Exploring History Programs at Minnesota State Universities

Minnesota State University system offers a variety of history programs across its campuses, each designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the past and equip them with valuable skills for the future. These programs cater to diverse interests and career aspirations, ranging from traditional academic pursuits to professional fields.

Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU)

Southwest Minnesota State University’s History Program is designed to help students understand themselves and their world through the study of the past. The program encourages students to explore and analyze themes, events, and people in history in order to gain a stronger comprehension of the contemporary world. In the process, students also develop skills in writing, speech, and critical thinking, which will be useful in their careers.

Program Features

Southwest’s History Program offers courses in a variety of fields of historical study. A Bachelor of Arts in History, a minor in History as well as a minor in Social Studies, Gr. The History Program educates students for a wide variety of positions in the academic, professional, governmental and business worlds. The history major is one of the commonly chosen courses of study for those students who wish to go on to law school or to graduate school. The program also prepares a student for a career in public service and administration, public service organizations or government agencies.

Resources

History students often make use of the Southwest Minnesota Regional Research Center, a repository of public documents and a historical research library located on the fifth floor of the McFarland Library at SMSU, and open by appointment. The History Center promotes the study and preservation of Southwest Minnesota’s historical, cultural, ethnic and religious heritage. Business, church, school, legislative, governmental, and immigration records are among the main resources available to students, faculty, and the community.

Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM)

Delve into the past with a History degree from Minnesota State Moorhead. The exciting curriculum will take you through national and world movements, from ancient civilization to industrialization and from the rise of monarchies to the causes and consequences of war. Minnesota State Moorhead’s history program provides you with thorough knowledge of history from past events and achievements to human behavior and relationships among groups. Being well-rounded from your MSUM history degree you can pursue careers in history, social sciences or continue your education with graduate or professional programs like archival research, seminary or law.

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Curriculum and Opportunities

Since 2005, History majors at Minnesota State Moorhead have acquired in-depth understanding of historical events through role-playing games. Courses in museum studies and archeology are just some of the unique facets of history you’ll study at MSUM. Many students choose to and further their education at graduate school or in professional programs. The courses and programs of study in the Minnesota State Moorhead History, Languages & Humanities Department provide essential tools to thrive in today’s diverse and global workplaces. Leaders in business and education tell our faculty and administrators that graduates with majors and minors from the History, Languages & Humanities Department are routinely given priority in hiring and earn more as they progress in their careers. Dive even deeper into your education by studying abroad in one of the many program options offered through Minnesota State Moorhead. Acquire a broad knowledge of history, languages, cultures, politics and economics.

Dragon Pride

As graduation nears, excitement fills the air as this year’s graduates prepare to walk across the stage. Dragon Pride. It runs deep among our alumni and students.

Minnesota State College Southeast

If you are curious about the past, you will find great rewards in the study of history. What happened a decade ago? A century ago? A thousand years ago? In the History Transfer Pathway program at Minnesota State College Southeast you will learn about the events of the past that brought us to where we are today.

Transfer Pathway Program

This 2-year Associate of Arts degree is designed for direct transfer to any of the seven universities in the Minnesota State System. History is more than memorizing the "facts," like dates, times, and places. History is how we discover and tell the story of the past. In your history classes, you will analyze texts critically, evaluate and form judgments on past historical events, and communicate your conclusions in spoken and written form. In our program, advanced courses in Minnesota, American Indian, and music history will help you build skills in courses at the sophomore level, using historical research, writing, and museum experience.

Faculty

Chris Stout has been teaching a wide range of history and culture classes at Southeast at both campuses and online since 2007. Before coming to Winona, Chris taught middle school, high school, and college in the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota region for four years. His graduate research focused on southeastern Minnesota and the history of mental illness, which adds a great local perspective to his history classes. He also tries to include Bruce Springsteen in every class period.

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Minnesota State University Mankato (MSU)

Minnesota State Mankato offers a diverse array of degree programs to explore, and countless opportunities for success both inside and outside the classroom. Here, you'll not only gain knowledge but also develop real-world thinking, engage with big ideas, and be inspired to take meaningful action. Minnesota State Mankato is an inspiring, supportive community that engages and empowers students with high-impact educational experiences and real-world opportunities that lead to success.

Campus Life and Opportunities

Find your sense of belonging and explore university life at MSU. We have something for everyone. Learn about clubs and organizations, housing, dining, and other resources. Find your philanthropic passion and invest in the causes and communities you care about most. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is an inclusive community of diverse learners seeking to examine, engage with and transform the social world while nurturing creativity and innovation.

Curriculum Overview

In this capstone course required for all history majors, students will study historical methods, professional standards, and ways to communicate history to diverse audiences. Students will actively engage in historical inquiry to complete a polished research project.

Survey Sequence

A history of the physical, political, cultural, social, and economic foundations of world civilizations to 1500. Same content as HIST 170.
Review of major changes in World Civilization since 1500. Same content as HIST 171.
A survey of European civilization from Egypt to the end of the Thirty Years War. Same content as HIST 180.
Survey of European history from the end of the Thirty Years War to the present. Same content as HIST 181.
This course is designed to provide an overview of America's political, social, economic, and cultural development from earliest colonization to 1877. Same content as HIST 190.
This course is designed to provide an overview of America's political, social, economic, and cultural development from 1877 to the present. This course has the same content as HIST 191.

Europe Courses

European history from the later Middle Ages to the end of the Thirty Years' War (c. 1300-1648).
The history of Europe from the Treaty of Westphalia to the eve of the French Revolution (1648-1789).
A history of women from Classical Greece and Rome to the modern era.
A history of the witchcraft phenomenon in Europe from the Middle Ages to 1800.
Political, economic, social, cultural, and immigration history of the Scandinavian countries, including major themes in the mass migration and history of Scandinavians in America.

United States Courses

constitutional history from its foundations to the current day.
This course will discuss the social, economic, and political issues from the rise of Jackson through the beginning of the Civil War.
This course will explore the immediate causes and consequences of the Civil War as well as the rise of an industrial/urban United States.
diplomacy since 1900.
This course looks at the social, political, and economic developments that transformed the 20th Century American West.
This course will discuss slavery and emancipation in the Atlantic World (Africa, Latin America, and the United States).
This course surveys African American history from slavery to the twenty-first century.
This course will examine the Vietnam War.
civil rights movement in the 20th century and will apply this historical context to contemporary civil rights struggles.
A historical study of the immigration and ethnic experience in America and of the development of immigration laws in response to the arrival of outsiders.
Discussion of disasters in US history from colonial times to the present.

World Courses

Investigation of historical developments across the African continent from pre-history through the eighteenth century.
Investigation of historical developments in Sub-Saharan Africa during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
This course traces the rise and fall of the Spanish and Portuguese Empires in America.
How do we define the Middle East? In our popular culture and media sources that we are exposed to daily, the Middle East is one of the more discussed and yet, one of the most misunderstood topics. Our goal is to both to unlearn misconceptions and to create an accurate representation of the region. Our class will start with an introduction to the region and its history and the misconceptions that are attached to it.
diplomacy since 1900.
This course will discuss slavery and emancipation in the Atlantic World (Africa, Latin America, and the United States).
This course will examine the Vietnam War.

Additional Program Information

The 4-Year Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual 4-Year plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. A Transfer Pathway is a partnership between the Minnesota community colleges and Minnesota State University, Mankato. Admission to Major is granted by the department when the student declares a History major.

GPA and Grading Policies

A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 is required in the major. Undergraduate history courses may be taken either for P/N or letter grading except HIST 490 (workshops), HIST 497 (1-12 credits), and HIST 499 (1-3 credits), which are available only on P/N grading. No more than one-fourth of the credits in a history major or minor may be taken as P/N.

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Transfer Policy

Transfer students should contact the Department of History and Gender Studies to have their transfer credits reviewed prior to registration for classes. All transfer students majoring in history are required to take at least 8 semester credits with the Minnesota State Mankato History program.

Distinction in History

In order to provide broad preparation for graduate study, history majors of superior ability may read for honors in three different areas [see HIST 390 (1) - HIST 392 (1)]. Only history majors with the permission of the professor can enroll in these classes. Students who successfully complete these three classes with a grade-point average of 3.5 for Minnesota State Mankato courses (and who have met the other degree requirements) will be eligible for graduation “with distinction in history.”

Accelerated Combined Degree (BA/MA and BS/MS)

Students interested in receiving both their undergraduate and graduate degrees in History at MSU, may apply to the Department for admission into the Accelerated Graduate Program. Interested majors may apply upon the completion of 60 credits if they have a minimum GPA of 3.0. If accepted, students will work with an advisor to design an accelerated program in which up to 12 credits of 500-level courses can be applied to both their undergraduate and graduate programs. If accepted, students must maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.0 in the major to continue in the program.

Degree Options

Bachelor of Science in History: This Bachelor of Science in History equips students with essential skills in information literacy, critical analysis, and writing. This flexible program prepares graduates for careers in libraries, archives, sales, education, law, museums, business, public service, and more. Students can complete the degree in person, online, or through a combination of both.
History Minor: The History minor complements any major. It allows students with an interest in history to bolster their historical knowledge, sharpen their historical thinking, and hone their professional skills.
Interdisciplinary Minors:
- Latin American Studies
- Middle East and Islamic Cultures
Master of Science in History: The Master of Science program in History provides an applied degree for advanced study and professional development for careers in teaching, law, journalism, public service, museums, and business.
History Graduate Certificate: The History graduate certificate provides 5-12 teachers and community college instructors an opportunity to further their professional development. This certificate fulfills the state-mandated requirement of 18 graduate credits to teach concurrent enrollment in high school or History courses at a community college. Credits in the graduate certificate may be applied toward a master’s degree in History.

Extracurricular Activities

The History Club promotes the study of history by encouraging learning, research, and collaboration among students and faculty.

Fergus Falls Campus

Fergus Falls is a small city with larger-city features including golf courses, kayaking, bike paths, water sports-exercise clubs, coffee houses, classic 19th-century architecture, bookstores, a dance studio, movie theaters, restaurants and a vibrant arts scene. Located just off Interstate 94, the campus is only an hour from Fargo-Moorhead and fewer than three hours from Minneapolis-St. Paul. As the Otter Tail County seat, Fergus offers readily accessible government offices and services. Shopping opportunities range from national chains to boutiques and antiques in the historic downtown. Fergus is located beneath a major flyway for North American migratory birds. Otter Tail County boasts more than 1,000 lakes, and the beautiful Otter Tail River flows through the center of town.The study of history is part of a well-rounded education in the liberal arts. Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) Requirements - A minimum of 40 credits to complete all 10 goal areas. A MnTC course may satisfy more than one goal area; however, the credits only count once. subject areas. Students will generally go on to complete a bachelor's degree or higher. B.S., Theology, Crossroads College M.A., History, Minnesota State University-Mankato

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