Dec 05, 2025

2025-2026 Catalog

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2025-2026 Catalog

History Major

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Go to information for the History major

REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE WITH A MAJOR IN HISTORY:

Liberal Arts Core - Credits: 32-34

Every Fort Lewis College student must complete both the Liberal Arts Core (LAC) and the requirements of a major.

Classes marked [LAC] count towards the Liberal Arts Core. Some of these classes can also count towards the requirements of a major. Taking these classes can satisfy both the LAC and major requirements and increase the number of free electives you get. Talk with your advisor to learn more.

See a full list of Liberal Arts Core courses here.

First-Year Launch Course	1 course	FLC 100 (Credits: 1)

Communication	2 courses	COMP 150 AND one CO2 course (Credits: 6)
		OR
		One CO2 course AND One CO3 course (Credits: 6)

Mathematics	1 course	One MA1 course (Credits: 3-4)

Arts & Humanities	2 courses	Two AH courses (Credits: 6)

History	1 course	One HI course (Credits: 3)

Social & Behavioral Sciences	1 course	One SS course (Credits: 3)

Additional AH/HI/SS	1 course	One additional AH or HI or SS course (Credits: 3)

Natural & Physical Sciences	2 courses	Two SC courses - one MUST include a lab (Credits: 7-8)

Major Requirements - Credits: 45

Required Courses (9 credits):

HIST 296 - Introduction to Philosophy and Methods Credits: 3
HIST 396 - Philosophy and Methods Credits: 3
HIST 496 - Research Senior Seminar Credits: 3

Additional Major Requirements:

You may complete the additional requirements for this major in one of two ways:

Complete the General History section shown below
OR
Complete the Public History concentration

If you complete a concentration, the concentration will be noted on your transcript.

General History (36 credits):

General History Sequence Electives - Complete 2 courses as a pair (6 credits):

Note: Eligible pairs of courses are: HIST 150 and HIST 151 or HIST 160 and HIST 261 or HIST 270 and HIST 271 or HIST 280 and HIST 281

HIST 150 - World Civilization I [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
HIST 151 - World Civilization II [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
OR
HIST 160 - Western Civilization I [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
HIST 261 - Western Civilization II [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
OR
HIST 270 - Colonial Latin America [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
HIST 271 - Modern Latin America [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
OR
HIST 280 - U.S. History to 1877 [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
HIST 281 - U.S. History Since 1877 [LAC-HI] Credits: 3

General History Electives - Complete 5 courses (15 credits):

Any HIST course, except for Independent Study courses, may be taken to satisfy this requirement.

A minimum of 2 courses must be upper division (300- or 400-level).

Note: Each course can only count towards one requirement in the major.

Public History Concentration (36 credits):

Public History Concentration Required Courses (6 credits):

HIST 491 - Colloquium in Public History Credits: 3
HIST 493 - Internship in History Credits: 1-9 Minimum credits: 3

Public History Concentration US Lower Division Elective - Complete 1 course (3 credits):

HIST 131 - History of the Southwest [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
HIST 181 - US/SW Environmental History [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
HIST 280 - U.S. History to 1877 [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
HIST 281 - U.S. History Since 1877 [LAC-HI] Credits: 3

Public History Concentration Europe Lower Division Elective - Complete 1 course (3 credits):

HIST 160 - Western Civilization I [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
HIST 261 - Western Civilization II [LAC-HI] Credits: 3

Public History Concentration World Lower Division Elective - Complete 1 course (3 credits):

HIST 150 - World Civilization I [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
HIST 151 - World Civilization II [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
HIST 270 - Colonial Latin America [LAC-HI] Credits: 3
HIST 271 - Modern Latin America [LAC-HI] Credits: 3

Public History Concentration US Upper Division Elective - Complete 1 course (3 credits):

HIST 313 - Wilderness in America Credits: 3
HIST 320 - U.S. West/Southwestern History Credits: 3
HIST 324 - Colorado History Credits: 3
HIST 329 - United States: Topics Credits: 3
HIST 332 - Women in the United States Credits: 3
HIST 334 - U.S. War in Vietnam Credits: 3

Public History Concentration Europe Upper Division Elective - Complete 1 course (3 credits):

HIST 302 - Ancient Rome Credits: 3
HIST 303 - Ancient Greece Credits: 3
HIST 307 - History of Disease Credits: 3
HIST 359 - Medieval Europe Credits: 3
HIST 361 - Czarist Russia Credits: 3
HIST 362 - Rise and Fall of Soviet Union Credits: 3
HIST 366 - Hitler and the Holocaust Credits: 3
HIST 368 - Medieval Women Credits: 3
HIST 374 - Europe: Topics Credits: 3
HIST 378 - Two World Wars in Europe Credits: 3
HIST 379 - Modern Europe Credits: 3

Public History Concentration World Upper Division Elective - Complete 1 course (3 credits):

HIST 307 - History of Disease Credits: 3 ^w(world related)
HIST 334 - U.S. War in Vietnam Credits: 3 ^w(world related)
HIST 371 - History of Central America Credits: 3
HIST 372 - U.S. - Latin American Relations Credits: 3
HIST 373 - History of Mexico Credits: 3
HIST 375 - Latin America: Topics Credits: 3
HIST 378 - Two World Wars in Europe Credits: 3 ^w(world related)
HIST 392 - World: Topics Credits: 3

Public History Concentration Lower Division Electives - Complete 2 courses (6 credits):

HIST 241 - Public History: Scope and Methods Credits: 3
HIST 255 - Introduction to Heritage Preservation Credits: 3
HIST 256 - Introduction to Museums Credits: 3

Public History Concentration Upper Division Electives - Complete 2 courses (6 credits):

ANTH 375 - Museum and Heritage Studies Credits: 3
HIST 323 - U.S. National Parks Credits: 3
HIST 345 - Archival Theory and Practice Credits: 3
HIST 376 - Oral History: Theory and Practice Credits: 3

Free Electives - Credits: Variable

Chosen in conjunction with your academic advisor to assure that the total graduation credit requirement for this program is met. Many students choose to use free electives to complete the requirements for a certificate, minor, or teacher licensure.

Note: Students who complete the Liberal Arts Core in fewer than 32–34 credits or meet a prerequisite or course requirement through transfer, examination, or prior learning will have additional free electives. Taking classes in the major requirements that have the [LAC] tag can grant additional free electives. Talk with your advisor to learn more.

Upper Division Requirement - Credits: 36

Among the total required courses, at least 36 credits must be upper division (300- and 400-level) courses. This major may require additional courses to meet the upper division requirement.

Course Information

Before registering for a course, make sure you are eligible. Ensure you meet all the prerequisite courses, minimum prerequisite grades, and the minimum class standing, if applicable. If you are not eligible for a course, you may be able to enroll with an override from the instructor. Contact your advisor or the instructor of the course if you would like assistance requesting an override.

Additional Program Notes

^w Course may count when the specific section is approved by the History Department Chair through an individual or blanket exception form. The research paper/project in the course must be centrally related to world history.

TOTAL REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION - CREDITS: 120

All curricular requirements for the Liberal Arts Core and at least one major must be met.

Students must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 and a minimum grade point average of 2.00 for those courses accepted to meet the requirements for the major, certificate, or minor.

A minimum of 30 credits must be completed at Fort Lewis College. College-sponsored off-campus academic experiences are considered “in residence.”