Mar 28, 2024  
Mansfield University 2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Mansfield University 2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

History, Bachelor of Arts


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Offered by the Department of History, Philsophy and Political Science
Professor Carpenter, Guenther, Newman
Associate Professors Bosworth (chairperson), Chua, Gaskievicz, Holderby, McEvoy
Assistant Professor Rothermel


The Department of History, Philosophy and Political Science offers two history degrees: a B.A. in History, and a B.S.Ed. in Social Studies: History. We offer minors in history, political science, international studies, and environmental studies.

History Program

The past is a living, dynamic subject and very much a part of today. This program in the humanities provides a solid background in the methods and concepts of historical investigation and introduces students to the various schools of historical interpretation. It includes courses in American, European, and Non-Western history, as well as a wide variety of arts and sciences courses.

The mission of the History Program includes

  • Providing a broad, balanced education in the discipline of history
  • Developing skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and communicating (both written and oral) through research and applications
  • Nurturing attitudes and values conducive to lifelong learning and to active, effective citizenship
  • Encouraging the academic study of leadership and leadership skills in historical context

Vision

The History programs of Mansfield University prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills to be effective historians.  Students who pursue a B.S.Ed. degree in Social Studies:  Historians are trained to be reflective teachers who believe that all students can learn and help them to do so. The research and writing skills developed in our programs also open opportunities in many other areas. History is excellent preparation for law school. Combined with the appropriate courses, it provides a good background for journalism. Producers of television shows, documentaries, and movies, with settings in the past, all have research staff to ensure historically accurate productions. History graduates work in such diverse careers as editing publications, archival management, foreign service, and museums.

Goals and Values

The History program promotes the acquisition of historical knowledge, critical thinking, writing, and research skills in the context of a liberal arts education.   The program supports the Mansfield strategic goal of making a liberal arts education the foundation for every student.  To do that, it offers numerous courses approved for the general education program.  The program also supports the Mansfield strategic objectives to improve the first year experience, provide superior academic advising, and develop programs that encourage faculty to interact with and mentor students. 

Student Learning Outcomes

In all history programs students will accomplish the following:

  • Demonstrate factual and conceptual understanding of historical events.
  • Articulate how societies are influenced by their geographical location, natural resources, and physical relationship to other parts of the world.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the world’s civilizations and peoples, and their political, economic, social, and cultural histories.
  • Reflect an understanding of the roles of race, class, gender, and ethnicity in history.
  • Demonstrate an ability to recognize and interpret multiple forms of evidence (visual, oral, statistical, material culture artifacts).
  • View other societies in a comparative context and look at one’s own society in the context of other societies.
  • Acquire familiarity with the uses and the limitations of historical comparison as an analytic tool.
  • Recognize the distinction between primary and secondary sources and understand how each are used in historical research.
  • Write clear, well organized, properly documented and grammatical prose.
  • Locate printed and online information sources to research a topic thoroughly.

Canadian Studies

The formal study of Canada is a critical element in the education of the next generation of leaders, providing a significant, accessible avenue for understanding global interdependence and multicultural environments. Moreover, with Canada and the United States as each other’s largest trading partner, learning about Canada as a foreign market makes increasingly good economic sense, especially as international job mobility increases.

The Canadian Studies minor provides the student with an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the history, literature, economics, politics, business, fine arts, educational systems, and the physical and cultural environments of our northern neighbor. Building on the theoretical and practical content of the core course, the student selects courses from across the curriculum wherever Canadian content or perspectives are designated.

Program Requirements: History, (B.A.): 120 s.h.


Total Credit Hours: 36


Public History Concentration


The Public History concentration within the History program is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with the academic training and experience to pursue further study or employment in the public history sector (including museums, archives, historical societies, historic sites).

Program Objectives:

Upon completion of the Public History concentration, students will:

  • posses an understanding of course information from the required content courses
  • understand the best methods for communicating the above-noted understanding to a public audience
  • demonstrate the acquisition of skills permitting them to locate, identify, order, and communicate pertinent historical data to the general public

Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Public History concentration, students will:

  • Acquire an understanding of the development of Public History in relation to the development of the historical profession as a whole (assessed with course examination in HST 3350)
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the methods of reflective practice in public history through written assignments (assessed throughout coursework, primarily in HST 3350 and HST 4450)
  • Appraise the value of ethics in the practice of history (assessed in HST 3350 and PHL 3340)
  • Develop an understanding of enduring, critical issues associated with the practice of public history through written assignments and graded discussion (throughout coursework)
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze and synthesize scholarly literature in public history through written assignments (primarily in HST 3350, throughout coursework)
  • Undertake a public history project, either individually or as members of a team (HST 4450)

Total Credit Hours: 51


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