST 422HIST 423, HIST 426, HIST 439, HIST 463

3

Global South: HIST 330, HIST 331, HIST 364, HIST 365, HIST 370, HIST 378, HIST 379, HIST 404, HIST 460, HIST 461, HIST 462, HIST 465, HIST 466, HIST 471, HIST 480

4

Ancient to Early Modern: HIST 304, HIST 305, HIST 306, HIST 307, HIST 308, HIST 317, HIST 318, HIST 323, HIST 330, HIST 364, HIST 404, HIST 407, HIST 419, HIST 440, HIST 460, HIST 463

Teacher Education Requirements

The major in Social Studies with Teacher Certification is intended for those seeking certification to teach in grades 8-12. It requires a minimum of 51 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. No minor or second major is required. Teacher certification requires additional coursework in education specified by the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. A grade of "C" or higher is required in all courses applying to certification. Students seeking Teacher Certification must complete the requirements for the Social Studies major as well as the following professional education courses:

Course List
EDU 250Discover Teaching: Introduction to Teacher Education3
PSY 310Educational Psychology: Development and Learning3
SEC 350Clinical Practices in Secondary Teaching I4
EDU 350Student Diversity and Differentiation3
EDU 360Behavior and Classroom Management in Education3
SEC 481Clinical Practices in Secondary Teaching II: Social Studies4
EDU 260Classroom Assessment3
LTCY 497Literacy Competencies for Middle and High School Classroom Teachers0
SEC 490Student Teaching10
EDU 489Student Teaching Seminar3
Total Hours36

Finish in Four Plans

Without Teacher Certification

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
HIST 240 or HIST 2413HIST 101 or HIST 1023
ENG 100 or COMM 1453HIST 241 or HIST 2403
Colonnade Quantitative Reasoning3COMM 145 or ENG 1003
GEOG 110 or PS 1103Colonnade Natural & Physical Sciences w. Lab3
Colonnade Arts & Humanities3PS 110 or GEOG 1103
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Upper-Level History Elective 3HIST 102 or HIST 1013
Colonnade Natural & Physical Sciences3Geography Elective3
IA 2503ECON 2033
ENG 2003Political and Behavioral Sciences Elective3
ECON 2023General Elective or Course for Optional Second Major or Minor3
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Upper-Level History Elective3Upper-Level History Elective3
Political and Behavioral Sciences Elective3Colonnade Connections Course 3
ENG 3003Colonnade Connections Course3
General Elective or Course for Optional Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Optional Second Major or Minor3
General Elective or Course for Optional Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Optional Second Major or Minor3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Upper-Level History Elective3HIST 4983
Colonnade Connections Course3General Elective or Course for Optional Second Major or Minor3
General Elective or Course for Optional Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Optional Second Major or Minor3
General Elective or Course for Optional Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Optional Second Major or Minor3
General Elective or Course for Optional Second Major or Minor3General Elective or Course for Optional Second Major or Minor3
 15 15
Total Hours 120

Teacher Certification

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
HIST 240 or HIST 2413HIST 101 or HIST 1023
ENG 100 or COMM 1453HIST 241 or HIST 2403
Colonnade Quantitative Reasoning3COMM 145 or ENG 1003
GEOG 110 or PS 1103Colonnade Natural & Physical Sciences w. Lab3
EDU 2503EDU 2603
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Upper-Level History Elective 3HIST 102 or HIST 1013
ECON 2023ECON 2033
Colonnade Natural & Physical Sciences3ENG 2003
Colonnade Arts & Humanities3IA 2503
PS 110 or GEOG 1103EDU 3503
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Upper-Level History Elective3SEC 3504
Political and Behavioral Sciences Elective3Upper-Level History Elective3
EDU 3603Colonnade Connections Course3
ENG 3003Colonnade Connections Course3
Geography Elective3PSY 3103
 15 16
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SEC 4814EDU 4893
LTCY 4970SEC 49010
HIST 4983 
Upper-Level History Course3 
Colonnade Connections Course3 
Political and Behavioral Sciences Elective3 
 16 13
Total Hours 120

 PLEASE NOTE: Many course options in the Social Studies major fulfill requirements in the Colonnade program. Consult with your advisor when selecting electives.

 

MINOR PROGRAMS

Africana Studies, Minor (305)


  • Undergraduate
  • Arts & Letters
  • History

The minor in African American Studies compresses the unique and diverse experiences of African Americans into a manageable and definable programs of study that acknowledges the interconnectedness of these experiences with the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora. Viewed from multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary perspectives, courses in the African American studies minor provide the opportunity for students to study, analyze and develop a comprehensive understanding of the African American experience in ways that both link and differentiate past and present circumstances in the African Diaspora. A diaspora approach to the study of the African American experience is concerned with the following two issues: 1) the way in which African cultural, social, religious, and political forms influence African descended persons and communities, and how such forms changed through interaction with non-African cultures; and 2) comparisons and correspondence among communities of African descended people who are geographically separated and/or culturally distinct.

A person who completes the African American Studies minor will have enlarged perspectives and increased awareness of the diversity of experience within African American cultures; these are skills well suited for advanced study at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and for jobs in governmental departments and agencies and with private organizations. In fulfilling the minimum requirements for a minor, the student normally should not include more than six hours of electives with any one course prefix.

Honors Program

The African American Studies Program participates in the Dixie and Peter Mahurin Honors College. Honors courses allow students of exceptional academic abilities to investigate the African American experience in a more in-depth manner and to discuss contemporary issues in small group settings. Honors courses encourage the development of critical thinking skills and analytical writing. Students also have an opportunity to assist faculty with research, present papers at regional and national conferences, and/or engage in self-designed research projects. African American Studies minors in the Dixie and Peter Mahurin Honors College can complete their honors thesis on a topic in consultation with an advisor. For further information on honors courses and opportunities, contact Dr. Andrew Rosa, andrew.rosa@wku.edu, (270) 745-3841.

Program Requirements (21 hours)

Course List
AFAM 190Introduction to African American Studies3
AFAM 343Communities of Struggle3
AFAM 353Radical Blackness3
Restricted Electives from the following categories: 1
History:3
HIST 310
Comparative Slavery
HIST 329
Black Intellectual History
HIST 330
History of Africa Before 1500
HIST 331
History of Africa Since 1500
HIST 358
Blacks in American History to 1877
HIST 359
Blacks in American History Since 1877
HIST 390
Blacks in the American South
Cultural Studies:3
ENG 393
African American Literature
COMM 463
Advanced Intercultural Communication
FLK 330
Cultural Connections and Diversity
RELS 309
Global Christianity
Select two courses, each from a different discipline and not already counted toward the minor, from the following: 26
AFAM 342
Hip Hop and Democracy
AFAM 350
Peoples and Cultures of Africa
AFAM 480
Directed Independent Study in African American Topics
AFAM 490
African American Seminar
ANTH 342
Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean
ANTH 350
Peoples and Cultures of Africa
ANTH 410
African-American Music
COMM 463
Advanced Intercultural Communication
CRIM 361
Race, Class, and Crime
CSJ 200
Introduction to Social Justice
ENG 388
Postcolonial Studies
ENG 393
African American Literature
FLK 330
Cultural Connections and Diversity
FLK 342
Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean
FLK 377
African-American Folklore
FLK 410
African-American Music
HIST 310
Comparative Slavery
HIST 329
Black Intellectual History
HIST 330
History of Africa Before 1500
HIST 331
History of Africa Since 1500
HIST 358
Blacks in American History to 1877
HIST 359
Blacks in American History Since 1877
HIST 390
Blacks in the American South
HIST 404
History of Ancient Egypt
PH 412
Health Disparities and Health Equity
PS 373
Minority Politics
RELS 306
Islam
RELS 309
Global Christianity
RELS 331
Islam in America: Hope & Hip Hop
SOCL 250
Systems of Social Inequality
SOCL 260
Race and Ethnic Relations
SOCL 362
Social Institutions: Race, Class, and Gender
Total Hours21
2

Additional courses may be approved by the advisor. 

History, Minor (392)


  • Undergraduate
  • Arts & Letters
  • History

Program Requirements (21 hours)

The minor in History requires a minimum of 21 semester hours. 

Course List
Foundational Study
WORLD HISTORY3
HIST 101
World History I
or HIST 102
World History II
UNITED STATES HISTORY3
HIST 240
The United States to 1865
or HIST 241
The United States Since 1865
Geographic and Chronological Electives
THE GLOBAL SOUTH3
Choose at least one course from the following:
HIST 200
Latin American Society: Past and Present
HIST 331
History of Africa Since 1500
HIST 364
Colonial Latin America, 1400-1825
HIST 365
Modern Latin America, 1800-Present
HIST 370
Modern South Asia: from Empires to Nations
HIST 378
History of Yoga: Tradition, Literature, Practice
HIST 379
Gandhi: The Creation of a Global Legacy
HIST 461
Modern East Asia
HIST 462
History of the Middle East
HIST 465
The Mexican Republic
HIST 466
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Local and Global Influences
HIST 471
Modern China
ANCIENT TO EARLY MODERN HISTORY3
Choose at least one course from the following:
HIST 304
Ancient Identities
HIST 305
Ancient Greece
HIST 306
Ancient Rome
HIST 307
The Middle Ages
HIST 308
Conflict, Culture and Commerce in the Medieval Mediterranean
HIST 317
Renaissance Europe
HIST 318
Age of the Reformation
HIST 323
The British Isles to 1688
HIST 330
History of Africa Before 1500
HIST 404
History of Ancient Egypt
HIST 407
The Crusades: West Meets East
HIST 419
Tudor-Stuart England
HIST 440
Colonial North America to 1763
HIST 460
Traditional East Asia
HIST 463
The Atlantic World
Electives9
ELECTIVE COURSES
Students may select any 200, 300, or 400-level history course not already counted toward the minor. A maximum of three hours across all elective categories (including Geographic and Chronological Electives and Electives) may be at the 200-level.
Total Hours21

Note: Students may select up to three hours of elective courses from outside of History in consultation with a department undergraduate advisor and with approval of the department’s lead advisor, program coordinator, or department chair. Additionally, other History courses may be approved for elective categories with approval of department’s lead advisor, program coordinator, or department chair.

Religious Studies, Minor (447)


  • Undergraduate
  • Arts & Letters
  • History

Program Requirements (24 hours)

At least 12 hours must be taken in courses numbered 300 or above. 

Course List
World Religions
RELS 102World Religions3
Religious Traditions
Select three of the following courses:9
RELS 302
Buddhism
RELS 303
Hinduism
RELS 304
Judaism
RELS 305
Christianity
RELS 306
Islam
RELS 317
Confucianism
RELS 318
Daoism
Comparative Approaches to the Study of Religion
Select one course from the following:3
RELS 103
Religions of Asia
RELS 200
World Religious Literature
RELS 222
Christians, Jews, and Pagans in the Greco-Roman World
RELS 242
The Meaning of Life; Atheism to Zen
RELS 320
Religions of the Middle East
RELS 333
Women and Religion
RELS 341
Religion and the Environment
Electives
Select 9 hours of electives from the following pre-approved list (or other courses approved by the Department Head) as well as from departmentally - approved language and study abroad courses. 19
ANTH 446
Anthropology of Religion
ART 316
Medieval Art & Architecture
ART 407
Islamic Art and Architecture
ENG 396
Mythology
ENG 487
Dante’s Divine Comedy and Its Influences
HIST 318
Age of the Reformation
HIST 407
The Crusades: West Meets East
PHIL 343
Medieval Philosophy
PSYS 451
Psychology of Religion
Any RELS course
SOCL 322
Religion in Society
Total Hours24
1

At least 6 hours must be in RELS courses.

 

Jacob Condiff

“My favorite aspect of the Department of History is the collaboration with my professors and students from different majors. My favorite classes that I have completed include HIST 419: Tudor-Stuart England with Dr. Kate Brown and HIST 466: The Arab-Israeli Conflict with Dr. Juan Romero. The work and research we did in my senior seminar class helped prepare me for my future career as an educator.”

Jacob Condiff, a Department of History student

 

 

 

 

 

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Student looking at military artifacts
History & Social Studies

The study of history prepares students for a range of careers, including education, management, law, administration, business, sales, government, museums, library sciences, banking, journalism, and politics.

Smiling woman
Legal Studies

Legal Studies is designed to prepare students to get into and succeed in law school. The major also offers strong preparation for careers in public administration, government, diplomacy, non-governmental organizations, education, law enforcement, and national security.

Image of Seoul, South Korea
Asian Studies

With its strong focus on writing, critical thinking, and language skills and its emphasis on developing an understanding of Asian religions, cultures, politics, and history, Asian Studies graduates have pursued careers in government, national security, international business, and non-profit and non-governmental organizations.

Women speaking on a panel
Religious Studies

Graduates in Religious Studies have gone on to work for religious, non-profit, and community organizations and in education, business and finance, law and government, and health care and counseling.

 


 

Examines the history of protest and activism and their relationship to trends in world history.


3 Credit Hrs

 

Considers the various and sometimes contradictory views of Hip Hop as a musical form, a forum for political activism, and a voice for articulating and refiguring democratic values.


3 Credit Hrs

Investigates the history of sororities, fraternities, and secret societies, including their social, cultural, and political dimensions.


3 Credit Hrs

Explores the production and reception of films about Jesus, similarities and differences with canonical and extracanonical Gospels, and popular and critical reactions.


3 Credit Hrs

A study of topics and themes in the history of sport, as well as the historical context in which sport evolved.


3 Credit Hrs

Explores ancient Egyptian civilization with attention to the rediscovery of ancient Egypt by modern scholars and the development of the discipline of Egyptology.


3 Credit Hrs

Examines the idea of holy war and political, social, and cultural interaction in the Mediterranean World from 1000 to 1300.


3 Credit Hrs

Examines sexuality and gender in Islamic theology, history, and contemporary societies.


3 Credit Hrs

 


 

 


  • 270-745-3841
  • history@wku.edu
  • Western Kentucky University
    Grise Hall, Room 232
    1551 Normal Street
    Bowling Green, KY 42101

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 Last Modified 9/25/25