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History Department

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History Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of 100-level courses, students should:

  • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of broad historical events in the specific content area;
  • Understand the process by which historians evaluate historical sources;
  • Use evidence/primary documents to formulate interpretations;
  • Gain experience presenting persuasive analysis.

Upon completion of 200-level courses, students should:

  • Demonstrate a broad knowledge of significant historical events in the specific content area during a well-defined period or within a particular thematic focus;
  • Engage in the process of historical interpretation through analysis of documents;
  • Discern historical argumentation and compare different approaches;
  • Demonstrate the ability to retrieve course materials from electronic databases and learning platforms;
  • Present coherent and persuasive arguments in oral and written form.

Upon completion of 300-level courses, students should:

  • Demonstrate familiarity with a range of historical interpretations in a well-defined subject area;
  • Apply their analytical skills to complex historical questions and debates;
  • Demonstrate the ability to compare and synthesize multiple historical interpretations;
  • Present coherent and persuasive arguments in oral and written form;
  • Demonstrate a familiarity with research methods, including the use of electronic databases.

Upon completion of 400-level courses, students should:

  • Understand ethical issues historians face as interpreters of the past;
  • Design their own research project that exhibits their ability to develop a thesis, collect and interpret data, and correctly cite sources or work closely with the internship coordinator to develop and complete an internship project;
  • Formally present research findings (if applicable) in a persuasive, coherent, and professional manner.