History
Application Deadline
June 1, 2012
The Bachelor of Arts in History at St. Edward’s opens the door to a wide range of career opportunities in education, government, business, communications, law and other fields.
Students will learn about the effect of historical events on the development of societies and world cultures, as well as hone valuable research, writing and analytical skills.
Bachelor of Arts in History
Overview:
As a BA in History major, you’ll study the history of the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the ancient and modern worlds — and its impact on present and future societies. You’ll delve into the triumphs and tragedies of history and explore the evolution of government, business, law, religion and other pillars of society.
History majors are successful in many fields where research, writing, critical thinking and historical knowledge come to bear. Graduates work in such roles as journalists for online, broadcast and print media; museum curators specializing in artifacts of a specific era; and historians and researchers for libraries and preservation groups.
Students who choose the BA in History program are often paving the way to graduate studies in history, public history, library science or teaching, or to law school, or to advanced study in a focused area such as art history.
Course Preview:
BA in History majors take courses from these groups:
REQUIRED COURSES
Students who major in history complete required courses that include U.S. History, The Modern World, Western Civilization, Reformation to 1900, Historical Investigation and 20th Century.
GENERAL EDUCATION AND MISSION COURSES
All New College programs require general education and mission courses designed to refresh and expand your knowledge and skills in research methods, critical thinking and writing, and oral presentation, among others.
ELECTIVE COURSES
Students choose elective courses that align with their particular interest in history, such as Women in American Society, History of Texas, Modern Revolutions, Mexico: From the Aztecs to the Revolution, and History of Mexican Americans.
HISTORICAL INVESTIGATION
In Historical Investigation, a culminating course in the History program, students choose a research topic to examine in depth, using primary and secondary sources, as well as oral interviews, if appropriate. Student projects have included:
- “The Foreign Plot and Escalation of the Reign of Terror”
- “W.E.B. Du Bois vs. Booker T. Washington on Education and Political Rights for Blacks”
- “German POW Camps in Texas During World War II”
- “Not a Storybook Life for the Japanese Picture Bride 1908–1920”
- “Revisiting the Bataan Death March”
View the Degree Plan (PDF) for sample course information for the Bachelor of Arts in History.
Internships
New College History majors may earn credit for completing an internship. Internships present an opportunity to develop job skills, build confidence and boost your résumé. Students interested in teaching on the university level have served as interns for history professors in New College and the traditional St. Edward's University history program. Others interested in public history have interned for the Texas Historical Commission.
In addition, students have aided the US Latino and Latina World War II Oral History Project and the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Research
History majors and History graduates have presented papers at the Texas State Historical Association Annual Conference and at the World History Association of Texas Annual Conference, which has been held on the St. Edward's University campus. A student presented her research as part of the St. Edward's University Founders Day program. History majors have also published papers in Arete, the university's academic journal.