History
Academic programs
Undergraduate programs
History
Undergrad minorThe study of history is more than a window into the past. A good history education will help you understand the present and how you, as an individual and global citizen, can improve the future.
In UWL's history program, you'll discover how societies originated and explore cultural, political, social, and economic perspectives across time and space. You'll see how past experiences inform who you are and recognize your role in historical change.
Emphasis
Regional
Undergrad majorThe regional emphasis history major allows students to specialize in one region or time period from history, while still accumulating a broad foundation in the survey-level and professionalizing courses that make up the core history experience.
Emphasis
Topical
Undergrad majorStudents in the history major with topical emphasis in cultural and social history will study the history of cultural and social forces embodied in movements and organizations; art, literature, and film; areas of human experience including apparel, architecture, and culinary practices; and the various commercial media in our daily lives. Students will learn how social and cultural phenomena have historically affected and structured the material and intellectual environment in connection with ethical concerns involving political and economic questions.
World History
Undergrad majorThe history major with a world history emphasis is the most comprehensive of the history majors, with requirements that diversify the degree to cover as much of the world as can be done in a 40-credit undergraduate degree.
Broadfield Social Studies Education
Undergrad major Teacher licenseThe Broadfield Social Studies Education programs provide undergraduate content and skills-based training for teacher candidates seeking to teach social studies in grades 4-12. The program prepares candidates to teach all the disciplines associated with social studies, including economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology.
Concentration
History
Undergrad major Teacher licenseThe broadfield social studies education major: history concentration is intended for those who intend to seek licensure in the grades 4-12 developmental range. It provides a grounding in the core courses of the history major, as well as a foundation in four categories of history covering much of the world and its time periods
Concentration
Political Science
Undergrad major Teacher licensePolitical science is the study of governments, policies, institutions, and the behavior of participants in the political world. Broadfield social studies education: political science concentration students are prepared to teach a range of civics, social studies, and government courses. This major prepares students to earn a Wisconsin teaching license for grades 4-12 in the six subjects of social studies: economics, geography, history, psychology, political science, and sociology.
Concentration
Sociology
Undergrad major Teacher licenseSociology is the study of human groups and how the group influences social behavior. Students in the broadfield social studies education major: sociology concentration can be licensed to teach through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. This major prepares students to earn a Wisconsin teaching license for grades 4-12 in the six subjects of social studies: economics, geography, history, psychology, political science, and sociology.
There are many different paths to studying history at UWL. This page broadly describes each -- but there is much more description and information under the menu items on the left.
History Courses as Electives
The History Department invites students from across the campus to enroll in our courses. Except for a few specific instances, courses listed as HIS in the course catalog are open to all UWL students, generally without prerequisite. Courses numbered HIS 100-229 are primarily for freshmen and sophomores, while those numbered HIS 300 and above are open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and to those freshmen who have appropriate General Education background -- that is, if they've completed sufficient lower-division courses to be comfortable with the reading and writing requirements of upper-division history courses. This includes 400-level courses; 400-level courses are not reserved for senior-level students, and in many cases they are intended for juniors, seniors, and well-prepared sophomores. A wide variety of upper-division history courses can provide useful context and understanding to support degrees from all of the colleges across the University campus. Many history courses also satisfy Writing Emphasis (WE) graduation requirements.
General Education
The History Department offers multiple courses which satisfy UWL General Education requirements, which form the common experience for all UWL undergraduates. The department collaborates with the entire University faculty to create courses which work towards shared goals, or learning objectives, thought to be integral to the college graduate. HIS-110 satisfies a requirement for all UWL students; HIS-202 is another option, and additional upper-division courses can count towards other requirements.
The Minor in History
The minor in history is designed to be flexible and accessible, to complement all other programs of study from across the campus. The minor requires 18 credits of history courses, including only one specific course (HIS 200), and allowing the selection of nearly any other history course as desired.
The Major in World History
Completed as either a B.A. or a B.S., this degree is the most comprehensive of the paths for students interested in history at UWL.
Regional Emphasis
These programs are available to those students who are choosing to specialize in one of a number of world regions or time periods.
Topical Emphasis
These programs are available to those students who are choosing to specialize in one of a number of topics, methodologies or themes, which may cut across time periods or geographical regions. Currently, the three topics available are Cultural and Social History, Public and Policy History, and Religious Studies.
Teacher Preparation
For many future teachers, history is a logical choice to accompany their professionalization in education. In collaboration with education departments on campus, the history department offers multiple degree options to support teacher preparation. For more information see this page.