As a Historical Studies student, you will explore human history and the nature of human existence by examining topics such as the development of social, political and religious groups; national experiences; a particular time period or important historic figure or event; or themes such as women in history. You also will develop valuable research, analytical and communications skills as, together with a faculty mentor, you create a program to meet your specific needs and goals.

For more information about programs in Historical Studies, please visit the Department of Historical Studies website.  

Program Details

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 below. The 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.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Concentration in American History
HIST 2025	US History to 1865: What Does it Mean to be a Free Nation?	4
HIST 2030	US History From 1865 to the Present	4
Concentration in Historical Studies
HIST 1070	Global History from the 1500	4
HIST 1075	Global History to 1500	4
HIST 1115	Western Civilization I	4
HIST 1120	Western Civilization II	4
HIST 2025	US History to 1865: What Does it Mean to be a Free Nation?	4
HIST 2030	US History From 1865 to the Present	4
Concentration in Global History
HIST 1070	Global History from the 1500	4
HIST 1075	Global History to 1500	4
HIST 1115	Western Civilization I	4
HIST 1120	Western Civilization II	4

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

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
HIST 1010	African- American History to 1861	4
HIST 1015	African-American History: 1861 –1941	4
HIST 1030	American Military History	4
HIST 2013	Race in United States Politics	4
HIST 2025	US History to 1865: What Does it Mean to be a Free Nation?	3-4
HIST 2030	US History From 1865 to the Present	3,4
HIST 2035	Women & Work in American History	4
HIST 2045	American Environmental History: Introduction	4
HIST 2050	History of American Medicine and Public Health: Introductory	4
HIST 2055	History of American Families and Children: Introductory	4
HIST 2060	History of Social Welfare: Introductory	4
HIST 2065	Long Island History: Introduction	4
HIST 2137	The Civil War: Introduction	4
HIST 3060	American Environmental History	4
HIST 3070	American Immigration	4
HIST 3085	American Labor History	4
HIST 3086	U.S. Unions since the 1960s	4
HIST 3090	American Military History: Advanced	4
HIST 3100	American Religious History I	4
HIST 3110	American Urban & Suburban History	4
HIST 3115	American Women's History	4
HIST 3152	History of Social Welfare in the US: Advanced	4
HIST 3190	Fashion in U.S. History	4
HIST 3200	Food in American History	4
HIST 3230	Health & Wellness in American History	4
HIST 3237	History of the American Presidency	4
HIST 3242	American Religious History II	4
HIST 3250	History of American Popular Culture	4
HIST 3255	History of American Sexuality	4
HIST 3272	History of American Families and Children: Advanced	4
HIST 3320	Jews of Russia Poland Ukraine: 1772-1917	4
HIST 3345	Modern American History	4
HIST 3385	New York State History	4
HIST 3440	American Ethnic History	4
HIST 3590	Hip Hop America: The Evolution of a Cultural Movement	4
HIST 3605	Madness in American History	4
HIST 3630	The Civil Rights Movement	4
HIST 3635	Foundations in American History: Advanced	4
HIST 3650	Civil War History	4
HIST 3655	Adirondack History	4
HIST 3665	Long Island History: Advanced	4
HIST 3690	History of Antisemitism	4
HIST 3710	Jews in US History: 1654-present	4
HIST 3715	Movin' on Up: Class in America in the Movies	4
HIST 3720	The Holocaust	4
HIST 4005	Mad Men Mad Women: History of Women in the Twentieth Century	4
HIST 4010	Rock and Roll History	4

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:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
HIST 3005	19th Century Eastern Europe	4
HIST 3012	Hillary vs. Trump: The 2016 Presidential Election	4
HIST 3050	American Colonial History: Advanced	4
HIST 3090	American Military History: Advanced	4
HIST 3110	American Urban & Suburban History	4
HIST 3125	Ancient Rome: Republic & Empire: Advanced	4
HIST 3152	History of Social Welfare in the US: Advanced	4
HIST 3180	Enlightenment: Advanced Research	4
HIST 3207	Age of Jackson	4
HIST 3212	Age of Reagan	4
HIST 3215	Generals of the American Civil War	4
HIST 3217	Progressivism & Normalcy	4
HIST 3222	The Liberal Ascendancy	4
HIST 3225	German Nationalism 1800-Present	4
HIST 3227	Federalists and Jeffersonians	4
HIST 3232	The Great War 1914-1918	4
HIST 3237	History of the American Presidency	4
HIST 3242	American Religious History II	4
HIST 3245	Historiography & Methods	4
HIST 3260	History of Christianity	4
HIST 3260	History of Christianity	4
HIST 3272	History of American Families and Children: Advanced	4
HIST 3277	French Revolution	4
HIST 3282	Europe in the Global Age: 1950-present	4
HIST 3305	Imperial Russia	4
HIST 3315	Jews of Habsburg Austria: 1670-1918	4
HIST 3320	Jews of Russia Poland Ukraine: 1772-1917	4
HIST 3325	Jews & Germans: 1770-1933	4
HIST 3345	Modern American History	4
HIST 3345	Modern American History	4
HIST 3355	Modern Russia	4
HIST 3370	Nationalism in Modern Europe	4
HIST 3375	Native American Histories & Cultures: Advanced	4
HIST 3382	History of New York City	4
HIST 3400	Pirates & Privateers	4
HIST 3420	Revolutionary America: Advanced	4
HIST 3495	The Great Depression & the New Deal	4
HIST 3510	The Reformation	4
HIST 3535	World War II	4
HIST 3500	History of Warfare in Western World	4
HIST 3570	Women in the Middle East	4
HIST 3635	Foundations in American History: Advanced	4
HIST 3650	Civil War History	4
HIST 3665	Long Island History: Advanced	4
HIST 3670	Barack Obama & His Presidency	4
HIST 3675	History of America in the 1960s Era	4
HIST 3685	History of American Politics: 1974-2008	4
HIST 3690	History of Antisemitism	4
HIST 3705	History of the US Navy	4
HIST 3710	Jews in US History: 1654-present	4
HIST 3715	Movin' on Up: Class in America in the Movies	4
HIST 3720	The Holocaust	4
HIST 3725	The Evangelical Right in American Politics and Culture	4
HIST 3730	The Tea Party in American Politics	4
HIST 4006	History of Conservative Talk Radio, Media, and U.S. Politics	4
HIST 4015	Multiethnic Empire: Habsburg Austria -1740-1918	4
HIST 4020	Senior Thesis I: Research	4
HIST 4025	Senior Thesis II: Writing & Presentation	4
HIST 4122	Contemporary Issues in US Immigration	4

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

Learning Outcomes

• 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. 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
HIST 3410	Public History: A Shared Conversation with the Past	4
HIST 3240	Historic Preservation	4
HIST 4050	Historical Studies Internship	4
MUSE 3015	Museum Studies	4