History Major with Regional Emphasis - Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The regional emphasis history major allows students to specialize in one region or time period from history, while still accumulating a broad foundation in the survey-level and professionalizing courses that make up the core history experience. In this regional emphasis, students can take 12 credits from one region: Africa and African Diaspora, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, or United States.

Courses for each region

All faculty in the department teach courses that satisfy the requirements in the regional emphasis. Consult the major requirements tab for this major to see which courses count for which region.

(All colleges, excluding teacher certification programs)

40 credits

Core requirements
HIS 200Historiography and Historical Methods3
HIS 490History Research Seminar4
Select nine credits of the following:9
Survey of the United States
Survey of Latin American and Latino History
Survey of Ancient and Medieval Worlds
Survey of Europe
Survey of Asia
Survey of the Middle East
Survey of the History of Modern Science
Survey of Modern Africa
Electives (24 credits total) 1
Regional emphasis12
Select 12 credits from one of the regions below, with no more than three of the credits coming from outside the department.
Global-transregional/religions6
Select six credits from the global-transregional/religions courses listed below.
Additional electives6
Select six credits of electives from any 200, 300, or 400-level HIS courses.
Total Credits40
1

The 400-level elective HIS courses have the same workload and expectations as 300-level HIS courses, and are open to all juniors, seniors, and sophomores with appropriate preparation.

Regional emphasis electives

Select 12 credits from one region.

Africa and African Diaspora
African Environmental History
Women and Gender in Africa
African Nationalism
Colonial Africa
20th Century Civil Rights Movement
British Empire
Asia
The Vietnam War Era
History of Hinduism
Themes in Chinese History
History of China
Modern South Asia
Gandhi and the World
Imperialism in Asia and the Pacific
Women in South Asia
The Idea of Asia
Modern Japan
Postwar Japan
Japanese Religions
British Empire
Religion and Conflict in Modern South Asia
Europe
Peoples and Cultures of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union
The Holocaust
The Ancient Greek World
Ancient Rome and the Mediterranean
Russia and the Soviet Union
The Middle Ages
Twentieth Century Europe
France and the French Empire: 1750-Present
Germany: 1848-1989
Spain to 1700
French Revolution
Women, Gender and Sexuality in Modern Europe
World War I
British Empire
Ireland and the World: 1500-present
Global Fascisms
Latin America
Nineteenth Century Latin America
Twentieth Century Latin America
Latin America: 1450-1830
U.S.-Latin American Relations
History of Mexico
Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Latin America
Middle East
History of Islam
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Human Rights and the Middle East
Ancient Iraq
Ancient Israel
History of Babylonian Language and Culture I
History of Babylonian Language and Culture II
Ancient Turkey
Iran before Islam
Women and Gender in the Middle East
Ancient Syria
United States
Women and Gender in the Modern United States: 1890-Present
History of Motherhood in the United States
Ethnic America
U.S. Reform Movements
History of U.S. Science and Technology
Native American History
The Vietnam War Era
American Environmental History
Exhibition Development and Design I
Twentieth Century United States
Introduction to Public and Policy History
Wisconsin History
Public Education in Wisconsin and America
The World War II Era
Civil War and Reconstruction
America in the Cold War
Latinos in the United States: 1450-2000
La Crosse Wisconsin in World History
U.S.-Latin American Relations
Crime and Punishment in America
U.S. Labor History
The American West
Social Justice Informed Public History
Material Culture
20th Century Civil Rights Movement
History of Wisconsin State and Local Government
Exhibition Development and Design II
Total Credits: 12

Global-transregional/religions electives

Select six credits from the following:

Money and Crime
Ethnic America
Comic Books and History
Peace and War
The World War II Era
Modern Christianity
History of Buddhism
History of Hinduism
History of Islam
History of Religions
Christianity to 1517
La Crosse Wisconsin in World History
Sugar, Coffee, Rubber, Bananas: Commodities in World History
Origins of Cities
France and the French Empire: 1750-Present
Modern South Asia
Imperialism in Asia and the Pacific
Slavery
Modern Japan
Postwar Japan
Migration and Empire: 1200-1900
British Empire
Topics in Cultural History
Ireland and the World: 1500-present
Religion and Conflict in Modern South Asia
Global Fascisms
Total Credits: 6

All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR. 

College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH/VPA) Bachelor of Arts core requirements

The following conditions apply to one or both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees:

  1. Students majoring in English (writing and rhetoric or literary and cultural studies emphases) or in the department of global cultures and languages must earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Education majors earn a Bachelor of Science degree; English major: medical professions emphasis majors may earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
  2. Students majoring in other CASSH programs may choose either a B.A. or a B.S. degree.
  3. Language courses (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA) used to fulfill general education requirement: "Mathematical/logical systems and modern languages" (GE 02, category 2) may also be used to meet the B.A. and B.S. language requirements.
  4. All other courses used to meet the requirements below must be in addition to the minimum 42 credits required in the General Education Program.
  5. At least one course in the B.A. or B.S. college degree program (core requirements) must be a CASSH designated diversity course.
  6. Applicable courses may be found on the CASSH B.A./B.S. Degree Option Course List or in the Advisement Report (AR) when the degree has been declared.

Courses used to fulfill general education requirements will not apply to core requirements except for language courses (ARA, CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA) that count in the general education requirement: "Mathematical/logical systems and modern languages" (GE 02, category 2).

Declare ONE of the following tracks in the CASSH Academic Services Office in 138 Wimberly:

A. Language track

  1. Native speakers of English complete:
    Select one of the following:
    Intermediate Arabic II
    Chinese Language and Culture in Action II
    French Language and Cultures in Action II
    Intermediate Languages II
    German Language and Cultures in Action II
    Hmong Heritage Language: Intermediate
    Hmong Heritage Language: Advanced
    Intermediate Japanese II
    Russian Language and Cultures in Action II
    Spanish Language and Cultures in Action II
    Introduction to Spanish for the Health Professions
    Non-native speakers of English: provide English proficiency evidence acceptable for admission to UWL as a degree seeking student; or complete ESL 252 or ESL 253, and one additional course from ESL 250, ESL 251, ESL 252, ESL 253 (maximum of four credits from these courses applicable to general education). UWL does not regularly offer these courses, thus transferring in their equivalency(ies) is the likely way to earn credit English as a Second Language coursework. Native English speakers are not eligible to earn credit in ESL courses. Contact the CASSH Dean's Office for eligibility and regulations. 
  2. Two additional courses outside of the student's major in two of the following: humanities, social sciences or fine arts.

B. Humanities track

  1. One global language course 102 or higher; and
  2. Two additional courses outside the department of the student's major from two different departments chosen from: communication studies, English, history, philosophy and race, gender, and sexuality studies (see the Advisement Report (AR) for a listing of the approved courses); and
  3. One additional course in social sciences or fine arts.

C. Fine arts track

  1. One global language course 102 or higher; and
  2. Two additional courses outside the department of the student's major from two different departments chosen from: art, music, theatre; and
  3. One additional course in social sciences or humanities.
In addition to all other College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities core requirements, all students in CASSH must complete a second major, minor, or program option by satisfying one of the following:
  1. Complete a minor (or second major) outside of the student's major program, consisting of at least 18 credits; or
  2. Complete an emphasis, program or concentration of at least 18 credits outside the student's major program. General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements; or
  3. Complete 18 credits in two or more departments or programs (at least 12 credits earned at the 300/400 level). These courses must be outside the student's major department and can be from any college. General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements.

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with 15 or fewer credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HIS 110 (Gen Ed World History)3ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy - Written)3
Gen Ed Self & Society3FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar)3
CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy - Oral)3Gen Ed Natural Lab Science4
Gen Ed Math4Gen Ed Minority Cultures3
Gen Ed Arts2-3HIS Core Course (HIS 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 280, or 285)3
 15 16
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
HIS 2003HIS Core Course (HIS 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 280, or 285)3
102+ Level Gen Ed/CASSH Core Language14Gen Ed Arts2-3
CASSH Core Course3History Elective3
Gen Ed Global Studies3Gen Ed Health & Well-Being3
HIS Core Course (HIS 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 280, or 285)3Minor Course3
 16 14
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Minor Course3CASSH Core Course3
Gen Ed Humanistic Studies3Global-Transregional/Religions History Course3
Regional History Course23CASSH Core Course3
University Elective3Regional History Course23
Regional History Course23Minor Course3
 15 15
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Regional History Course23Minor Course3
HIS 4904History Elective3
Minor Course3Global-Transregional/Religions History Course3
Minor Course3CASSH Core Diversity Course3
University Elective1University Elective3
 14 15
Total Credits: 120

At least two courses must be designed as writing emphasis. 

1

CASSH Core Humanities and Fine Arts Tracks require 102+ level language. CASSH Core Language Track requires 202 level language. Students unprepared for 202 level will need to complete prerequisite course work. 

2

Complete 12 credits from one region: Africa and African Diaspora, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, or United States.