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Department of

History

Learning Goals

Program Goals:

Goal 1: Knowledge

It is the goal of the history department to introduce our majors to history from a variety of periods and regions and to familiarize them with a variety of categories/genres of historical analysis. It is also our goal that each major will ultimately acquire in-depth historical knowledge in the area of his or her specialization.

Goal 2: Skills

While mastery of course content is crucial, it is the primary objective of the history department to teach students skills, such as the ability to interpret primary sources, evaluate secondary sources, communicate effectively, and write a thesis-driven research paper.

There is alignment between the History Department’s Goals and University Goals. In particular, the department, like the University, is committed to the goals of “cultural competence,” “international learning experiences,” “integrated learning experiences,” and giving a “privileged place to the liberal arts” in … [the] undergraduate curriculum.”

Student Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

Outcome 1: Majors can explain the significance of important events and trends in U.S. and world history, demonstrate in-depth historical knowledge in the chosen area of specialization, and define important categories/genres of historical analysis (such as, women’s, diplomatic, political, cultural, environmental, intellectual, or economic history).

Skills

Outcome 2: Majors can assess and analyze a primary source and use it to support a historical argument.

Outcome 3: Majors can critically evaluate a secondary source.

Outcome 4: Majors can describe plagiarism, explain the function of footnotes, and cite books, journal articles, newspaper articles, and web pages according to the Chicago Manual of Style/ Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations

Outcome 5: Majors can write clear, logical, and convincing prose.

Outcome 6: Majors can write a history research paper that is thesis driven, evidence based, effectively organized, and persuasive.