Major in History
Bachelor of Arts Degree

Students in Clayton State's undergraduate history major program have an opportunity to choose from one of four different concentrations: Southern Studies, World Cultures, Archival Studies, or Public History, or simply take more upper division history courses. Our program is enriched and enhanced by the location of the Georgia State Archives and the Southeast Regional Branch of the National Archives and Records Administration adjacent to campus.  Clayton State students have an unique opportunity either to emphasize the archives studies concentration or to choose another concentration or an appropriate minor. In this way, the history curriculum will equip graduates with the knowledge and skills required for either graduate study or perhaps direct entry into the world of work. For more information, see History Major Curriculum Worksheet

Clayton State students may also choose to major in History & Secondary Education, leading to certification in Grades 6-12. The degree program has been approved by the Board of Regents and by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.  For degree requirements, see History & Secondary Education Curriculum Worksheet

What are graduates expected to do?

Program outcomes for the B.A. in history degree at Clayton State are:

• Identify and describe basic chronologies of U.S. and world history.
• Identify and critically evaluate primary and secondary historical sources.
• Identify and evaluate conflicting historical interpretations of events and personalities.
• Perform historical research using primary and secondary sources in libraries, archives, and other repositories of historical records.
• Write in a clear, analytical, and organized manner, demonstrating appropriate professional documentation methods.
• Discuss historical findings in clear and coherent oral presentations.

 Curriculum Overview for B.A. in History

General Education, Areas A-E	42 hours
Area F-History and Related Fields	18 hours
Courses for All History Majors	12 hours
United States History Core	12 hours
World History Core	9 hours
Southern Studies, World Cultures, Archives, Public History, General History Option or Minor in Other Discipline	18-21 hours
Related Electives	6-9 hours

Total

120 hours

Curriculum Overview for B.A. in History & Secondary Education

General Education, Areas A-E	42 hours
Area F-History and Related Fields	18 hours
Required History Major Courses	18 hours
United States History Core	12 hours
World History Core	9 hours
Secondary Education Emphasis Area	27 hours

Total

126 hours

Georgia Legislative Requirements

"All colleges and universities sustained or in any manner supported by public funds shall give instruction in the history of the United States and the history of Georgia and in the essentials of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Georgia; and no undergraduate student in any college or university shall receive a certificate of graduation or a degree without successfully completing course work or previously passing a satisfactory examination on the same." Georgia Code Title 20-3-68

These requirements may be met by receiving a passing grade in certain courses, or by passing the appropriate examination.  The courses and the requirement(s) each course satisfies are as follows:

1. HIST 2111/2112 satisfies the Georgia and US history.
2. POLS 1101 satisfies the Georgia and US Constitution.
3. HIST 3110 satisfies Georgia history and the Georgia Constitution.
4. CITZ 1001 satisfies Georgia and US history, and Georgia and US Constitution. CITZ 1001 satisfies the legislative requirement only. This course may not be applied towards any other degree requirement, including free electives.
5. Transfer credit - students with transfer credit (HIST 2111, HIST 2112 or POLS 1101) from outside the University System of Georgia will need to contact the Testing Center regarding the legislative exams.