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History

The Nasatir Professor of
Modern Jewish History

The Nasatir Professorship was established in honor of the late Professor Abraham Nasatir, a specialist in European colonial history in North America. Nasatir taught history at SDSU for 46 years and was active in the community as an advocate of Jewish education. The Professorship is now held by a distinguished scholar of European intellectual history and Holocaust studies, Lawrence Baron, director of SDSU's Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies.

The Dwight E. Stanford Chair in
American Foreign Relations

A gift from alumnus Dwight E. Stanford, who earned a bachelor's degree in American history in 1936 from San Diego State College (now SDSU), established The Dwight E. Stanford Chair in American Foreign Relations. The first holder of the Chair is Waldo Heinrichs, an internationally distinguished scholar-teacher who is an expert in twentieth- century American foreign relations with Pacific Rim countries, especially with those in Asia.

The Major

History is the study of humanity's recorded past. It encompasses almost all aspects of human activity and behavior. The arts and sciences, technology and economics, ideology and social attitudes are all as much a part of history as politics and war.

History is the most universal of the humanities. It is not merely a body of facts to be learned, but is a series of arguments and points of view to be debated. Study of the ideas, attitudes, and actions of peoples in the past helps to sharpen a person's own sense of values, offering moral lessons in the search for a global future of creative achievement and international peace. It also helps to cultivate a more tolerant and compassionate spirit toward peoples whose way of life may be different from one's own.

The excellent training in basic skills and the broad range of information students receive in history courses prepare history majors for a wide variety of careers in law, government, politics, journalism, publishing, and public history. Teaching at the high school, community college, or university level offers increasing opportunities for history majors in the future.

Advising

All College of Arts and Letters majors are urged to consult with their department adviser as soon as possible; they are required to meet with their department adviser within the first two semesters after declaration or change of major.

History Major

With the B.A. Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences
(Major Code: 22051)

All candidates for a degree in liberal arts and sciences must complete the graduation requirements listed in the section of this catalog on "Graduation Requirements." No more than 48 units in history courses can apply to the degree.

A minor is not required with this major.

Preparation for the Major. Twelve units selected from two of the following sequences: History 100-101; 105-106; 110A-110B; 115A-115B.

Foreign Language Requirement. Competency (equivalent to that which is normally attained through three consecutive courses of college study) is required in one foreign language as part of the preparation for the major. Refer to section of catalog on "Graduation Requirements."

Upper Division Writing Requirement. History 430W with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

Major. A minimum of 30 upper division units in history to include History 430W and a minimum of six units in each of three of the following fields: (a) Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern Europe; (b) Modern Europe; (c) United States; (d) Latin America; (e) South, Southeast, and East Asia; (f) Africa and the Middle East; (g) Topical Subjects; plus nine units of electives. It is the student's obligation to determine which courses fulfill his/her field requirements.