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 course work 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.
Majors are required to take and pass with a "C" or higher, 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
In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, 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 "University Requirements" section of this catalog.
Algebra-Based Physics is usually recommended for non-science majors, while Calculus-Based Physics is recommended for science majors
***
Although students receive 5 semester hours credit for PHY 2048C, an additional 3 semester science course will be needed to meet General Education requirements.
Choose an additional course from two of the three areas of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences
Consult with your academic advisor for courses which may satisfy both the General Education requirements and common prerequisites.
Multicultural Requirement
An important component of a liberal education is the study of cultures other than one's own. As such, multiculturalism encompasses the appreciation of the values, expressions, and modes of organization of diverse cultural communities. To further such study, the University of West Florida requires all students pursuing a bachelor's degree to complete at least one course that explores one or more of the dimensions of another culture (language, religion, socio-economic structures, etc.). Students are exempt from this requirement if they have completed an A.A. degree, the general education program at a Florida public institution, or a baccalaureate degree.
The requirement is satisfied by the successful completion of a multicultural course designated on the following list. Several of the selections are General Education courses, and students may enroll in these to meet both the General Education and the multicultural requirements.
**Passed by UWF Faculty Senate on 11/08/2002
This list is continually updated and students are encouraged to check with their advisors for alternative options.
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. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions 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.
Simply Text
Column 1
Column 2
Students Included in Cohort
Civic Literacy Competency Requirement
Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018
None
Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021
Complete a course or exam
Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter
Complete both a course and exam
Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.
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.
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.
The lower division courses in history with AMH, EUH, LAH, ASH, HIS, or WOH prefixes. Choosing two from the following list is highly recommended:
Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 sh in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement.
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
A minimum grade of “C” is required in all minor courses.
History
History majors may not earn this minor. A Minor in History consists of 15 sh of upper-level course work in a planned program which includes: