Requirements for a Minor in History
Currently the minor in History is available only to students pursuing Teacher Education with a major other than History. There is no “academic” minor in History. The current teaching minor in History consists of the following requirements:
1. Three specific courses, namely, HST 201, 202, 203.
2. An upper-level course in US history, chosen from the following: HST 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 325, 326, 327, 378, 379, 391.
3. Two courses in world history, chosen from the following: HST 150, 336, 337, 338, 342, 344, 352, 361, 368, 370, 373, 390, 393, 410, 412, 413.
4. One seminar course, chosen from the following: HST 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 492H.
5. At least one of the selective courses must focus on an area of the world other than the United States or Western Europe. Courses that fulfill this requirement are HST 150, 342, 344, 361, 368, 370, 381, 390, 393, 484, 485, 486. HST 487 may fulfill the requirement, depending upon its subject.
6. The student’s choice of selective courses in categories 2, 3 and 4 above should be approved in advance by the Undergraduate Adviser in History, Professor Emily Tabuteau.
Students who intend to pursue a minor in History for Teacher Education should be aware that the State of Michigan has redefined the standards for teaching History and, to meet the new standards, the minor will need to be significantly restructured. If you will be doing your teaching internship (student teaching) beginning in or after Fall 2013, you will need to follow the revised form of the minor. These revisions are under way. the new form of the minor will be posted as soon as it has been approved through the University’s curricular process, which will probably be some time in Spring semester 2011. Until then, for information about the probable new form of the minor, please consult Professor Emily Tabuteau at tabuteau@msu.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does my AP history affect my minor?
3. What courses will be offered in the summer?
4. Do I have to take two years of a language?
5. Is there an association of undergraduates that I can join?
6. Is there an honor society in history?
1. How does my AP history affect my minor? If you took the AP exam in American history and got a grade of 3, 4 or 5, you received 8 credits for HST 202 and HST 203. These courses count towards the credits you need to complete your minor in History. If you took the AP exam in American History and got a grade of 2, you received a waiver, which means that your record will show that you have taken HST 202 and 203. If you took the AP exam in World History and got a grade of 3, 4, or 5 you received 8 credits for HST 140 and HST 150. The credits in HST 150 count towards the completion of your minor in History. If you took the AP exam in World History and got a 2 on it, you received a waiver of HST 140 and 150, which means that your record will show that you have taken these courses. You did not, however, receive credit for waived courses, so you will have to complete the full 20-credit minimum which the State of Michigan requires for a teaching minor. AP credit in European history is not relevant to the minor.
If any of your AP credits in history were used to fulfill your University requirement for courses in Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities (IAH), you cannot also use those credits towards your history minor. You will need to substitute enough other credits in History to complete the full 20-credit minimum which the State requires for a minor.
2. How do I declare my minor? Once you are admitted to the College of Education, you will need to declare your minor to them. You do not formally declare your minor to the History Department, but you are required to consult the History adviser (Professor Tabuteau) before choosing your courses from the menus for upper-level United States history, world history and the senior seminar.
3. What courses will be offered in the summer? The courses offered in summer school vary from year to year. It is therefore unwise to count on the availability of any particular course in the summer. You should plan your program so that your ability to graduate does not depend on the existence of a particular course in the summer. The Department of History usually offers at least one section of HST 201, at least one 400-level studies course, and a few upper-level lecture courses on campus during the Summer, as well as a good many on-line courses.
4. Do I have to take two years of a language? No. This is a requirement for the History major but not for the History minor.
5. Is there an association of undergraduates that I can join? The History Association of Michigan State (H.A.M.S.) is made up of all students interested in history who care to attend its meetings. You do not have to be a History major. Announcements from H.A.M.S. are posted on Professor Tabuteau’s listserv.
6. Is there an honor society in history? The History honor society in Phi Alpha Theta. There is a chapter in this department. You do not need to be a History major to be a member of Phi Alpha Theta, but you must have a certain number of credits in History at Michigan State and you must have a certain GPA in those courses. For further information, consult the Phi Alpha Theta faculty adviser, Prof. Jane Vieth.
