History, B.A.
Informed, engaged, creative: Students of history at Saint Louis University learn the values and skills foundational to a wide range of careers. Open the door to your future by studying the past. History majors become leaders in law, public policy, education, business, medicine and technology. They work in higher education and government, for nonprofits and NGOs, and as entrepreneurs and marketing associates.
With 18 full-time faculty members, 90+ undergraduate majors and minors, and nearly 1,000 undergraduates in our courses every semester, SLU's Department of History offers small classes, one-on-one mentoring, and opportunities to engage in internships and individualized research.
The department’s award-winning teachers are deeply committed to helping students grow as thinkers and as human beings in the best of the Jesuit educational model.
A major or minor in history will sharpen your minds and open your eyes—so that when you’re finally ready to embark on the experience that will make you you, you’ll have the confidence of being able to say—“I know who I am because I know my history.”
Additional program highlights include:
- Students in our courses are guided by professors who are outstanding writers and engaging speakers and leading experts in their fields. Our faculty members have written for The New York Times and the Washington Post, and been interviewed on PBS, NPR and St. Louis Public Radio.
- The history undergraduate program hosts vibrant extracurricular events which help students network, hone their skills, and share their passions for history.
- The department’s stellar internship program allows students to pursue their particular interests while deepening skills and professional connections. Through internships, SLU's history majors and minors have diversified elementary school curricula, shaped museum exhibitions, created podcasts, and researched historic foodways for an award-winning St. Louis restaurant.
Curriculum Overview
History majors at SLU are educated in basic intellectual and communication skills valued in business, journalism, public service and law, among other fields. In recent years, undergraduates have augmented studies in history with education, political science, foreign language or business administration — combinations that have proven attractive in medicine, business and government service.
Saint Louis University history students learn to interpret a variety of sources, develop the skills to find relevant information and evidence, and articulate an argument. They practice clear and forceful writing.
Fieldwork and Research Opportunities
SLU's Department of History offers a variety of internships with museums and other historical organizations, most of which are eligible for course credit. Internship opportunities in the St. Louis area include:
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
- Campbell House Museum
- Discovery Expedition of St. Charles
- Eugene Field House and Toy Museum
- Holocaust Museum
- Jefferson Barracks
- Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Achieves
- Landmarks Association of St. Louis
- Lincoln Home and National Historic Site
- Midwest Jesuit Achieves
- Missouri History Museum
- National Archives Records Center
- Saint Louis University Art Museum
- Scott Joplin House
- Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
Careers
- History majors have gone on to fulfilling careers in law, public policy, education, business, medicine, and technology. They work in secondary education and government, for non-profits and NGOs, and as entrepreneurs.
- History majors and minors learn to excel in writing, oral presentation, and research; these skills can be applied in a broad range of fields from law, to education, to medicine and business.
- Students interested in the sciences often discover that having a major or minor in History diversifies their academic training and makes their applications to graduate and medical schools even more competitive.
- History majors learn to communicate effectively, reason creatively, and understand the human impact and issues connected to a career. People with these skills become leaders in their fields.
As one recent graduate said, “There are so many potential jobs to do when you are talented at writing, speaking and researching. History majors build all those skills on a daily basis!”
Admission Requirements
Begin Your Application
Saint Louis University also accepts the Common Application.
Freshman
All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.
To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test.
Transfer
Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED.
Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).
In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.
International Applicants
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
- Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
- Proof of financial support must include:
- A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
- A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
- Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
- Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
- Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.
For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit www.slu.edu/financial-aid.
- Graduates will be able to call to mind and explain significant historical facts in appropriate contexts.
- Graduates will be able to critically evaluate and analyze primary sources to produce reasoned historical interpretations.
- Graduates will be able to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of historical narratives and interpretations.
- Graduates will be able to produce correct, cogent and effectively structured statements on historical topics.
- Graduates will be able to produce research in which they interpret primary sources in order to propose informed, original solutions to historical problems.
- Graduates will be able to articulate meaningful relationships between contemporary issues and historical facts, interpretations and skills.
History students must complete a minimum of 36 credits for the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Undergraduate Core | 32-35 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| HIST 1110 | Origins of the Modern World to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 1120 | Origins of the Modern World (1500 to Present) | 3 |
| HIST 2800 | Historian's Craft: Methods Proseminar | 3 |
| European History | ||
| Select one course with the European History attribute. Examples of such courses, which are commonly taught, are: | 3 | |
HIST 3020 | The Roman Empire | |
HIST 3030 | The Byzantine World: Faith and Power in a Thousand-Year Empire | |
HIST 3040 | From Barbarians to Crusaders: Europe in the Early Middle Ages | |
HIST 3046 | Medieval Castles in History and Archaeology | |
HIST 3050 | From Cathedrals to Printing Presses: Europe in the Late Middle Ages | |
HIST 3090 | The Age of Renaissance | |
HIST 3100 | The Reformation Era | |
HIST 3120 | French Revolution and Napoleon, 1789-1815 | |
HIST 3140 | Twentieth Century Europe: Era of World Wars, 1914-1945 | |
HIST 3280 | Russia to 1905 | |
HIST 3290 | Russia Since 1905 | |
HIST 3760 | Medieval Spain | |
| Pre-1865 U.S. History | ||
| Select one course with the Pre-1865 U.S. History attribute. Examples of such courses, which are commonly taught, are: | 3 | |
HIST 1600 | History of the United States of America to 1865 | |
HIST 3480 | U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850-1877 | |
HIST 3580 | American Slavery | |
HIST 3640 | History of the American West | |
HIST 3660 | History of Nature in America | |
HIST 3700 | U.S. Constitutional History | |
| Post-1865 U.S. History | ||
| Select once course with the Post-1865 U.S. History attribute. Examples of such courses, which are commonly taught, are: | 3 | |
HIST 1610 | History of the United States Since 1865 | |
HIST 3250 | World in Conflict Since 1945 | |
HIST 3480 | U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850-1877 | |
HIST 3500 | Progressive Era to the Jazz Age, 1890-1920 | |
HIST 3600 | U.S. History in Film | |
HIST 3610 | Civil Rights in America, 1865-1965 | |
HIST 3640 | History of the American West | |
HIST 3660 | History of Nature in America | |
HIST 3700 | U.S. Constitutional History | |
| World History (Asian, African, Middle Eastern, or Latin American) | ||
| Select one course with the World History attribute. Examples of such courses, which are commonly taught, are: | 3 | |
HIST 1710 | China and Japan Since 1600 | |
HIST 1740 | Peoples and Pandemics in History | |
HIST 2730 | Crossroads of the World: The Middle East and North Africa Through History | |
HIST 3030 | The Byzantine World: Faith and Power in a Thousand-Year Empire | |
HIST 3170 | Colonial Latin America | |
HIST 3220 | The Jesuits in Asia | |
HIST 3250 | World in Conflict Since 1945 | |
HIST 3720 | Cultural Encounters 1500-1700 | |
| History Electives | ||
| Choose 12 credits for courses above 1120 with the HIST subject code. | 12 | |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| HIST 4900 | Seminar in European History | 3 |
| or HIST 4901 | Sem: American History | |
| or HIST 4902 | Seminar in World History | |
| General Electives | 49-52 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Senior Thesis
HIST 4991 History Senior Thesis (3 cr) will be conducted as an independent study/research course for writing an honors thesis. It is an opportunity for superior students who want to expand and revise a paper for a previous 3000 or 4000 level history course into an honors thesis. This option will give the student a chance to develop and demonstrate advanced research and writing skills. It will be excellent preparation for graduate or professional schools, some of which require applicants to submit a writing sample. This course runs for one semester. Students wishing to spend a year on their thesis may sign up one semester earlier for HIST 4990 History Senior Thesis Prep (3 cr).
Internships
The Department of History offers a variety of internships HIST 4910 Internship/History in Practice (1-6 cr); for example, in an archive, a museum, a historical site, or on specific projects.
Continuation Standards
- Grade of a B- or better in:
- HIST 1110 Origins of the Modern World to 1500 (0,3 cr)
- HIST 1120 Origins of the Modern World (1500 to Present) (0,3 cr)
- A 2.00 minimum GPA for all history courses.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits (excluding pre-college level courses numbered below 1000).
- Complete the University Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements.
- Complete major requirements: minimum 30 credits required.
- Complete remaining credits with a second major, minor, certificate and/or electives to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for graduation.
- Achieve at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, a 2.00 grade point average in the major(s) and a 2.00 grade point average in the minor/certificate, or related elective credits.
- Complete department-/program-specific academic and performance requirements.
- Complete at least 50% of the coursework for the major and 75% for the minor/certificate through Saint Louis University or an approved study abroad program.
- Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through Saint Louis University or an approved study abroad program.
- Complete an online degree application by the required University deadline.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| HIST 1110 | Origins of the Modern World to 1500 1 | 3 |
| CORE 1000 | Ignite First Year Seminar (Must be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes. History Options: CORE 1000 A Medieval Murder Mystery: The World of AD 1327; CORE 1000 The Gods of the Others: The Sacred, Identities, and Communities) | 2-3 |
| CORE 1500 | Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community (Must be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes / Must be taken at SLU) | 1 |
| CORE 1900 | Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written and Visual Communication (Should be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes. Or HIST 1200 Communicating About History) | 3 |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIST 1120 | Origins of the Modern World (1500 to Present) (satisfies CORE 3400) 1 | 3 |
| CORE 3200 | Ways of Thinking: Quantitative Reasoning (Should be taken in first 45 credit hours at SLU) | 3 |
| CORE 1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| HIST 2800 | Historian's Craft: Methods Proseminar | 3 |
| HIST 1600 | History of the United States of America to 1865 (satisfies CORE 3400) | 3 |
| CORE 1200 | Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication (Should be taken in first 60 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) | 3 |
| CORE 1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
| General Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIST 1610 | History of the United States Since 1865 (satisfies CORE 3400) | 3 |
| HIST Elective above 1120: European History 4 | 3 | |
| CORE 3800 | Ways of Thinking: Natural and Applied Sciences | 3 |
| CORE 2500 | Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation | 0 |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| HIST Elective above 1120: World History 2 | 3 | |
| HIST Elective Upper Level | taken any time | 3 |
| CORE 2800 | Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression | 2-3 |
| CORE 3400 or HIST 1120 or HIST 3120 or HIST 3640 |
Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture or Origins of the Modern World (1500 to Present) or French Revolution and Napoleon, 1789-1815 or History of the American West |
3 |
| General Electives | 4 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIST Elective above 1120: U.S. History | taken any time 5 | 3 |
| HIST Elective Upper Level | taken any time | 3 |
| CORE 3600 | Ways of Thinking: Social and Behavioral Sciences (taken any time) | 3 |
| CORE 4000 | Collaborative Inquiry | 2-3 |
| General Electives | 4 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| HIST 4900 or HIST 4901 or HIST 4902 |
Seminar in European History or Sem: American History or Seminar in World History |
3 |
| HIST Elective Upper Level | taken any time | 3 |
| CORE 3500 | Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World | 1 |
| General Electives | 8 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIST 4900 or HIST 4901 or HIST 4902 |
Seminar in European History or Sem: American History or Seminar in World History |
3 |
| HIST Elective Upper Level | taken any time | 3 |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120-123 | |
- 1
One, but not both, of these courses may be fulfilled by AP credit.
- 2
Fulfills World Distribution Requirement (for a full list of courses that meet this requirement, see the list below).
- 3
Fulfills U.S. pre-1865 Distribution Requirement (for a full list of courses that meet this requirement, see the list below).
- 4
Fulfills Europe Distribution Requirement (for a full list of courses that meet this requirement, see the list below).
- 5
Fulfills U.S. post-1865 Distribution Requirement (for a full list of courses that meet this requirement, see list below).
Program Notes
The history major requires successful completion of courses above 1120 in the following areas: pre-1865 U.S. history, post-1865 U.S. history, European history and World history. At least one course must be a 4000-level seminar. Please refer to the list of seminars for majors.
Senior thesis (3 or 6 credits, counting toward electives) and internship options available.
European History (3 Credits)
Courses with the European history attribute. All are 3 credit courses. Examples of commonly taught courses are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
HIST 3000 | Ancient Greece | |
HIST 3020 | The Roman Empire | |
HIST 3030 | The Byzantine World: Faith and Power in a Thousand-Year Empire | |
HIST 3040 | From Barbarians to Crusaders: Europe in the Early Middle Ages | |
HIST 3050 | From Cathedrals to Printing Presses: Europe in the Late Middle Ages | |
HIST 3090 | The Age of Renaissance | |
HIST 3100 | The Reformation Era | |
HIST 3120 | French Revolution and Napoleon, 1789-1815 | |
HIST 3140 | Twentieth Century Europe: Era of World Wars, 1914-1945 | |
HIST 3250 | World in Conflict Since 1945 | |
HIST 3280 | Russia to 1905 | |
HIST 3290 | Russia Since 1905 | |
HIST 3320 | Early Modern History of Spain:1469-1818 | |
HIST 3720 | Cultural Encounters 1500-1700 | |
HIST 3760 | Medieval Spain |
Pre-1865 U.S. History (3 credits)
Courses with the Pre-1865 U.S. history attribute. All are 3 credit courses. Examples of commonly taught courses are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
HIST 1600 | History of the United States of America to 1865 | |
HIST 3480 | U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850-1877 | |
HIST 3580 | American Slavery | |
HIST 3640 | History of the American West | |
HIST 3660 | History of Nature in America | |
HIST 3700 | U.S. Constitutional History |
Post-1865 U.S. History (3 Credits)
Courses with the Post-1865 U.S. history attribute. Examples of commonly taught courses are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
HIST 1610 | History of the United States Since 1865 | |
HIST 3250 | World in Conflict Since 1945 | |
HIST 3480 | U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850-1877 | |
HIST 3500 | Progressive Era to the Jazz Age, 1890-1920 | |
HIST 3600 | U.S. History in Film | |
HIST 3640 | History of the American West | |
HIST 3660 | History of Nature in America | |
HIST 3700 | U.S. Constitutional History |
World History (3 Credits)
Asian, African, Middle Eastern, or Latin American
Courses with the World history attribute. All are 3 credit courses. Examples of commonly taught courses are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 1700 | China and Japan To 1600: Histories, Cultures, Identities | 3 |
| HIST 1710 | China and Japan Since 1600 | 3 |
| HIST 2730 | Crossroads of the World: The Middle East and North Africa Through History | 3 |
| HIST 3030 | The Byzantine World: Faith and Power in a Thousand-Year Empire | 3 |
| HIST 3170 | Colonial Latin America | 3 |
| HIST 3220 | The Jesuits in Asia | 3 |
| HIST 3240 | Africa since 1884 | 3 |
| HIST 3250 | World in Conflict Since 1945 | 3 |
Senior Research Seminars (3 Credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 4900 | Seminar in European History | 3 |
| HIST 4901 | Sem: American History | 3 |
| HIST 4902 | Seminar in World History | 3 |
Internship (3 credits - may be taken twice)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 4910 | Internship/History in Practice | 3-6 |
Senior Thesis (3-6 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 4990 | History Senior Thesis Prep (optional) | 3 |
| HIST 4991 | History Senior Thesis | 3 |
Students can complete all or part of the history major at SLU’s campus in Madrid.