COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in History at Southeast Missouri State University is a 45-hour major designed to provide students with strong training in historical research, critical thinking, and analytical writing while offering flexibility to explore different historical fields. The program begins with foundational coursework in becoming a historian and historiography, where students learn how historical knowledge is constructed, how sources are evaluated, and how historians develop interpretations of the past. A senior seminar serves as a capstone experience, allowing students to synthesize their learning through advanced research and writing on a focused historical topic. A significant portion of the degree is built around upper-level coursework in U.S., European, and world history, giving students the opportunity to specialize in areas of interest while developing depth in historical analysis. Students complete 18 hours of advanced (300–500 level) courses across these fields, ensuring strong preparation in upper-level historical study and scholarly research methods. Another 18-hour component allows students to broaden their academic background through additional courses in history and related disciplines such as geography or historic preservation, with at least some coursework at the senior level. This structure provides both depth and flexibility, enabling students to tailor their studies toward personal interests or career goals. Throughout the program, students strengthen essential skills in writing, argument development, and evidence-based reasoning, which are valuable in many professions. Graduates are well prepared for careers in education, law, government, archives, museums, business, journalism, and public service, as well as for graduate study in history and related fields. Overall, the degree equips students with a strong liberal arts foundation and the ability to critically analyze historical and contemporary issues across a wide range of contexts.