The undergraduate
history program at Villanova is designed to develop our students' knowledge, academic and intellectual skills.
We are especially proud of the independent and collective research projects our students carry out inside and outside the classroom. See, for example, the research our undergraduates have done on the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.
The
History program helps to prepare students for their future by:
- providing a broad range of courses and other educational opportunities that encourage students to develop their historical awareness, perspective and understanding;
- instructing and guiding students to develop sound research skills;
- training students to understand the standard forms of historical expression, to critique historical arguments made by others, and to produce historical arguments themselves;
- developing students' ability to perceive how different aspects or types of human endeavor and experience may be connected;
- leading students to identify the historical roots of contemporary issues and challenges, with attention to social values and the role of religion in the human experience;
- assisting students to understand and evaluate the role of human choice in history;
- providing information and opportunities to acquire the necessary skills to identify and pursue post-graduate opportunities for employment or further education; assisting students in identifying career options most suited to their skills, strengths, and interests.
The
History major is 30 credits or 10 courses in history. The courses required for the major now must include:
- History 1040 or 1050 (Themes in Pre-Modern World History [HIS 1040] or Themes in Modern World History [HIS 1050])
- Either HIS 2000, Investigating US History I, or HIS 2001. Investigating US History II;
- at least one junior research seminar;
- History 5501 (Seminar in Historical Methodology) or History 5515 (Independent Research);
at least six additional history courses of the student’s choice.
The following courses may also be taken for credit toward the History major or minor as history electives:
- AAH 1101, History of Western Art: Ancient to Medieval
- AAH 1102, History of Western Art: Renaissance to Contemporary World
New AP Credit Policy (The new policy will take effect in Fall 2007 for the incoming Class of 2011):
- History credit will be given for scores of 4 or 5 on any exam – in U.S., European, or World History. A score of 3 on the world history exam will entitle the student to placement out of 1050. Scores of 3 on the US or European exams receive neither credit nor placement.
- AP World History – with score of 4 or 5 on exam: 6 credits for History 1040 and 1050: i.e. 3 history credits and 3 free elective credits. This means that the student will still need to take an upper-level history course to fulfill the core requirement.
- AP US History – with score of 4 or 5 on exam, 6 history credits for History 2000 and 2001; student must still take History 1040 or 1050.
- AP European History – with score of 4 or 5 on exam, 6 history credits (History 3095 and 3995, to be accepted as history electives (for upper-level core requirement and for history major requirement); student must still take History 1040 or 1050.
- Students with both AP US History and AP European History: with scores of 4 and 5, 12 history credits: upper level history requirement fulfilled, along with three other history courses; but student still needs to take 1040 or 1050.
