History

Degree Type

Bachelor of Science

About

Learning about the past always adds value to where you want to take your future.  

Introduction

In a world so focused on science and technology, what’s the demand for a liberal arts degree like history? A history degree isn’t only about learning the facts about major societal events or ancient civilizations. It’s also about teaching you to think critically, creatively, and even empathetically about the context, the cultures, and the conflicts that inspired those events, civilizations, and ultimately—your life today.  

You can choose to major or minor in History

You’ll learn how to: 

  • Think critically about American history 

  • Appreciate African Americans’ contributions to the development of American society 

  • Value history and culture of other countries 

  • Analyze, synthesize, and interpret historical events 

  • Understand the impact of the past on the present 

  • Use research methods to collect, analyze, and evaluate historical data

Study the Past, Change the Future

Choose 1 of 4 history concentrations: 

  • African American history 

  • African history 

  • History/social studies education 

  • United States history 

Regardless of your chosen concentration, our history degree prepares you for graduate or professional school, teaching, or any other career with research or analytical responsibilities. Students interested in a specific concentration should notify their advisor as early as possible, so the department can assign an advisor.

Students studying

750+ Course Options

The Coppin State University Academic Catalog has a wide variety of skill-building courses designed to inspire and prepare you to be in-demand professionals and transformational leaders.

Program Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in History, you must complete 120 credit hours. These credit hours split among:

General Education Requirements (12 credits)

All history majors must take a pair of GER courses for 6 credits. Choose from the following groups:

Course Name
HIST 201 World History I
HIST 202 World History II
OR
HIST 203 U.S. History I
HIST 204 U.S. History II
OR
HIST 205 African American History I
HIST 206 African American History II

Note: Students may not mix courses from different groups.

Remember! You must complete all major and prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher.

How to Choose a Concentration

All history majors may choose a concentration, if desired. We recommend you tell the department as soon as possible, so we can assign an advisor to help you design your course schedule based on your different concentration requirements. 

Each concentration has the same section requirements: 

  • Survey courses 

  • Upper level courses

  • Departmental electives 

Remember, you must earn a grade of C or higher in any courses required for the history major—and that includes your concentration courses as well. 

Each section below details the specific concentration requirements. 

African History Concentration

This concentration requires 36 credits.

In addition to GER requirements, African history majors must also take 6 more survey credit hours from the following options. 

Course   Name
HIST 201   World History I
HIST 202   World History II
  OR  
HIST 203   U.S. History I
HIST 204   U.S. History II
  OR  
HIST 205   African American History I
HIST 206   African American History II

African history majors must also take the following courses: 

Course   Name
HIST 207   Introduction to Africa
HIST 315   Modern Africa
HIST 440   Seminar in African History
HIST 423   Methods of Historical Research
GEOG 101   Elements of Geography
  OR  
GEOG 102   World Regional Geography

African history majors must also take at least 15 departmental electives, across concentration electives, support electives, and geography electives. Students may also take electives not included on this list, but must first get departmental approval. 

Concentration Electives (6 credits)

Course Name
HIST 313 Ancient Africa
HIST 405 History of Latin America
HIST 430 History of West Africa
HIST 432 History of Central Africa
HIST 436 History of South Africa
HIST 438 History of East Africa
HIST 442 Special Topics in History

 

Support Electives (6 credits)

Course Name
HIST 304 Problems I
HIST 305 Problems II
HIST 354 Modern Civil Rights
HIST 404 Modern Asia
HIST 407 U.S. Foreign Policy
HIST 410 Europe I
HIST 411 Europe II
HIST 426 History of the Middle East
HIST 442 Special Topics in History
HIST 450 Seminar in Global Studies

 

Geography Electives (3 credits)

Course Name
GEOG 101 Elements of Geography
GEOG 102 World Regional Geography
GEOG 302 North American Geography
GEOG 303 Tools and Technology 
GEOG 304 Latin America
GEOG 306 Urban Geography
GEOG 402 Political Geography
GEOG 405 Geography of Africa

African-American History Concentration

This concentration requires 36 credits.

In addition to GER requirements (HIST 201/202 or HIST 203/204), African American history majors must also take 6 more survey credit hours. 

Course   Name
HIST 205   African American History I
HIST 206   African American History II

African American history majors must also take the following courses: 

Course   Name
HIST 420   Seminar in African-American History
HIST 423   Methods of Historical Research
GEOG 101   Elements of Geography
  OR  
GEOG 102   World Regional Geography

African American history majors must also take at least 21 departmental electives, across concentration electives, support electives, and geography electives. Students may also take electives not included on this list, but must first get departmental approval. 

Concentration Electives (9 credits)

Course   Name
HIST 207   Introduction to Africa
  OR  
HIST 304   Problems I
HIST 430   History of West Africa
  OR  
HIST 305   Problems II
HIST 318   African Americans in Cities
HIST 348   African American Women
HIST 350   African American Intellectual History
HIST 354   Modern Civil Rights Movement
HIST 393   Civil War and Reconstruction
HIST 442   Special Topics in History

 

Support Electives (9 credits)

Course Name
HIST 301 History of Maryland
HIST 304 Problems I
HIST 305 Problems II
HIST 313 Ancient Africa
HIST 315 Modern Africa
HIST 319 Urban America
HIST 405 Latin America
HIST 407 U.S. Foreign Policy
HIST 410 Europe I
HIST 411 Europe II
HIST 428 History of Women
HIST 442 Special Topics in History
HIST 450 Seminar in Global Studies

 

Geography Electives (3 credits)

Course Name
GEOG 101 Elements of Geography
GEOG 102 World Regional Geography
GEOG 202 Geography of Maryland
GEOG 302 North American Geography
GEOG 303 Tools and Technology 
GEOG 306 Urban Geography
GEOG 405 Geography of Africa

United States History Concentration

This concentration requires 36 credits.

In addition to GER requirements (HIST 201/202 or HIST 205/206), U.S. history majors must also take 6 more survey credit hours from the following options. 

Course   Name
HIST 203   U.S. History I
HIST 204   U.S. History II

U.S. history majors must also take the following courses: 

Course   Name
HIST 422   Seminar in American History
HIST 423   Methods of Historical Research
GEOG 101   Elements of Geography
  OR  
GEOG 102   World Regional Geography

U.S. history majors must also take at least 21 departmental electives, across concentration electives, support electives, and geography electives. Students may also take electives not included on this list, but must first get departmental approval. 

Concentration Electives (9 credits)

Course Name
HIST 301 History of Maryland
HIST 304 Problems I
HIST 305 Problems II
HIST 319 Urban America
HIST 354 Modern Civil Rights Movement
HIST 393 Civil War and Reconstruction
HIST 407 U.S. Foreign Policy
HIST 428 History of Women
HIST 442 Special Topics in History

 

Support Electives (9 credits)

Course Name
HIST 318 African Americans in Cities
HIST 350 African American Intellectual History
HIST 405 Latin America
HIST 406 Russia
HIST 410 Europe I
HIST 411 Europe II
HIST 424 Internship
HIST 430 West Africa
MNSC Economic History of U.S.

 

Geography Electives (3 credits)

Course Name
GEOG 202 Geography of Maryland
GEOG 302 North American Geography
GEOG 303 Tools and Technology 
GEOG 306 Urban Geography
GEOG 342 Political Geography

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