History
Chaired by Domenic Maffei, Ph.D.

DEGREE: Bachelor of Arts
Liberal Arts Core | 49 credits |
History | 33 credits |
Open Electives | 38 credits |
Total | 120 credits |
The Department of History and Political Science at Caldwell University offers B.A. degrees in history, political science and social studies. Students may also choose to pursue New Jersey State Teacher Certification K–12.
Special opportunities for majors include a variety of internship and cooperative education programs available with local government administrators, the New Jersey Historical Society, and the Grover Cleveland Birthplace. A Washington Semester program is available through American University, and study abroad options are possible. Independent study projects in all areas of history and political science are open to majors. Students may aspire to membership in Phi Alpha Theta, the international history honor society, and to Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.
As a requirement for graduation, all department majors must complete one of the senior seminars designated for their specific discipline. In order to fulfill the Department’s Outcomes Assessment requirement, students must also enroll in HI/PO 492 Research Seminar at the same time they are taking one of the senior seminars. In HI/PO 492 majors will be required to complete a substantial research paper according to guidelines that are uniform across the department. The outcomes assessment process is designed to demonstrate student ability to use appropriate sources, to understand historical interpretation, to research effectively, to organize a large body of information in a meaningful way, to write clearly, to revise written work based on faculty input, and to discuss research results comfortably and intelligently before a wider audience. In keeping with standard university policy, all majors must earn a final grade of C or better in both the senior seminar and in HI/PO 492. If a student receives a grade of C or better in HI/PO 492 but fails to achieve that grade in their senior seminar then the student will need to take another senior seminar in order to complete major requirements. Should a student receive a C or better in their senior seminar but fail to achieve that grade in HI/PO 492 the student will be offered the opportunity to take an incomplete for the course so that they can continue to work on their research project until it is of sufficient quality. Results of the process each year are used to improve the department curriculum and strengthen course requirements, especially in the area of student research and writing.
STUDENTS WHO MAJOR IN HISTORY MUST COMPLETE:
Course Code : HI 203
Course Description :
Surveys the political, cultural, economic and social history of the United States from the colonial period through the Civil War
Credit : 3
Course Code : HI 204
Course Description :
Surveys the political, cultural, economic and social history of the United States from Reconstruction to the present.
Credit : 3
One (1) course in European history
Two (2) courses in American history
Two (2) courses in Global history
Two (2) electives in history
Course Code : HI 492
Course Description :
In this course students will undertake a significant research project in order to fulfill the Outcomes Assessment requirement for all major programs in the History and Political Science Department. This project will consist of a series of steps, including a research proposal, a preliminary bibliography, 2 preliminary drafts, a final draft of at least 20 pages in length, and an oral presentation to Department faculty. This course must be taken in tandem with one of the designated senior seminars—the Research Seminar cannot be taken alone.
Credit : 3
SENIOR SEMINAR (choose one of the below):
Course Code : HI 455
Course Description :
Examines major topics in global history since 1945, including the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, independence movements in colonized nations in Africa and Asia, and various issues related to global economic development.
Credit : 3
Course Code : HI 440
Course Description :
Analyzes social, political and cultural developments since 1945 with special emphasis on social movements and political protest.
Credit : 3
Course Code : HI 432
Course Description :
An in-depth and historically grounded examination of selected problems and issues, with topics chosen dependent upon the expertise of the instructor and the changing nature of world concerns.
Credit : 3
Course Code : HI 407
Course Description :
An examination of the political, social, and cultural forces that shaped North America from the pre-Columbian period to the ratification of the United States constitution in 1789. Major topics to be covered include: pre-European Native America; the Age of European exploration and expansion; cross-cultural contacts between Indians, Africans, and Europeans; slavery; colonial ethnicity and the roots of American pluralism; colonial political structures; the Salem witch trials; colonial American culture; the American Revolution; and the Constitutional Convention.
Credit : 3
The department encourages history majors to take some courses in statistics and computer science. Although not required, the concurrent study of a modern language and the use of source materials in that language for student research is highly recommended. A reading knowledge of at least one modern language is necessary for graduate study in history