History

The Department of Geography, Sociology, History, African American Studies, and Anthropology offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a minor in history for students majoring in other disciplines. All department majors must complete the assessment requirements specific to their major field, copies of which can be obtained from the departmental website. The department’s Bachelor of Arts degree in History consists of two options: history and secondary teaching. Students enrolled in the history option may prepare for such careers as law, public service, government, or foreign relations, or for postgraduate study.

Completion of the Secondary Teaching Option in History qualifies students for an Initial Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with an endorsement for teaching Social Science – History for grades 9-12, and a middle grade endorsement in social science for grades 6-8, provided the program is completed and the middle grades endorsement issued by January 31, 2018. February 1, 2018, Middle School-New Middle Grades (5-8) educator preparation programs became effective. Students in current grades 6-12 programs will now only receive endorsements for grades 9-12 instead of the previous 6-8 grade and 9-12 grade ranges. Licensure requires the successful completion of the Illinois Licensure Tests of Academic Proficiency (TAP), Social Studies with History content area test, and edTPA.