History - IAI Major Course Recommendations

Students wanting to major in history may have a choice of earning a B.A. or a B.S. degree, depending on the school they attend. History majors normally pursue a B.A. degree, but students should consult their advisors on the differences between degrees. A history major may also pursue a program leading to state certification as high school (6-12) history teachers. To transfer as a junior, students must complete a minimum of 60 semester credits. Community and junior college students seeking a bachelor's degree in history are strongly encouraged to complete an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree before transferring.

Be sure to consult the institution you plan on transferring to for course articulations.

Major Directive

Click here to see how courses at Illinois public 4-year institutions accept courses in transfer for this major.

History IAI Major

• Major Course Recommendations
  (19-26 semester credits)
  History Core Course 12 semester credits
  Option 1
  H2 904-United States History I /S2 900-United States History I (3 semester credits)
  H2 905-United States History II /S2 901-United States History II (3 semester credits)
  and
  H2 901-History of Western Civilization I /S2 902-History of Western Civilization I (3 semester credits)
  H2 902-History of Western Civilization II /S2 903-History of Western Civilization II (3 semester credits)
  OR
  Option 2
  H2 904-United States History I /S2 900-United States History I (3 semester credits)
  H2 905-United States History II /S2 901-United States History II (3 semester credits)
  and
  H2 906 - World History I /S2 912N : World History I (3 semester credits)
  H2 907 - World History II /S2 913N : World History II (3 semester credits)
  Since schools divide historical periods differently across courses, students should complete course sequences at the same school.
  Important Note: Students pursuing history as a major are advised to take non-history courses to fulfill the GECC Humanities and in the GECC Social and Behavioral Sciences general education requirements. Consult with your advisor frequently as you take courses in General Education. These courses may impact your major/area plan of study (this is especially important when pursuing a major in History Education).
  
  A Single Foreign Language up to 12 semester credits
  Competency through the second, third, or fourth semester of a single foreign language is required for the B. A. degree in History in some schools and for all majors in the College of Arts and Sciences at other schools. Ask about the language requirement of the schools you are considering, and complete the required foreign language courses before transfer. In general, two years of foreign language study in high school will substitute for two semesters in college.
  
  Other Recommendations
  Students who have decided upon a minor field are encouraged to complete one or more courses in the minor. Students planning to seek high school (6-12) teacher certification are encouraged to complete one or more professional education courses recommended for the Associate of Arts in Teaching specialty program. Students should select courses in consultation with an advisor.
  NOTE: As disciplines within the History major are writing intensive, students pursuing the major may want to consider taking history courses which have a significant writing requirement (approximately 15 pages in total of writing). This will assist students with requirements as they work towards their bachelor's degrees at universities.
  
  
• History IAI GECC Recommendations
  Minimum 37 semester credits
  These are the specific courses in the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum (IAI GECC) that should be taken for this emphasis.
  
  Communication: 3 courses (9 semester credits)
  Select a two-course sequence in writing (6 semester credits) with a grade of "C" or better and,
  Select 1 course in oral communication (3 semester credits).
  
  Mathematics: 1 course (3 semester credits)
  
  Physical and Life Sciences: 2 courses (7-8 semester credits)
  Select 1 course from Physical Sciences
  Select 1 course from Life Sciences.
  Select at least 1 laboratory course.
  (Students with the appropriate preparation may substitute an initial course designed for science majors for a more general course.)
  
  Humanities and Fine Arts: 3 courses (9 semester credits)
  Select 1 course from Humanities,
  Select 1 course from Fine Arts and
  Select 1 from either Humanities or Fine Arts. - Courses can be taken from the same identifier as long as the course outcomes are different.
  Important Note: Students pursuing history as a major are advised to take non-history courses to fulfill the Humanities and in the Social and Behavioral Sciences general education requirements. Consult with your advisor frequently as you take courses in General Education. These courses may impact your major/area plan of study (this is especially important when pursuing a major in History Education).
  
  Social and Behavioral Sciences : 3 courses (9 semester credits)
  Select 3 courses from at least 2 different disciplines (e.g., no more than 2 courses from, for example, psychology). - Courses can be taken from the same identifier as long as the course outcomes are different.
  Important Note: Students pursuing history as a major are advised to take non-history courses to fulfill the Humanities and in the Social and Behavioral Sciences general education requirements. Consult with your advisor frequently as you take courses in General Education. These courses may impact your major/area plan of study (this is especially important when pursuing a major in History Education).

Check the worksheet to see what courses you can take to fulfill your general education requirements
The worksheet allows you to see what courses to take to fulfill the IAI Gen. Ed. package (Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum) at any participating college or university in the State. You will find it helpful to use the major recommended general education courses shown above. You may want to print or copy a hard copy of this page.

Return to the Illinois Baccalaureate Majors' Recommendations (IAI Majors).