School of Arts and Humanities
Historical Studies (B.A.)
Students who complete the major in Historical Studies may design distinctive degree programs by selecting among courses in historical and philosophical methods and approaches, traditional historical surveys, and specific historical and philosophical topics. Students are encouraged to focus their work in Historical Studies on a particular time or place, a significant theme, topic, or problem, or an approach to learning such as literature, the arts, ideas, science and technology, or the social sciences. Students may also be certified to teach history and/or social studies and/or English.
Since the following catalog course descriptions are very general, students are urged to consult the detailed course descriptions available on the web site for the School of Arts and Humanities.
Courses in Historical Studies are open to all students in the university.
Bachelor of Arts in Historical Studies
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours
Communication (6 hours)
3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
3 hours Communication Elective (HUMA 3300)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
6 hours Government (GOVT 2301 and GOVT 2302)
6 hours American History
3 hours Social and Behavioral Science Elective
Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
3 hours Fine Arts
3 hours Humanities
Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
II. Major Requirements, Lower Division: 3 hours
PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy or equivalent
III. Major Requirements, Upper Division: 42 hours
Major Core Courses (6 hours)
HIST 3301 Historical Inquiry
HUMA 3300 Reading and Writing Texts2
Major Distribution and Elective Courses (24 hours)
3 hours of upper-division courses from each of the following groups:
European Historical Studies
Asian, African, and Latin American Historical Studies
Studies in Philosophy and Intellectual History
Historical Studies with content before 1800
12 hours of upper-division Historical Studies electives
Major-Related Courses (12 hours)
Students may select any combination of upper-division courses in Art and Performance, Art History, Visual Arts, Arts & Technology, Communications, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Emerging Media & Communication, Film Studies, Literature and Language, and/or Music.
IV. Elective Requirements: 33 hours
Advanced Electives (6 hours)
Students are required to take six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. These must be upper-division classes.
Upper-Level Elective (3 hours)
Students are required to take three hours of upper-division courses which may be within or outside their major field of study.
Free Electives (24 hours)
Both upper-and lower-division courses may be used as electives, but students must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.
1. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parentheses are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
2. A required Major course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement.