Cleveland State University: A Deep Dive into History Academics and Programs
Cleveland State University (CSU) offers a robust history program designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the past and equip them with essential skills for a variety of careers. The Department of History provides a rich environment for undergraduate and graduate students alike, with opportunities for close interaction with faculty, diverse areas of study, and practical experience through internships.
Undergraduate Programs: Building a Foundation in Historical Knowledge
The Department offers three major programs for undergraduates: History, Digital Humanities, and Social Studies. All three majors are grounded in history, and the curriculum provides the context for a liberal education, the tools to understand ourselves and our contemporary world, and the skills for an educated person to live a more fulfilled and gratifying life in a wide range of careers.
History Major: A Broad Exploration of the Past
The History major is designed for students interested in a broad history degree. It provides students with a solid foundation in historical knowledge and skills, preparing them for a variety of careers or graduate study.
Digital Humanities Major: Weaving History with Technology
The Digital Humanities major caters to students interested in digital storytelling and web design.
Social Studies Major: Shaping Future Educators
The Social Studies major is tailored for students interested in history and social studies education.
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Benefits of Studying History: More Than Just Dates and Names
Studying history at CSU is more than just memorizing facts, names, and dates. The emphasis is on accessing and analyzing information, the critical use of historical sources, learning to communicate the results, and the excitement which comes from exploring important ideas. The study of History provides important training in critical thinking, analysis, research and writing - skills that remain essential in today’s job market. Because of these various functions, we study history for many reasons:
- To better understand our society and the times in which we live.
- To better understand ourselves and to place our own society in historical perspective.
- To balance present-mindedness with historical memory.
- To acquire skills such as conducting research, communicating effectively through writing or oral communication, critical thinking, evaluating evidence, and problem-solving.
- To understand the roles which individuals and groups have played in shaping their worlds.
- For the enjoyment of examining societies very different or very similar to our own.
Navigating the Undergraduate Program
Detailed information about the undergraduate program can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog, accessible through the College of Arts and Sciences website. The catalog provides specifics on major/minor requirements, course descriptions, and program sheets.
Admission to the Major
After admission to the university, a student obtains an “Entrance Interview” packet from the History Department in RT 1319 that explains the advising procedures and asks the student for a writing sample and answers to a few questions. Once this information has been gathered, the student calls the History Department at 216-687-3920 to arrange for an initial advising appointment with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. The Director will evaluate transfer credits for the major and give the student a copy of the filled-out check-sheet. Following this advising session, students will receive a letter with the name of their individual faculty advisor in the department.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 36 hours is required for the major, at least 27 of which must be upper-level (300- or 400-level).
Diversity Requirements
Students are required to divide their 24 upper-level credits among at least four of the following seven geographical areas: North America, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, Asia/Pacific world, Africa, Middle East, and Transnational. At least two of the student’s upper-level credits (6 credit hours) must be in courses dealing with the pre-modern (before nineteenth century) period. These courses may also be used to fulfill the geographical distribution requirement.
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Capstone Requirement
Upon reaching at least 18 credit hours in History, students are required to take one capstone research seminar, HIS 401 - History Seminar (topics to vary by instructor). Pre-requisite HIS 299. No course with a grade below C may be counted toward the History major.
Thematic Concentration
As a means of fulfilling the requirements for the major, students are encouraged to consult with their advisor about the possibility of developing a thematic focus (e.g., African Diaspora, Atlantic world).
Transfer Students
Transfer students must complete a minimum of 21 credit hours in history courses (which must include HIS 299 and HIS 400 or HIS 401) taken in the Department of History at CSU in order to major in History.
Honors Program/University Scholars Requirements
Honors and Scholars students in history have to complete: A total of 4 Honors contract courses in upper-division history courses with a 3.5 average. 1 of the 4 courses will result in the production of a substantial historiographic essay. The remaining 3 courses will require 25-page papers at least one of which uses primary sources.
Accelerated 3+3 Degree
The CSU College of Law 3+3 program permits a student who has completed three years of undergraduate study to be admitted to the College of Law to begin J.D. studies. The undergraduate degree will be awarded upon successful completion of the first full year of the J.D. curriculum, thus permitting the student to graduate with both an undergraduate and law degrees in six rather than seven years of full-time study (or its equivalent). In effect, the first year of law school completes the fourth year of the undergraduate degree (serving, in effect, as undergraduate elective courses) and serves as the first year of law school. This arrangement saves both time and money for the student.
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Advising: A Key to Success
Students are urged to meet with their academic advisor in the History department on a regular basis and must do so prior to each semester in which they plan to enroll before they sign up for their courses. At these advising sessions, your major field requirement check sheet will be updated, and advice will be given on course selection; you will have an opportunity to ask about future plans, academic skills issues, internship opportunities, and graduate school or career preparation. Establishing a good personal relationship with your academic advisor is also useful when the time comes to ask for written references or letters of recommendation for future employment or graduate school application.
Completing the Major
When the Department of History receives your graduation application form, the Director of Graduate Studies will send you a letter to ask you to set up a formal "exit interview" that will include the History Major Exit Interview form. At the interview, you will be asked to submit a completed copy of the form, two short essays and a copy of your History 401 seminar paper, if it is completed. You will be requested to submit to the department reports of any assessment exams you may have taken (GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GDE, GMAT) as part of the graduate school application process or in seeking secondary teaching certification. This information and the interview will provide you the opportunity to critique the History Major program and give the department resources with which to make its own assessment of strengths and weaknesses. Because the "exit interview" is key to long-range assessment strategies required by the University, you must have completed the process and submitted the requested materials before the department will approve your graduation application. Be sure to keep this in mind as you near your expected graduation date.
Other Advising Resources
Advising for college and General Education requirements is provided by the A&S Advising Office in Berkman Hall(BH) 221(216.687.9321).
Graduate Programs: Advanced Study and Specialization
The History Department at CSU offers a Master of Arts (MA) in History, providing advanced training and opportunities for specialization. The program is designed to prepare students for doctoral programs, secondary-level teaching, and careers in public history. The Master of Arts in History program offers advanced training in American, African, Middle Eastern, Asian, European and Latin American history. The program encourages students to take courses in a range of geographic and temporal areas while allowing them the flexibility to focus on subjects that interest them. It strives to provide students not just historical content but also the ability to recognize and analyze themes and patterns across the historical landscape.
Areas of Study
The MA program offers flexibility, allowing students to focus on areas of interest, including:
- American History
- African History
- Middle Eastern History
- Asian History
- European History
- Latin American History
The History program at CSU offers you the opportunity to work closely with faculty that have expertise in US, European, Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and World history.
Master of Arts in History: Plan A and Plan B
Students may pursue either of two plans for the Master of Arts degree in History. Plan A requires the writing of a thesis, while Plan B requires additional courses in lieu of a thesis. The prospective student selects one of the programs in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. For both plans, students are required to complete a total of thirty credit hours in approved courses with at least a 3.0 grade-point average. Only one grade of B- may count towards the degree and grades below B- (C or F) will not count towards the degree. Depending on their undergraduate preparation in history, students, with approval, may take up to eight credit hours in courses outside of the History Department. For the policy on transferring credit from another institution, see the section on Transfer Credit in the Enrollment Regulations section of this Catalog. Upon admission, each student must consult with the Director of Graduate History Studies in order to establish a general plan of study. HIS 697 Independent Study in History can be taken only with the approval of the Graduate Program Director.
Special Requirements for Plan A
A minimum of 24 credit hours in 600-level courses, which must include:
- HIS 601 - Introduction to Graduate Study in History
- HIS 695 - Research Seminar in American, European, or Social History
- A minimum of four 600-level reading seminars (12 credits).
- HIS 699 - Thesis
The remaining 6 credit hours may be taken at the 500 level.
Special Requirements for Plan B
A minimum of eighteen credit hours in 600-level courses, which must include:
- HIS 601 - Introduction to Graduate Study in History
- HIS 695 - Research Seminar in American, European, or Social History
- A minimum of four 600-level reading seminars (18 credits).
The remaining 12 credit hours may be taken at the 500 level.
Museum Studies Specialization: An Interdisciplinary Approach
The History Department, in cooperation with the Art Department and the Levin College of Urban Affairs, offers an interdisciplinary program that leads to a Master of Arts degree in History with a specialization in Museum Studies. The program is broad in scope rather than highly specialized. Depth in a specialized area is achieved through HIS 599 - Internship in History, HIS 695 - Research Seminar in American, European, or Social History, and the elective courses.
Degree Requirements for Museum Studies Specialization
Students are required to complete a total of thirty to thirty-three (30-33) credit hours in approved courses with at least a 3.0 grade-point average.
Admission Information
In addition to College of Graduate Studies requirements for admission, applicants to the History program must have the following:
- An undergraduate major in history with a grade-point average of 3.0 or better, or sufficient undergraduate history courses with grades of B or better to serve as an indicator of probable success in the graduate history program.
- Two letters of recommendation, preferably from professors with whom the applicant has taken advanced undergraduate history courses.
- A writing sample that demonstrates the candidate's research, analytical, and writing abilities. The department prefers that applicants submit a substantial research paper from a history course of not more than 20 pages.
- Results of the Graduate Record Examination ( GRE) are desired from all applicants. GRE test results are required, however, for applicants who do not meet the College of Graduate Studies requirement of at least a 2.75 undergraduate GPA for admission.
- Under special circumstances, an applicant may remediate undergraduate deficiencies by enrolling as a non-degree student. Non-degree students must achieve a graduate GPA of 3.0 or better for twelve credit hours in approved courses to qualify for admission. Upon admission to the program, the twelve credits may be applied toward the degree.
Financial Assistance
The Department of History offers a number of graduate assistantships and internships to complement full-time study. Assistantships require approximately ten to twenty hours of service per week to the department, depending upon the award received. Graduate assistant responsibilities include tutoring students, assisting professors in the preparation of lectures and discussions, and working on departmental programs. Additional financial assistance may be available through various internship programs. Applicants interested in assistantships for the Fall Semester must complete their application packet by April 1st of the prior Spring Semester.
Career Information
The History MA program is intended to prepare students for entry into doctoral programs in history and art history. Graduates of the program also are prepared for secondary-level teaching in history and social studies, as well as careers in public history (i.e., the practice of history in a non-academic setting). The History MA program is designed to prepare students for employment in a variety of public and private settings, provide ongoing content-area enrichment for secondary school teachers, and facilitate entry into doctoral programs. It is particularly well suited for students who wish to pursue careers in public history, museum studies, and archival studies.
In addition, the master's program in history develops a variety of skills that are basic to success in many careers in business and other professions. Recent graduates have demonstrated skills in conceptualization, research, analysis, and oral and written communication in careers in banking, the media, insurance, journalism, law, marketing and advertising, publishing, and government service.
Faculty Research and Publications
All graduate faculty members participate in the activities of local and national historical associations and are active in research and publication in their fields of specialization. In recent years, faculty members have made significant scholarly contributions in the form of peer-reviewed books and articles on diverse topics, such as modern Germany, gender in late medieval and early modern Europe, 20th-century black popular culture, American labor and immigration history, sexuality and gender in China, tenantry and land ownership in the American revolution, tourism in New Orleans, Moroccan political and social history, modern Caribbean history, urban and public history, Latin American history, colonialism, and racial discourse and labor activism in the 19th century South. The MA program is designed to encourage students to interact closely with faculty in their areas of interest. Through research and reading seminars, independent study, and/or writing a master’s thesis, students are encouraged to develop independent research and writing skills.
Essential Career Skills Gained Through History
A critical part of the Liberal Arts tradition, History has been important in higher education for hundreds of years. While its basic assumptions and methodologies have changed over the centuries, its essential nature remains the same. Given the speed with which technologies and concepts change, more and more organizations are interested in generalists who are open to training for the specific tasks they will do. Equally important, individuals trained in basic thinking, research and writing skills will be in a good position to change with the times. The study of History is an excellent preparation for careers in business, communications, public affairs as well as teaching. within that larger context; Strong communication skills, both orally and in writing.
Career Paths for History Graduates
Certainly a large number of students who major in History/Social Studies go into teaching in public and independent middle and high schools. But many students who enjoy History do not have that interest, and it is important to realize that many, perhaps most, History majors do not enter the teaching profession. They use the skills acquired and knowledge gained for other occupations: many go into the study of law where they find their training in research and analysis to be very beneficial; others go into public history including work in museums, archives, and sites catering to the public’s increasing interest in the past. Students often work as interns as they prepare to enter these fields; others continue their education in areas such as historical preservation; still others use History as a stepping stone to a career in library work; still others seek career opportunities in public affairs.
Making Yourself Marketable
Take the time to plan your undergraduate education. Make time to talk to your academic advisor in the History department. We are anxious to help you plan your future. Think about complementing your History major with minors or certificate programs in other academic areas. If you are interested in a career in business, explore taking specific courses or the minor in business. If you have abilities in a foreign language, try to maintain or improve your fluency. If you are planning to attend graduate school in History, it is particularly important to continue to learn foreign languages. In this age of computers and the Internet, it is important that you develop skills beyond word processing. Explore data bases and spreadsheets, artificial intelligence and digital humanities, as well as webpage development. Some of these skills can be learned within the History department. Take advantage of your years as an undergraduate to develop skills outside the classroom. CSU offers internships in a wide variety of fields. The History department also has an internship program involving opportunities both on and off campus. But do not forget to participate in the many extracurricular activities that exist. These often become important to potential employers - they demonstrate interest and commitment, ability to take responsibility, and to follow through on tasks. Working on one of the campus papers or one of the many service clubs or History’s Phi Alpha Theta honorary society are just a few examples from the many that could be cited. What is important is to see your education as a complete package. The History major is the essential foundation of knowledge.
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