The Department of History expects successful, graduating majors to have a basic grasp of the major narratives that inform historical writing and research. Individual course work is rigorously graded and student work is assessed to provide feedback. The courses required are arranged in a sequential order so that students can build on their knowledge and skill bases. Introductory sequences in Western Civilization and United States history provide a foundational narrative, and upper division courses explore more specialized historical topics. Students are required to take a course in historical methods (HST 310), and the department has developed a capstone course, HST 407 which is a research seminar. All previous course work builds to this course which requires students to identify a significant historical question, do research in the library and other appropriate places, and write a substantial research paper that is presented orally to peers and is turned in as a written document.
Students MUST complete HST 407 with minimum of a "C" to graduate in History. This means of assessment demonstrates that students have obtained a basic framework against which they can formulate an historical question, that they can use appropriate research tools to gain information, and that they can write a sustained analytic work that pulls together material, makes an argument, and answers a question-what professional historians do. The department's undergraduate committee regularly survey's the curriculum to determine if it is meeting student needs. They solicit input from those faculty who teach HST 407 to determine if the course is meetings its goals. Their reports are presented to the full faculty to determine future action. The department's head advisor works with the chair to monitor assessment activities in the department. At present the head advisor is Mina Carson, and the chair is Paul Farber
The Department of History offers major programs leading to the B.A. degree. B.A. candidates must have proficiency at the second-year level of a foreign language. Advisors are available to provide a list of approved courses from which a student must complete 49 credits, distributed as follows:
49 credit hours minimum, of which 25 must be upper-division, including at least 9 hours of 400-level courses, and which must include:
| Classes | Required Credits |
| History of Western Civilization (or equivalent) | 9 |
| U.S. History (upper division courses may be used) | 9 |
| Non-European, non-U.S. history; 300 level or above (Asian, African, Near Eastern, or Latin American) |
6 |
| History 310 (The Historian's Craft) (C or better) | 3 |
| 1 research seminar (C or better) | 4 |
Electives, must be upper division, determined as follows:
|
18 |
| Minimum Total | 49 |
Students becoming history majors will be required to take HST 200 - Introduction to Historical Studies. This course is required but does not count toward 49 credit total for degree in history. Courses graded P/NP.
Majors SHOULD meet with an assigned departmental advisor a minimum of once a year to discuss schedule and progress toward degree. It is strongly recommended that students consult with their assigned departmental advisor when making schedule changes.
ALL HISTORY DEPARTMENT COURSES ARE THREE (3) CREDITS -- WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RESEARCH SEMINARS, WHICH ARE FOUR(4) CREDITS; AND THE FRESHMAN AND JUNIOR SEMINARS, WHICH ARE ONE(1) EACH.
Some History majors may wish to participate in the University Honors College. The Honors College is a degree-granting authority at Oregon State University providing many opportunities for students, including challenging curricula and honors-level instruction to students pursuing any OSU major. Honors college students have the opportunity to take special, smaller honors sections of selected courses, University Honors College seminars, and work one-on-one with a faculty mentor in preparing an Honors Thesis.
The department offers a minor program for undergraduates with majors in other fields. Students electing a minor in history choose one of three area, each requiring 27 credits: U.S. history; European history; or non-European, non-U.S. History.
| Required Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Hist. 201, 202, 203 (or equivalent) | 9 |
| Min.of 9 upper-division hours in United States history courses | 9 |
| Additional Hours | 9 |
| Total | 27 |
| Required Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Hist. 101, 102, 103 (or equivalent) | 9 |
| Minimum of 9 upper-division hours in European history courses | 9 |
| Additional Hours | 9 |
| Total | 27 |
| Required Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| 2 non-European, non-U.S. Survey sequences courses | 12 |
| 12 upper-division hours, 6 of which must be non-U.S. courses | 15 |
| Total | 27 |