FAQ: The History Major

1) I have seen or talked to students who have History and GEN ED requirements that are different from mine. Why?

In Fall 2003, the requirements for the University’s General Education program and for the History major changed. All students who were admitted to UNCC and declared History BEFORE 1 August 2003 are under the old rules for both Gen Ed and the Major. All students who were admitted to UNCC before August 2003 but declared History as their major AFTER 1 August 2003 are under the old Gen Ed rules but the new History requirements. Finally, all new students (including transfers) beginning in Fall 2003 are under the new rules for both Gen Ed and History

2) Under the NEW major requirements (declared after 1 August 2003) I was not allowed to transfer in more than 6 hours of 1000-level courses. Why?

The department wanted to ensure that students got an adequate foundation in basic survey level courses—particularly exposure to essay exams and papers. You should also note that, some of those courses are probably counting towards your Gen Ed requirements, and they will count towards your total hours in any case.

3) If I am a history major under the OLD General Education requirements (admitted before 1 August 2003), can I count history courses for general education goals?

None of the courses which you count towards the major's requirements or 30-hour total can be used to satisfy goals, with the exception of your History 2100 which satisfies the O Goal and History 4000/01/02 which can be counted as one of the required writing-intensive courses. However additional courses beyond the 30 hours may be counted towards COGE goals. NOTE: if you are under the new Gen Ed requirements, this comment does not apply to you.

4) Can I take History 2100 or 4000/01/02 if I am not a major?
No. Moreover you will not be able to register for these classes unless you have seen your advisor; all registration for 2100 and 4000/01/02 is done by the department secretaries.

5) I want to register for 2100 or 4000/01/02 but the computer won't let me. Why?

You must be a History Major to be able to register for these courses. Also, you cannot register for HIST4000/01/02 until you have completed HIST 2100 with a ‘C' or better. If you have recently changed your major to history but your application has not been processed by the Registrar Office yet, please contact the Department.

6) What are the prerequisites to History 2100 and 4000/01/02?

History 2100 does not have a prerequisite. However, it is strongly recommended that students entering 2100 have some prior experience in history courses. **Also, students must be advised before registering for History 2100. This is mandatory.

In order to take History 4000, one must have successfully completed History 2100 with a "C" or better. There are no exceptions to this rule.

7) How many hours are required to earn a BA or a minor in History?

Under the OLD requirements (declared before 1 August 2003) the BA degree requires 30 hours.

Under the NEW requirements (declared after 1 August 2003) the BA degree requires 33 hours.

Minor requires 18 hours

8) If a History 2100 or 4002 has a non-western topic, can it be counted as one of the six hours of non-western courses required by all history majors?

No

9) What is considered a non-western history course?

Latin American, African, Asian, and Middle Eastern history are all considered non-western history courses. PLEASE NOTE: Russian History is not a non-western topic. Also, as a general rule, hyphenated courses (i.e. Asian-American, African-American, Mexican-American) are not non-western courses. All courses meeting the department’s non western requirement are indicated as such with a footnote in the schedule.

10) Can I complete a history major at night? on weekends?

You can complete the major at night, but not all required courses are offered each semester. You will need to consult frequently with your advisor for scheduling advice. However, you cannot complete the major only on the weekends.

11) If I am a history major can I take a history course pass/fail?

No. For majors, all history courses must be taken for a grade even if they are beyond the required 30 hours. The only exception is the HIST 2400 internship course. Beginning Spring 2005, HIST 2400 may only been taken as pass/fail.

12) If I take more than 30 hours in history, can I apply some of the courses to COGE credit?

Yes. Any history courses not needed to fulfill the requirements for the major may be used for COGE—NB this comment only applies to you if you are under the OLD Gen Ed requirements.

13) If I began as a history major and then declared a secondary education certification, do I remain with the same advisor?

No. You must be advised by a special advisor with the history department. See the department secretary for reassignment.

14) I am a transfer student and the registrar's degree check says that I am missing some courses that I thought had transferred. What is going on?

The registrar's degree check form is a great tool to have, but it is not always accurate. If you think you have covered goals and it is not showing up on the online screen, you should see your advisor.

PLEASE SEND US SUGGESTIONS FOR OTHER QUESTIONS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE ANSWERED HERE BY EMAILING US AT HISTORY@uncc.edu.

Return to the teacher certification page.

1) What are the requirements for admission into the Teacher Education Program?

You must have a 'C' or better in MDSK 2100; you must have a grade point average of 2.5 or better; and you must have passing scores on the Praxis I test.

2) Who should I get advising help from for my history/secondary education degree?

For advice on the History major, on your social studies requirements, on general education see your HISTORY advisor. For advice on requirements for teacher certification see your EDUCATION advisor.

3) Why do I need to do a History major and Social Studies classes to be certified to teach high school social studies? Who sets these requirements?

The requirement that you complete a history major and take the social studies content course is established by the State. The particular content of the History major is determined by this department.

4) What are the social studies requirements? Why should I do them?

To have a social studies teaching license you need to take 12 hours of social studies content by completing the following courses: any ECON course; POLS 1110; POLS 1120 or 1150; GEOG 1101. Although this is additional work it is recommended for the following reasons. First, most jobs in schools require a history/social studies certification. Second, to pass the PRAXIS II test you will need to know a fair amount of material from your social studies classes.

5) Why is Economics required as one of my social studies content area subjects?

Two reasons. 1. A significant portion of the Praxis II test involves knowledge of basic economic concepts. Equal portions of the test involve Political Science and Geography, HOWEVER, experience has shown us that students who don't have classes in geography and political science pick up enough of that material to get by on the test but that they don't get enough economics without taking the class. So, take Econ to pass Praxis. 2. One of the most common classes which beginning social studies teachers teach in high school is a required 9th grade class called ELP (Economics, Law, and Politics). Again experience suggests--and teachers we've interviewed concur--that course work in Economics is very very helpful preparation. So, take Econ for your own teaching prepartion. IF you don't take both semesters of Econ, you should at least take the Economics for non-Majors class they offer, although this one class will not fulfill one of your social studies areas.

6) Who sets the requirements for the education part of my degree?

These requirements are established by the College of Education based on the state guidelines for teacher competency.

7) What are the requirements for student teaching?

You must have completed all of your course work; you must have a 2.75 GPA in all history classes.

8) My GPA is not high enough, what can I do?

Since UNCC students are no longer allowed to exclude credit, your only option in this situation is to take additional courses to raise your GPA. How many classes and the grades you will need to achieve will depend upon your particular circumstances. Because raising your GPA can be difficult and time consuming, IT IS BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO NOT GET INTO THIS SITUATION IN THE FIRST PLACE. OBVIOUS ADVICE, BUT IMPORTANT.

9) If I am a post baccalaureate student under what conditions should I consider taking a second undergraduate degree in History?

• Post-Bac students interested in certification should contact the College of Education to discuss their options. The main reason you might need to do a second undergraduate degree in History if you already have a BA is that a History major is required as a background requirement for the history/social studies license.

10) If I am a post-bac student and I intend to get a master's level degree after (or during) I get my initial licensure, can I take graduate courses instead of the undergraduate courses required by the department?

Depending on your previous history experience and your abilities, the department may allow you to take graduate courses to fulfill your licensure requirements in history. HOWEVER, if you are seeking the master's degree for advanced licensure, you will not be able to count the graduate courses you take for your initial licensure towards your advanced licensure.

[PLEASE SEND US SUGGESTIONS FOR OTHER QUESTIONS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE ANSWERED HERE BY EMAILING US AT HISTORY@uncc.edu.]