University Catalog

History (B.A.)

As students of history, we pursue inquiry for the sake of inquiry. At Montclair State University, you will learn to question the world around you. You will gain knowledge of history, analyze and interpret original sources, and contextualize them in papers, digital media, podcasts, online discussion posts, and internships at leading institutions.
The knowledge and skills you learn translate into fulfilling careers.

120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum 2.0 major GPA.

Degree Requirements Overview

New Student Seminar1
SEEDS General Education Requirements15-21
Major Requirements39
Free Electives65-59
Total Credits120

Major Requirements

Foundation Sequence
Writing Requirement
HIST 100Writing History3
American History Required Course
HIST 117Foundations of America3
or HIST 118 Emergence of the Modern United States
European History Required Course
HIST 103Gods, Empires, Crusades Plague3
or HIST 105 Emergence of European Civilization, 1500-1914
or HIST 106 Contemporary Europe
Public or Digital History Required Course
HIST 261Public History3
or HIST 262 Voices Across Time: Mastering Oral History Communication
or HIST 270 Digital History
Global History Sequence
Complete two courses from the list below.6
Elective Sequence
200-Level Elective
Complete one 200-level course from the list below.3
300/400-Level Electives
Complete 4 courses from the list below.12
Research Sequence
HIST 300Research Seminar in History3
HIST 400Capstone in History3
Total Credits39

Global History Elective Courses

HIST 108African History3
HIST 112Modern Middle Eastern History3
HIST 114Early Latin American History3
HIST 116Modern Latin American History3
HIST 129Modern Japan: A History of Japan From the Meiji Through the Showa3
HIST 131Introduction to Indian Civilization3
HIST 132Introduction to Chinese Civilization3
HIST 133Modern Chinese Civilization3
HIST 138Introduction to Modern South Asia3
HIST 141Emergence of the Modern World3
HIST 223Communist Revolution in China3
HIST 225Politics, Society, and Cinema in the Modern Middle East3
HIST 250Special Topics in History (only if section addresses a Global History subject)3
HIST 260Screening the Past: Exploring History through Film (only if section addresses a Global History subject)3
HIST 333History of Brazil3
HIST 339Seminar in Latin American History3
HIST 340History of Mexico3

200 Level Elective Courses

HIST 201The Crusades3
HIST 203United States Civil War3
HIST 205Race and Ethnicity in United States History3
HIST 212Social History of the United States3
HIST 213Economic History of the United States3
HIST 214United States Foreign Relations3
HIST 215United States Women’s History3
HIST 216Italian America Past and Present3
HIST 217African American History3
HIST 223Communist Revolution in China3
HIST 225Politics, Society, and Cinema in the Modern Middle East3
HIST 241History of Public Health in the United States3
HIST 245Science, Technology, and Society3
HIST 250Special Topics in History3
HIST 260Screening the Past: Exploring History through Film3
HIST 290Historical Thinking and Communication3
HIST 299History Study Abroad1-3

300-400 Level Elective Courses

HIST 309Feminist Ideas in Western Thought3
HIST 312Historical Geography of the United States3
HIST 313Biography in American History3
HIST 314Women and Migration3
HIST 320American Urban History Since 18803
HIST 321History of American Workers Since 18603
HIST 322Medieval Times3
HIST 323History of Russia to 19173
HIST 324Russia Since 19173
HIST 333History of Brazil3
HIST 334Women and Gender in the Middle East: Past and Present3
HIST 339Seminar in Latin American History3
HIST 340History of Mexico3
HIST 342Frontiers and Borderlands of the Americas3
HIST 365History of the Mass-Communication Media in the United States3
HIST 401A Mosaic of Many Cultures: The Medieval Kingdom of Sicily3
HIST 406History of Capitalism in the United States3
HIST 407United States Immigration History3
HIST 408Independent Study: European History3
HIST 409Independent Study: World History3
HIST 410Independent Study in United States History3
HIST 411Cultural and Intellectual History of the United States Since 18803
HIST 415European Social History3
HIST 419Age of Renaissance, 1350-15173
HIST 420The Reformation Era, 1500-16503
HIST 421Food, Drugs, and Society in Early Modern Europe, 1500-18003
HIST 426The Nazi Third Reich3
HIST 427The Holocaust, 1939-19453
HIST 430Revolutions in Latin American History3
HIST 434American Revolution and Early Republic, 1763-18283
HIST 435The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1845-18773
HIST 436Gilded Age and Progressive Era3
HIST 437The Rise and Decline of the New Deal Order: United States Politics and Society, 1920·19803
HIST 443Internship in History3
HIST 463Historical Archives and Special Collections3
HIST 464Historic Preservation3
HIST 465Museum Exhibits and Management3
HIST 466Historical Geographic Information Systems and Mapping3
HIST 499Topics in History1-3

New Student Seminar

Students in the Adult Learner program must take GNED 100.
Complete one course from the following. Some courses may be restricted by major. Consult with an academic advisor.1
ADVS 198
Pathways to Success
CHEM 190
Freshman Seminar in Chemistry
FYS 100
First Year Seminar
GNED 100
Adult Academic Success Seminar
GNED 199
New Student Seminar
HPEM 199
Freshman Seminar in Health and Physical Education
IDS 155
Pathways to Adult Learning
JUST 199
New Student Seminar
MATH 102
New Student Experience for Mathematical Sciences
MUGN 199
Freshman Seminar for Music Majors
NURS 199
Introduction to Nursing
POLS 199
Freshman Seminar in Political Science and Law

SEEDS General Education Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill the SEEDS requirements.

Foundations
Effective Writing I
Complete one Effective Writing I course.3
Effective Writing II
Fulfilled by HIST 100 in the major.
Interactive Communication
Fulfilled by HIST 262 in the major.
Quantitative Reasoning
Complete one Quantitative Reasoning course.3
Political and Civic Life
May be fulfilled by HIST 261 or HIST 270 in the major.0-3
World Languages
Complete two sequential classes in one World Language when starting at the Beginner I or Beginner II level. Complete one class when starting at the Intermediate/Advanced Level.3-6
Exploration
Complete one course from four different Exploration categories: 6
Analyzing Cultures and Societies
Fulfilled by HIST 108, HIST 114, HIST 141, or HIST 205 in the major.
Creative Expression
Ethical Inquiry
Historical Thinking
Fulfilled by HIST 103, HIST 105, HIST 106, HIST 117, HIST 118, or HIST 245 in the major.
Literary and Artistic Analysis
Scientific Reasoning
Total Credits15-21

Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion

This recommended degree plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years and 120 credits. This plan is a recommendation and MUST be used in consultation with their academic advisor. Important note: Students should be aware this plan assumes no pre-requisite coursework is required. If pre-requisite coursework is needed, students may have additional requirements to fulfill which do not appear on the plan.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
New Student Seminar1HIST 100 (Fulfills SEEDS: Effective Writing II)3
SEEDS: Effective Writing I3HIST 261 or 270 (Fulfills SEEDS: Political and Civic Life)3
HIST 262 (Fulfills SEEDS: Interactive Communication)3Global History Elective 13
SEEDS: Quantitative Reasoning3SEEDS: Exploration 1 - Historical Thinking may be fulfilled by HIST 103, HIST 105, HIST 106, HIST 117, HIST 118, or HIST 245 in the major.3
SEEDS: World Language 13SEEDS: World Language 2 or Free Elective3
Free Elective3 
 16 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SEEDS: Exploration 23SEEDS: Exploration 43
SEEDS: Exploration 33300-400 Level Elective 13
American or European History course3Free Elective3
Global History Elective 23Free Elective3
200-Level Major Elective3Free Elective3
 15 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
300-400 Level Elective 23300-400 Level Elective 43
300-400 Level Elective 33Free Elective3
HIST 3003Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Free Elective3HIST 4003
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective2
 15 14
Total Credits 120