Department of History
Location: Archer 200, Phone: (409) 880-8511, hmorris@berxwedan.net
Chair: Rebecca Ard Boone, Professor, (409) 880-7834, raboone@berxwedan.net
Administrative Specialist: Hannah Bemelon, (409) 880-8511, hmorris@berxwedan.net
Advisors:
Undergraduate: Mark A. Mengerink (409) 880-7618, mamengerink@berxwedan.net
Graduate: Jeff Forret, (409) 880-2289, forretjp@berxwedan.net
The Department of history at Lamar University combines cutting-edge research and a commitment to student success, both on campus and beyond. Our faculty specializes in fields that span the globe, producing scholarship that applies social, cultural, political, legal, gender, intellectual and environmental methodologies to the diverse experiences that have shaped our communities and our world.
Our faculty emphasize critical thinking, cultivate effective communication skills and value close mentor-student relationships. the history curriculum develops the intellectual tools that inform and empower our students as responsible leaders. through the discipline of history, faculty prepare students for a wide range of careers in education, academia, government service, law, public engagement, journalism, business and the non-profit sector.
Rebecca Ard Boone, Ph.D., professor, (409) 880-7834, raboone@berxwedan.net
Jimmy L. Bryan, Jr., Ph.D., professor, (409) 880-8510, jlbryan@berxwedan.net
Cassandre Durso, instructor, (409) 880-8454, crbroussard@berxwedan.net
Jeff Forret, Ph.D., professor, (409) 880-2289, forretjp@berxwedan.net
Brendan Gillis, Ph.D., assistant professor, (409) 880-8530, bgillis@berxwedan.net
Tina M. Kibbe, Ph.D., assistant professor, (409) 880-8241, tkibbe@berxwedan.net
Mark A. Mengerink, Ph.D., associate professor, (409) 880-7618, mamengerink@berxwedan.net
Gwinyai P. Muzorewa, Ph.D., assistant professor, (409) 880-1743, gmuzorewa@berxwedan.net
Ken Poston, instructor, (409) 880-2253, kposton@berxwedan.net
Yasuko Sato, Ph.D., associate professor, (409) 880-8523, ysato@berxwedan.net
Jim D. Seratt, instructor, (409) 880-2134, serattjd@berxwedan.net
Adjuncts
Celine Hodge, (409) 880-8115, celine.hodge@berxwedan.net
Chris Pirnie, (409) 880-8511, cdpirnie@berxwedan.net
Terry Lee Rioux, (409) 880-8511, tlrioux@berxwedan.net
Robert J. Robertson, rrobertson@berxwedan.net
Core Curriculum (HIST 1301, 1302, 2301)
Objective 1 (Critical Thinking): Students will demonstrate effective critical thinking skills in the analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of primary and secondary historical sources.
Objective 2 (Communication): Students will demonstrate effective written communication skills.
Objective 3 (Social Responsibility): Students will demonstrate intercultural competency, civic knowledge, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.
Objective 4 (Personal Responsibility): Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision making.
BA History
Objective 1 (Historical Methodology): Students will interpret historical evidence and analyze multiple viewpoints from primary and secondary sources.
Objective 2 (Speaking Competencies): Students will demonstrate effective public speaking and presentation skills.
Objective 3 (Teacher Certification): Bring US and Texas history instruction in line with the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) and prepare students in the fields they will be required to reach at the K-12 level in the state of Texas.
MA History
Objective 1 (Historiography): Students will explore content from multiple perspectives, acknowledge competing views, and evaluate sources for relevance and reliability.
Objective 2 (Thesis): Students will formulate a significant research question and develop a convincing argument, with their findings constituting the basis for a publishable paper.
Objective 3 (Effective Written Communication): Students will demonstrate academic writing competency and provide appropriate citations for historical evidence.
Core Curriculum (HIST 1301, 1302, 2301)
Objective 1 (Critical Thinking): Students will demonstrate effective critical thinking skills in the analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of primary and secondary historical sources.
Objective 2 (Communication): Students will demonstrate effective written communication skills.
Objective 3 (Social Responsibility): Students will demonstrate intercultural competency, civic knowledge, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.
Objective 4 (Personal Responsibility): Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision making.
BA History
Objective 1 (Historical Methodology): Students will interpret historical evidence and analyze multiple viewpoints from primary and secondary sources.
Objective 2 (Speaking Competencies): Students will demonstrate effective public speaking and presentation skills.
Objective 3 (Teacher Certification): Bring US and Texas history instruction in line with the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) and prepare students in the fields they will be required to reach at the K-12 level in the state of Texas.
MA History
Objective 1 (Historiography): Students will explore content from multiple perspectives, acknowledge competing views, and evaluate sources for relevance and reliability.
Objective 2 (Thesis): Students will formulate a significant research question and develop a convincing argument, with their findings constituting the basis for a publishable paper.
Objective 3 (Effective Written Communication): Students will demonstrate academic writing competency and provide appropriate citations for historical evidence.
The degree of
Bachelor of Arts in History will be awarded upon the completion of the following requirements:
- General Requirements: See Core Curriculum posted in degree plans. In addition, students must complete an additional 9 semester hours of the same foreign language, a 2000-level literature course, COMM 1315, and an elective from the approved list.
- Major: HIST 1301, 1302 - American History Surveys — six semester hours; HIST 2321, 2322- World History — six semester hours; HIST 3390 - Historical Research — three semester hours; Advanced US History — six semester hours; Advanced World History — six semester hours; Advanced US/World History - three semester hours; HIST 4391 - Capstone
- Minor: An approved minor of at least eighteen semester hours. Twelve hours must be at the 3000/4000 level.
- Electives: Sufficient approved electives to complete a total of 120 semester hours.
- No grade below "C" in ENGL 1301/1302, HIST 1301/1302 and History major requirements.
Recommended Minimum Program of Study
First Year
First Semester
HIST 1301
ENGL 1301
MATH 1314, 1332 or 1342
Elementary Language I
Social Science (ECON 1301, 2301, 2302, PSYC 2301 or SOCI 1301)
LIBR 1101
Total - 16 Hours
Second Semester
HIST 1302
ENGL 1302
ARTS 1303
Elementary Language II
COMM 1315
Total - 15 Hours
Second Year
First Semester
HIST 2321
ENGL Lit (ENGL 2300, 2310, 2320, 2322, 2326, 2331, 2371, 2376)
Intermediate Language I
Lab Science (BIOL 1406, 1407, 2401, 2402; GEOL 1403, 1404; PHYS 1405, 1407, 1411; or SPSC 1401)
POLS 2301
Total - 16 Hours
Second Semester
HIST 2322
ENGL Lit (ENGL 2300, 2310, 2320, 2322, 2326, 2331, 2371, 2376)
Intermediate Language II
Lab Science (BIOL 1406, 1407, 2401, 2402; GEOL 1403, 1404; PHYS 1405, 1407, 1411; or SPSC 1401)
POLS 2302
Total - 16 Hours
Third Year
First Semester
HIST 3390
History (3000-level Advanced American)
History (3000-level advanced World)
Minor Course
Elective
Total - 15 Hours
Second Semester
HIST (4000-level Advanced World)
Minor Courses - 6 hours
Electives - 6 Hours
Total - 15 Hours
Fourth Year
First Semester
History (4000-level Advanced American)
Minor Courses - 6 Hours
Elective - 6 Hours
Total - 15 Hours
Second Semester
History (4000-level Advanced American or World)
Minor Course
HIST 4391
Elective - 3 Hours
Total - 12 Hours
Students from other disciplines who wish to minor in history must complete 18 semester hours, consisting of 1301 and 1302, either 2321 or 2322, and 9 semester hours of advanced history courses, with at least 6 hours at the 4000 level. No grade below a “C” will be counted toward the minor.
Applicants for the Master of Arts in History must meet all Graduate College entrance requirements. Their background in history must include HIST 1301 & 1302, a course in historical methods, and one additional upper-division history course. A cumulative undergraduate gpa of at least 3.0 is also required.
Applicants shall achieve a minimum verbal score of 153 and a minimum analytical score of 3 on the GRE. Two letters of recommendation and one sample of academic writing are also required.
Degree Requirements
- Thesis Option. The thesis option is strongly recommended for those who plan to continue graduate study beyond the masters. The thesis program requires completion of 24 semester hours of coursework; HIST 5300 (Historiography) is required and a minimum of 12 hours must be taken in Seminar, Readings or Directed Readings courses. The student may take 6 graduate hours (class or seminar) in a supporting (minor) field. Six additional hours of credit will be given for completion of the thesis. Thesis students must also demonstrate a reading knowledge of one classical or modern foreign language. This requirement may be satisfied by completing the 2312 course in a language OR by passing a nationally recognized standardized language proficiency test OR by completing a reading project administered by the faculty of the Department of History.
- Non-Thesis Option. The non-thesis option is intended to provide a strong foundation in a wide range of historical areas and periods. It is designed for those who do not intend to seek a higher degree. Non-thesis students must complete 36 hours in history. HIST 5300 (Historiography) is required and a minimum of 18 hours must be in Seminar, Readings, or Directed Readings courses. The student may take six hours in an approved minor field. After completing their classwork, students must take a comprehensive written examination which is defended orally. A foreign language is not required for the non-thesis Master of Arts in History
