History
| Degree: | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) |
| Major: | History |
| Minor: | History |
| Department: | History and Philosophy Building 50, Room 106 850-474-2680 http://uwf.edu/history |
| College: | Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities |
| CIP Code: | 54.0101 |
| Semester Hours Required For Degree: 120 | |
The B.A. in History is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to research and interpret the past. Emphasis is placed upon active participation in the creative process of historical inquiry.
Students planning to go to graduate school are strongly advised to attain proficiency in foreign languages.
Students interested in obtaining certification to teach this subject area in secondary education need to contact an advisor in this department to carefully plan the coursework to satisfy degree and some teacher certification requirements. A degree in this major is required for participation in teacher education certification options.
Program Requirements
In addition to general University requirements, students seeking the B.A. in History must meet the requirements listed below.
A minimum grade of "C" is required in all major courses, including HIS 3002 The Historian's Craft; HIS 3930 Junior Seminar; and HIS 4935 Senior Seminar.
Students in History are assessed in the Senior Seminar. In the Senior Seminar, students will work closely with the instructor to create a substantial and original research paper based on primary sources. This course requires the student to utilize a broad range of skills required of a historian and is assessed according to the department's ALC.
History Specialization
General Education
ADDENDUM - 06/12/2025
In addition to the General Education requirements, students must satisfy all additional State of Florida requirements, including the College-Level Communication and Computation, Civic Literacy, and Foreign Language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the State University Requirements and Degree Requirements sections of this catalog.
General Education Curriculum:
Consult with your academic advisor for courses which may satisfy both the General Education requirements and common prerequisites.
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy by passing an assessment or taking AMH 2020 United States Since 1877 or POS 2041 American Politics.
The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. In 2024, the Board of Governors made an additional revision, recognizing two new courses meeting the Civic Literacy requirement, AMH 2010 United States to 1877 and AMS 2010 Civil Discourse and the American Political Order. As a result, there are four cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions that are subject to varying requirements.
As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS before fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in Academic Year 2018 through Academic Year 2020 | Complete a course or Assessment. |
| Cohort 3: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in Academic Year 2021 through Academic Year 2023 | Course and Assessment. |
| Cohort 4: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2024 and thereafter | Course and Assessment. |
Additionally, for Cohorts 3 and 4, approved accelerated mechanisms may meet the course and/or assessment requirement, and students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) in high school are exempt from the postsecondary exam requirement.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website, SUS regulation BOG 8.006, and Florida Statute s.1007.25(4,a-b).
Mathematics Pathway
Students are advised to complete the following courses to fulfill the mathematics pathway that aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in their program and their career goals. Students should refer to their academic advisor for questions about the math pathway for their program. For information about this requirement, refer to the catalog page for Mathematics Pathways. These courses may also fulfill requirements for General Education and Common Prerequisites.
| Mathematical Thinking in Context | ||
| MGF 1130 | Mathematical Thinking | 3 |
| MGF 1131 | Mathematics in Context | 3 |
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
Two lower division courses in history with AMH, EUH, LAH, ASH, HIS, or WOH prefixes. Choosing two from the following list is highly recommended:
| AMH 2010 | United States to 1877 | 3 |
| AMH 2020 | United States Since 1877 | 3 |
| EUH 1000 | Western Perspectives I | 3 |
| EUH 1001 | Western Perspectives II | 3 |
| HIS 2050 | Explore History | 3 |
Lower Division Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 semester hours (sh) in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement. | 18-21 | |
| Total Hours | 18-21 | |
Major
| Please take four of the following: | 12 | |
| United States to 1877 | ||
| United States Since 1877 | ||
| Western Perspectives I | ||
| Western Perspectives II | ||
| Explore History Students take 4 of the 5 foundational courses. Incoming freshmen must take Explore History: Special Topics as 1 foundational course. | ||
| HIS 3002 | The Historian's Craft + | 3 |
| HIS 3930 | Junior Seminar + | 3 |
| Two 3000/4000 level American History (AMH) courses + | 6 | |
| Two 3000/4000 level European History (EUH) courses + | 6 | |
| 3000/4000 level course with AFH, ASH, or LAH prefix + | 3 | |
| Three 3000/4000 level History courses with AFH, AMH, ASH, EUH, HIS, or LAH prefixes + | 9 | |
| HIS 4935 | Senior Seminar + | 3 |
| Total Hours | 45 | |
- +
Courses included in the major GPA.
Upper Division Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 3000/4000 level electives to meet UWF’s requirement of 48 semester hours in the upper division or complete all departmental requirements at the 3000/4000 level, whichever is greater. | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Accelerated Bachelor of Art in History (B.A.)/Master of Art in History (M.A.)
Minimum Requirements for Admission
- Students must have completed 75 undergraduate credit hours, including credits earned from advanced placement, prior to applying to the Accelerated BA/MA program.
- Transfer students must have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours and at least two semesters at UWF.
- Overall institutional undergraduate GPA of 3.3 (B+) or higher.
- Completion of 15 credit hours of upper-level History courses with a GPA of 3.3 (B+) or higher.
- Completion of all History major core courses with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Completion of all Bachelor of Arts History major core requirements.
- One letter of recommendation from a History or Philosophy faculty member.
- Detailed letter of intent from the prospective student.
Process
Prospective students interested in applying for the Accelerated BA/MA program will schedule a meeting with the coordinator of graduate studies to discuss qualifications and suitability for the program and to create a degree plan for the student's Accelerated program. Qualified students will apply by the final semester of their junior year to begin the program in the first semester of their senior year. Upon admission to the Accelerated BA/MA program, the Graduate Coordinator will notify the department’s undergraduate and graduate advisors.
During the first semester of their senior year, students in the Accelerated program will enroll in one graduate course: HIS 5059 Graduate Methods I: The Historian's Craft. Additionally, the student will enroll in HIS 4935 Senior Seminar if they did not complete it in their junior year. During the second semester, they will enroll in HIS 5063 Graduate Methods II: The Professional Historian, and a graduate-level history course approved by the coordinator of graduate studies. All three graduate courses will count as undergraduate electives. (Note: Students have the option of taking a fourth graduate-level course.)
Additional Eligibility Requirements and Restrictions
Admission to the History MA program (MAHIS) is not automatic. Students in the Accelerated program must still submit an Express Admission application. Completion of the Accelerated BA/MA History program does not guarantee admission into the History MA program. Students in the Accelerated program must maintain a GPA of 3.3 in their undergraduate history courses and earn at least a 3.5 in graduate courses taken during their senior year. Graduate courses completed as an undergraduate with a grade of "B" or below cannot be applied to the MA degree, but grades of "C" or "C+" will count toward the History BA. A student who becomes ineligible to continue participating in or withdraws from the Accelerated BA/MA program cannot apply any graduate credit hours toward both degrees (i.e., the student can only apply the credit hours towards completion of the BA degree or toward a future master’s degree). Students must earn an "A" in HIS 4935 to be fully accepted into the MA program.
Upon admission into the MAHIS, the 9 or 12 graduate credit hours completed as an undergraduate student will count for 9 or 12 of the 30 hours in History coursework for the MAHIS. Students in the Accelerated BA/MA program must earn a grade of "B+" (3.3/4.0) or better in each of the graduate-level courses that are being applied to both degrees. Students accepted into the MAHIS program must complete all MAHIS requirements within 18 months of completing the BA degree. If the MAHIS program requirements are not completed within 18 months, the student is no longer eligible to apply the graduate credit hours toward both degrees (i.e., the student can only apply the graduate credit hours either toward completion of the BA degree or toward a future master’s degree) and is automatically terminated from the Accelerated BA/MA History program.
Financial Aid/Assistantships
Students enrolled in the program who complete their BA and have earned a "B+" or better in their graduate courses are automatically eligible and will receive preferred consideration for new financial aid and assistantship positions for their first graduate semester (pending available funding). Students awarded assistantships who make good academic progress and perform satisfactorily can expect two semesters of support during the Fall and Spring semesters (depending on the availability of department funding). Limited Summer positions and financial aid may be available.
General Education
ADDENDUM - 06/12/2025
In addition to the General Education requirements, students must satisfy all additional State of Florida requirements, including the College-Level Communication and Computation, Civic Literacy, and Foreign Language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the State University Requirements and Degree Requirements sections of this catalog.
General Education Curriculum:
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy by passing an assessment or taking AMH 2020 United States Since 1877 or POS 2041 American Politics.
The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. In 2024, the Board of Governors made an additional revision, recognizing two new courses meeting the Civic Literacy requirement, AMH 2010 United States to 1877 and AMS 2010 Civil Discourse and the American Political Order. As a result, there are four cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions that are subject to varying requirements.
As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS before fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in Academic Year 2018 through Academic Year 2020 | Complete a course or Assessment. |
| Cohort 3: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in Academic Year 2021 through Academic Year 2023 | Course and Assessment. |
| Cohort 4: Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2024 and thereafter | Course and Assessment. |
Additionally, for Cohorts 3 and 4, approved accelerated mechanisms may meet the course and/or assessment requirement, and students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) in high school are exempt from the postsecondary exam requirement.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website, SUS regulation BOG 8.006, and Florida Statute s.1007.25(4,a-b).
Mathematics Pathway
Students are advised to complete the following courses to fulfill the mathematics pathway that aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in their program and their career goals. Students should refer to their academic advisor for questions about the math pathway for their program. For information about this requirement, refer to the catalog page for Mathematics Pathways. These courses may also fulfill requirements for General Education and Common Prerequisites.
| Mathematical Thinking in Context | ||
| MGF 1130 | Mathematical Thinking | 3 |
| MGF 1131 | Mathematics in Context | 3 |
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
Two lower division courses in history with AMH, EUH, LAH, ASH, HIS, or WOH prefixes. Choosing two from the following list is highly recommended:
| AMH 2010 | United States to 1877 | 3 |
| AMH 2020 | United States Since 1877 | 3 |
| EUH 1000 | Western Perspectives I | 3 |
| EUH 1001 | Western Perspectives II | 3 |
| HIS 2050 | Explore History | 3 |
Lower Division Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 semester hours (sh) in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement. | 18-21 | |
| Total Hours | 18-21 | |
Major
| Please take four of the following: | 12 | |
| United States to 1877 * | ||
| United States Since 1877 * | ||
| Western Perspectives I * | ||
| Western Perspectives II * | ||
| Explore History * | ||
| Core courses: | 9 | |
| The Historian's Craft + | ||
| Junior Seminar + | ||
| Senior Seminar + | ||
| Additional required courses: | ||
| Two 3000/4000 level American History (AMH) courses + | 6 | |
| Two 3000/4000 level European History (EUH) courses + | 6 | |
| One 3000/4000 level course with AFH, ASH, or LAH prefix + | 3 | |
| Three 3000/4000 level History courses with AFH, AMH, ASH, EUH, HIS, or LAH prefixes + | 9 | |
- *
Students take 4 of the 5 foundational courses. Incoming freshmen must take HIS 2050 as 1 foundational course.
- +
Courses included in the major GPA.
Upper Division Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 3000/4000 level electives to meet UWF’s requirement of 48 semester hours in the upper division or complete all departmental requirements at the 3000/4000 level, whichever is greater. | 15 | |
Graduate Courses
Students in the Accelerated BA/MA will complete the following graduate requirements, which will count toward undergraduate electives.
| HIS 5059 | Graduate Methods I: The Historian's Craft | 3 |
| HIS 5063 | Graduate Methods II: The Professional Historian | 3 |
| One to two advisor-approved 5000/6000-level History courses | 3-6 | |
| Total Hours | 9-12 | |