Academic Web Manager
Major 
HISTORY
History is essential to our identity as individuals and as members of larger communities. Whether we realize it consciously or not, we constantly engage the past in our everyday lives, whether we read a historical novel or biography, attend a family reunion, exercise our civil rights, or take a history class. History is all around us.
The study of history can enrich our understanding of the past and enhance our awareness of the world in which we currently live. History gives us the opportunity to probe all facets of the human experience: politics, society, art, religion, economics, and culture. History is a constant process of exploration and discovery that allows us to understand the lives and experiences of people both different from and similar to us.
The History program at Cleveland State University offers you the opportunity to work closely with a faculty that has areas of expertise in U.S., European, Asian, African, Middle Eastern, and Latin American history. We are dedicated to providing students with hands-on opportunities to further their interest in history. Through projects like research papers and internships, studying history at Cleveland State University will give you the opportunity to make history come alive. From the local to the global, the history program connects you to the world. Imagine the chance to take courses like the following: African American History through Sacred Music, The Social History of the Black Death, WWI: The Western Front, Black Resistance in the Age of Jim Crow, European Fascism, American Sexual Politics and Communities, Comparative Slavery, and History of Islamic Civilizations.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Students in history go on to pursue a variety of careers. Some choose to continue their interest in history and attend graduate school. Some pursue work in public history, including work in museums, archives, and historical sites. Others apply the skills acquired as History majors — problem-solving, critical thinking, analysis, research, and writing — to careers in law, library science, business, and communications, and international studies. Many of our graduates are employed locally in public history at places like the Western Reserve Historical Society and Cleveland Public Library.
PROGRAM
The major is comprised of 32 semester credits at least 24 of which must be upper level (300 and 400 level courses). Coursework is distributed to maximize geographical and chronological breadth. Transfer students must complete at least 20 hours of their requirements for the major on the Cleveland State University campus. The requirements for the major can be completed in approximately two years and the department regularly offers evening and weekend courses, making it possible for part-time and evening students to complete the degree.
A total number of 128 hours are required for the Bachelor of Arts in History. All degree seeking students are required to complete a specific number of General Education (GenEd) courses. Students are responsible for ensuring the appropriate selection of courses to satisfy GenEd requirements and are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor regarding the applicability of selected courses. A comprehensive description of Cleveland State University's General Education Requirements for undergraduate students is available online at http://www.csuohio.edu/acaffairs/gened.htm.
The major is comprised of 32 semester credits at least 24 of which must be upper level (300 and 400 level courses). Coursework is distributed to maximize geographical and chronological breadth. Transfer students must complete at least 20 hours of their requirements for the major on the Cleveland State campus.
Given these requirements, it is possible to fulfill them by taking one history course every semester over four years. Since eight hours may be at the lower level, a good way to start would be to take two introductory history (100 or 200 level) courses during your freshman year. Typically those courses also fulfill other university requirements such as “Western Civilization”, “Non-Western Civilization”, “Human Diversity”, or “African-American Experience” so that these courses would count toward your History major as well as General Education requirements.
Another advantage of starting with two of these courses is that they begin to prepare you for higher level ones: you will gain experience by writing one or more short papers and taking essay exams. At the upper-level, you have much flexibility in selecting your courses. You have to complete at least six 300 or 400-level courses that cover different geographical areas and periods. For instance, you could take a concentration in U.S. history (16 hours including and introductory course), with secondary cores in European and Non-Western history (total 12 hours). At the upper-level you can also fulfill many of the University General Education requirements mentioned above, as well as “Writing Across the Curriculum”.
SAMPLE COURSE OF STUDY FOR THE HISTORY MAJOR
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Department of History
Cleveland State University
2121 Euclid Avenue, RT 1915
Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
Phone: 216.687.3920 or 216.687.3935
www.csuohio.edu/history
For official requirements for a degree in this major, see the Undergraduate Catalog for the academic year in which you were admitted to the University.