History Education (HIST) - Ferris Course Catalog

Locate a Course
Find a Degree
Learn about a Program
Follow a Career Path

History Education HIST

College(s): Education and Human Services

Required Courses		Credit Hours
Directed Electives:
GEOG 100	Geography of World Regions*GRS	3
ECON 221	Prin of Macroeconomics*S	3
PLSC 121	Amer Govt 1: People & Politics *RS	3
Core Required Courses - United States History (6 credits)
HIST 121	United States Hist to 1877*C	3
HIST 122	US History - 1877 to Present*C	3
Core Required Course - World History - select one course (3 credits)
HIST 151	History of West Civil to 1500*C	3
OR
HIST 152	Western Civil 1500-Present*G C	3
Core Required Course - World History (3 credits)
HIST 200	Discovering the Global Past	3
Core Required Course - History Teaching Methods (3 credits)
HIST 405	History Education Theory-Practice	3
Electives:	World History Directed Electives - Select one course from each course cluster (6 credits):
World Cluster 1: select one course:
HIST 360	Contemporary European History*G C	3
HIST 371	East Asia -20th Century*G C	3
HIST 373	20th Centruy Russia*G C	3
World Cluster 2: select one course:
HIST 370	Modern Africa*G R C	3
HIST 372	Middle East in Modern Era*G C	3
HIST 375	Latin American History*G C	3
Electives:	US Directed Electives - Select four courses (maximum of two courses from any Course Cluster) - 12 credits
US Cluster 1
HIST 230	Michigan History*C	3
US Cluster 2
HIST 331	American Cultural History to 1865*C	3
HIST 332	Amer Cultural History Since 1865*C	3
US Cluster 3
HIST 309	US History 1900-1945*C	3
HIST 310	US History Since 1945*C	3
US Cluster 4
HIST 320	The US & the Vietnam War*G C	3
HIST 341	US Foreign Policy-20th Cent*G C	3
HIST 342	The Civil War & Reconstruction*C	3
HIST 385	American Military History*G C	3
Electives:	Diverse Perspectives - Select two courses (no more than one course from any cluster) - 6 credits
Diversity Cluster 1
HIST 201	African-American History*R C	3
HUMN 202	Afr-Am Cultural Expression*RC	3
Diversity Cluster 2
HIST 326	African Amer Women's History*R C	3
Diversity Cluster 3
HIST 315	Civil Rights Movement*R C	3
HIST 330	Turbulent 1960s*R C	3
Diversity Cluster 4
HIST 326	African Amer Women's History*R C	3
HIST 301	Racism in The Modern World*C	3
TOTAL		38
Note: A © grade in each class plus a 2.75 GPA is required for satisfactory completion of this major.
Note: Though faculty advisors are responsible for advising students regarding degree requirements, it is the student who is ultimately responsible for choosing the correct courses and for following the correct program.
Professional Education Sequence
Level I
Note: Students seeking admission to teacher education candidacy must meet all university requirements for admission to the specific program they wish to enter.
EDUC 251	Life Span Human Growth & Dev	3
EDUC 206	Ed Tech in Sec Classrooms	3
EDUC 289	Principles of Teaching and Learning	3
Level II
Note: Prior to admission to the Teacher Education Program and Level II courses, students must pass all sections of the Basic Skills Test, complete all Professional Education Prerequisite courses with a minimum of 2.5 GPA, with no grade lower than a C (2.0), have a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and meet all other program requirements. Students may have no more than two repeats in Level I coursework.
EDUC 303	School, Work & Society	3
EDUC 308	Teaching Strategies for SPED/Diverse Pop	3
EDUC 339	Instructional Planning and Practice	2
EDUC 430	Instruction Delivery & Evaluation	4
EDUC 439	Instructional Theory into Practice	2
EDUC 443	Teaching Reading/Secondary Areas	3
Level III
Note: Prior to student teaching and professional seminar (Level III courses), students must obtain the appropriate GPA for their major/minor as established by each department, earn an overall GPA of 2.75 in the professional education courses, have a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and meet all other program requirements.
UC 491		12
EDUC 499	Professional Seminar	2
TOTAL		40
NOTE: STUDENTS MUST OBTAIN THE APPROPRIATE GPA FOR THEIR MAJOR/MINOR AS ESTABLISHED BY EACH DEPARTMENT. A 2.75 GPA IS REQUIRED IN THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COURSE SEQUENCE. A 2.50 CUMULATIVE GPA IS ALSO REQUIRED BEFORE STUDENT TEACHING. NOTE: Though faculty advisors are responsible for advising students regarding degree requirements, it is the student who is ultimately responsible for choosing the correct courses and for following the correct program.

Why Choose History Education?

History is more than the study of the past, it also involves the study of change and continuity over time. According to historian and educator Peter Stearns, "Only through studying history can we grasp how things change; only through history can we begin to comprehend the factors that cause change; and only through history can we understand what elements of an institution or a society persist despite change." History education is an ideal choice for any student who finds they are always asking "why?" and then, once learning the answer, wants to share that knowledge and insight with others. In today's society, history education is especially relevant. Trained history educators will play an important role in helping furture generations understand the world around them - whether in terms of understanding the root causes of social or political conflict or better appreciating diverse cultural values or valuing democratic institutions and ideals.

Professional Opportunities

Current employment opportunities in the field of history education are based on two key factors. Both on a national and state level there is a common theme of the extreme need for teachers and adequately prepared history teachers. Concerns at the beginning of the decade focused primarily on the issue of the retirement for a significant number of educators, in the Michigan Education Report of 2001. Teacher shortages in Michigan are predicted to be most severe at the secondary education level. The issue of teacher shortage due to retirement has been compounded by the impact of the new federal law No Child Left Behind (2003). NCLB seeks to redress a major issue - teachers who teach in content areas where they have little or or no formal training. This issue is especially relevant to the field of history. Currently a large number of educators employed to teach history have neither a major or minor in the content area of history.

Admission Requirements

High school students and transfer students with 29 credit hours or less must possess a high school grade point average of 2.25 (on a 4.0 scale) or an ACT composite score of 15. Transfer students with 30 credits hours or more must possess a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Students transferring into the program with completed majors or minors must have the appropriate GPA as established by each department. Consult individual program description for other admission requirements.

Teacher Certification Requirements

As required by the State of Michigan to receive teacher certification, all teacher candidates must: (1) pass the Michigan Basic Skills Test, (2) pass the pedagogy tests in their subject area majors and minors, and (3) have a 2.50 minimum GPA to receive teacher certification in Michigan. These state requirements are in addition to the FSU graduation requirements of your individual program.

Graduation Requirements

The history education program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree through the School of Education, College of Education and Human Services. Graduates must complete all of FSU's general education, history and education requirements. Professional education requirements include a semester of directed student teaching. Consult individual program description for other graduation requirements.

More Information

College of Education and Human Services
Bishop Hall Room 601
Ferris State University
1349 Cramer Circler
Big Rapids, MI 49307-2737
Phone: 231-591-3646