ChairAdriana Benzaquén, BA, MA, PhD (York), Associate Professor
Admission RequirementsReview sections 2.1.5 Admission Requirements and 2.1.7 Additional Admission Requirements.
History courses are designed to meet the needs and interests of various students: those who choose to take one or two courses as electives or as part of their program in another course of study; those who decide to minor in the field of history; and those who register to do a concentration, major, or honours degree in history. Courses are offered primarily in the areas of European, North American, and World history with an emphasis on the theme of women’s history. Certain courses adopt a comparative perspective. Many may be taken to fulfill requirements in women’s studies, Canadian studies, cultural studies, peace and conflict studies, and child and youth studies. Selected courses are available via distance learning.
Courses at the 1000 level and 2000 level have no prerequisites; those at the 3000 level and 4000 level normally require 1.0 unit of previous study in history at the 2000 level; seminars at the 4000 level require written permission of the instructor or the Department Chair.
Any student planning to major, concentrate, or minor in history should consult the department to help in planning an academic program. The following are the requirements for the major, concentration, and minor, but, in consultation with faculty, variations are possible. Students are reminded that final responsibility for meeting departmental and university regulations rests with themselves.
The program structure is meant to allow for flexibility within a basic framework. Both the concentration and the major provide opportunity for the student to focus on areas of history that are of special interest, and at the same time they ensure a well-balanced understanding of the discipline. The student may take up to two additional units in history at any level as electives.
History courses are offered in the following areas:
European History: HIST 1101, 2200, 2201, 2202, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206, 2207, 2233, 2281, 3305, 3312, 3313, 3382, 3385, 3386, and 4480
North American History: HIST 1120, 2217, 2218, 2219, 2222, 2227, 2228, 2230, 2231, 2234, 2235, 2236, 2240, 2282, 3304, 3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, 3327, 3329, 3330, 3337, 3338, 3345, 3352 and 4481
World History: HIST 2260, 2265, 3360, 3361, 3362, 3389, and 4480
Major (20 Units) Students intending to complete the major degree must declare their intention to do so before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.
| Students must successfully complete 20 units with the following requirements: |
| ❏ | a minimum of 8.0 and a maximum of 10 units in the major as follows:
❏ HIST 1101 or HIST 1120; or permission of the department to substitute 1.0 unit at the 2000 level
or above
❏ 3.0 units of HIST at the 2000 level
❏ HIST 3390, 3391, 4480 and 4481
❏ 2.0 additional units of HIST at the 3000 level or above
❏ no more than 6.0 units may be taken in any single area of study (Europe, North America, World)
❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 8.0 units of HIST |
| ❏ | a minor consisting of 3.0 units as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units |
| ❏ | students may choose a second 3.0 unit minor in any area that offers a minor |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies)
(exclusive of the major):
❏ Core A - Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
❏ Core B - Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
❏ Core C - Humanities (1.0 unit) |
| ❏ | at least 9.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above |
| ❏ | Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor as designated on page 67 will not be counted as professional electives. |
Special Studies
Students may count a maximum of 4.0 units of directed/independent/research studies courses towards the degree, with no more than 2.0 units in any single discipline.
Integrated Major (History/Information Technology)Students should contact the Chair of each department before registration. View the full description of the Bachelor of Arts Co-operative Education Route with Integrated Major (History/Information Technology) program.
Major CertificateStudents who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Arts General Studies degree may apply to do a major certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the major degree listed above.
Honours Degree The honours degree option is available to students who wish to study a single discipline in depth, usually with post-graduate study as a goal.
Students wishing to take an honours degree must apply in writing to the chair of the department. Application may be made after successful completion of 10 units of study but must be made prior to completion of the third year or 15 units of study. Admission will be based on the department’s assessment of the applicants’s academic record. The minimum requirement for admission is a GPA of 3.0 in history courses. Applicants must also have secured the agreement of a faculty member to supervise the honours thesis (HIST 4499). An honours thesis proposal must be submitted by March 30 of the third year of one’s program or in the case of part-time students, March 30 of the academic year immediately preceding enrolment in HIST 4499. Students must have also successfully completed HIST 3391 before enroling in HIST 4499.
| Students must successfully complete 20 units with the following requirements: |
| ❏ | a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 12 units in the honours subject as follows;
❏ HIST 1101 or HIST 1120; or permission of the department to substitute 1.0 unit at the 2000 level or
above
❏ 4.0 units of HIST at the 2000 level
❏ HIST 3390, 3391, 4480, 4481 and 4499
❏ 2.0 additional units of HIST at the 3000 level or above
❏ no more than 8.0 units may be taken in any single area of study (Europe, North America, World) |
| ❏ | a minor consisting of 3.0 units as specified by the department. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listedunder the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies)
(exclusive of the honours subject):
❏ Core A - Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
❏ Core B - Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
❏ Core C - Humanities (1.0 unit) |
| ❏ | obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in 10 of the required honours units |
| ❏ | achieve a minimum of B- in the honours thesis |
| ❏ | obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken |
| ❏ | Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor as designated on page 67 will not be counted as professional electives. |
Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who obtain a minimum GPA of 3.5 or better in 10 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken.
Honours Certificate
Students who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in History may apply to do an honours certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the honours degree listed above and meet the University regulations regarding honours certificates. Application must be made in writing to the Chair of the Department by March 30 of the academic year prior to enrolment in the program. Applicants should note the requirement that honours thesis proposals must be submitted by March 30 of the academic year immediately preceding enrolment in HIST 4499.
Concentration (4 units)
| To obtain a concentration in History, students must fulfill the following requirements: |
| ❏ | HIST 1101 or HIST 1120; or permission of the department to substitute 1.0 unit at the 2000 level or above |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit at the 2000 level |
| ❏ | 2.0 units at the 3000 level or above. It is strongly recommended that 0.5 unit of HIST 3390, 3391, 4480 or 4481 be taken |
| ❏ | No more than 3.0 units in any single area of study (Europe, North America, World) |
Minor A minor in history shall consist of three units in history. One unit must be at the 3000 level or above.
| To obtain a minor in History, students must fulfill the following requirements: |
| ❏ | 3.0 units of HIST, 1.0 unit of which must be at the 3000 level or above |
Canadian StudiesMany history courses are eligible for inclusion in the Canadian studies degree.
The Department of History does not accept Challenge for Credit.