School of Arts and Humanities

Historical Studies (BA)

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 semester credit hours)¹

I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours²

Communication: 6 semester credit hours

COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication

RHET 1302 Rhetoric

Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours

Choose one course from the following:

MATH 1306 College Algebra for the Non-Scientist

MATH 1314 College Algebra

Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics core courses

Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours

Select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences core courses

Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours

Choose one course from the following:

HUMA 1301 Exploration of the Humanities

LIT 2331 Masterpieces of World Literature

PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy

PHIL 2316 History of Philosophy I

PHIL 2317 History of Philosophy II

Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture core courses

Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours

Choose one course from the following:

ARTS 1301 Exploration of the Arts

AHST 1303 Survey of Western Art History: Ancient to Medieval

AHST 1304 Survey of Western Art History: Renaissance to Modern

AHST 2331 Understanding Art

DANC 1310 Understanding Dance

DRAM 1310 Understanding Theater

FILM 2332 Understanding Film

MUSI 1306 Understanding Music

American History: 6 semester credit hours

Choose two courses from the following:

HIST 1301 U.S. History Survey to Civil War

HIST 1302 U.S. History Survey from Civil War

HIST 2301 History of Texas

HIST 2330 Themes and Ideas in American History

HIST 2332 Civil War and Reconstruction

Government / Political Science: 6 semester credit hours

GOVT 2305 American National Government

GOVT 2306 State and Local Government

Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours

Select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences core courses

Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours

Choose two courses from the following or other Component Area option courses:

ARHM 2340 Creativity

ARHM 2341 Global Media

ARHM 2342 Connections in the Arts and Humanities

ARHM 2343 Science and the Humanities

ARHM 2344 World Cultures

II. Major Requirements, Lower-Division: 3-4 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum

PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy or equivalent

ARHM 1100 Freshman Seminar

UNIV 1010 Freshman Seminar

III. Major Requirements, Upper-Division: 42 semester credit hours

Major Core Courses: 6 semester credit hours

HIST 3301 Historical Inquiry

ARHM 3342 Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies in the Arts and Humanities

Major Distribution and Elective Courses: 24 semester credit hours

Select any 3 semester credit 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

And 12 semester credit hours of upper-division Historical Studies electives

Major-Related Courses: 12 semester credit hours

Students may select any combination of upper-division courses in Arts and Humanities, Art and Performance, Art History, Visual Arts, Communications, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Film Studies, Humanities, Literature and Language, and/or Music.

IV. Elective Requirements: 32-33 semester credit hours

Free Electives: 32-33 semester credit hours

Both upper-and lower-division courses may be used as electives, but students must complete at least 51 semester credit hours of upper-division courses to qualify for graduation.

1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.

2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.