History Undergraduate Opportunities
Major Options:
History (Teaching)
The Department of History & Philosophy at Montana State offers a teacher education program option for students seeking careers in teaching secondary level history or social studies. Undergraduate students have opportunities to conduct research and work directly with faculty members on topics ranging from urban coyotes to the Butte mine, and internships at historical societies, museums and Yellowstone are an important part of the educational experience. The department provides students with the tools to think rigorously, to research and to articulate their thoughts coherently. Students who earn their degrees in the History Teaching Option may apply for state certification.
History (SETS)
The SETS major offers students a multi-disciplinary course of study that analyzes science, technology, and the environment within their broader cultural contexts, including intellectual and social history, environmental history, religious studies, and philosophy.
Students will choose one of several specialties as a focus for their coursework, such as Philosophy of Science, History of Science and Technology, Science and Technology Policy, or Environmental History. Moreover, students are required to become knowledgeable about one or more areas of science, technology, environmental studies, or public policy, as the department believes such literacy is an important part of a land-grant institution liberal arts education. Students will therefore be required to take at least 12 credits in an appropriate science, social science or engineering discipline. Finally, a capstone is required for all students; each will complete an original research paper synthesizing their scientific, technological, and humanistic knowledge.
History
The Bachelor of Arts in History allows students to specialize in the study of the American west, U.S. history, environmental history, and the history of science and technology. The history degree also provides an analytical gateway to areas beyond the United States, with courses of advanced study related to South Asia, East Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the ancient world. Internships at historical societies, museums, and Yellowstone National Park are also an important part of the educational experience and are strongly encouraged by the department.
A degree in history prepares students for teaching, graduate studies, public resource management, government service, law school, journalism, and other career opportunities that require critical thinking and clarity of communication. Students participate in original research projects and student-centered learning activities; they learn to read and analyze primary texts, as well as secondary literature, and to write thoughtfully about them. Students learn to create knowledge by thinking creatively and basing their ideas in the empirical authority inherent in careful examination of historical documents.
At all levels of the curriculum, the history degree provides students with the tools to think rigorously, to research and thereby generate knowledge empirically, and to articulate their thoughts coherently. In consultation with an advisor, students may select from a range of fields of concentration that are consistent with his or her interests and educational objectives.
Philosophy
Philosophy is unique in uniting the formal aspects of critical analysis with exciting issues and questions that impact our lives. Philosophical thinking opens new perspectives for students, provides tools for better understanding, and enables students to make critical distinctions. Philosophy emphasizes and encourages reflective, autonomous thinking as well as careful, attentive understanding and analysis.
We offer both a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a minor in Philosophy. We specialize in ethics, philosophy of science, epistemology, feminist philosophy, philosophy of film, aesthetics, and critical philosophy of race.
Philosophy courses at Montana State University examine the history of philosophy as well as innovations and issues in contemporary philosophy. We offer classes from the introductory level to upper-division courses in ethics, theory of knowledge, feminist philosophy, philosophy of race, philosophy of science, Asian and Continental philosophy, philosophy of law, philosophy of technology, philosophy of film, philosophy of religion, logic, and American pragmaticism.
The goals of our program are to help students develop the ability to read critically, think critically, listen to others critically, discuss critically, and write critically. Acquiring these skills serves the multiple purposes of becoming aware of the views of others on crucial matters of human existence, of thoroughly understanding these views, and of appreciating their strengths and/or weaknesses. As such, philosophy develops skills that are broadly applicable in human life and become particularly useful in professions such as law, government, business, computer science, and medical school.
Data from nortonlearningblog.com
What to do with a history major
Every aspect of humans' lives is shaped by political, environmental, cultural, and social factors. Our students ask the historical questions to understand why the world is the way that it is and how they can change it for the better. While our students can explore history major and minor options, the skills they learn in our courses prepare them for careers in a wide variety of fields including business, law, government, international business, education, research, public history, historic preservation, and numerous other areas. Regardless of what career you choose, you will be able to think critically, write persuasively, consider a problem from multiple perspectives, and ask relevant questions -- these are the intellectual skills that many employers demand.
Our career paths are designed to help you craft an academic plan for your specific interests and future goals. To find descriptions of the courses below, check out our online catalog - all the history course options are listed under the History Major Option. Click on the course number to see the course description.
Pre-Professional Career Path
Pre-Law
History's emphasis on reading and interpreting evidence, understanding context, and writing makes it an ideal pre-law major. History students develop the ability to make clear and reasoned arguments, along with critical thinking, research, and writing skills that are necessary for the study of law. In addition, lawyers often use primary sources (photographs, depositions, contracts) with secondary sources (case law) to develop their cases. All history courses help to prepare students for law school, but here are some suggested additional options.
World History courses
European History courses
U.S. History courses
All history courses contain critical thinking and writing components that will benefit pre-law students.
Public History
Public historians use many skills that we teach in our department. From collaborating with community partners to giving research presentations to broad public audiences, public historians use a variety of methods such as museum exhibits, documentary films, oral histories, and digital media. In their work, public historians make history interesting and accessible to the general public. Our students look at potential careers in museums, archives, research libraries, non-profits, cultural resource management, historic preservation offices with state and local governments, and National Parks, to name a few popular options.
HSTA 409 - Food in America
HSTA 412IH - American Thought and Culture
HSTA 416 - Race and Class in America
HSTA 450 - History of American Indians
HSTA 468 - History of Yellowstone
HSTA 482 - Technology and the Fate of Humanity
HSTR 105IH - Making Our World in Ten Events
HSTR 207CS - Sci and Tech in World History
HSTR 308 - Ancient Egypt
HSTR 331 - Archaeology, Exploration and Religion
HSTR 423 - European Intellectual History
HSTR 425 - Mapping the World
HSTR 467 - History of Mountaineering
HSTR 498 - Museum Studies
Education
Our history education students find jobs working in middle schools and secondary schools teaching history and history-related subjects across the nation. In conjunction with the Department of Education, the department offers a teacher education program for students seeking careers teaching secondary level history or social studies. Students who want to be certified to teach should be enrolled in a teaching major. By earning their degrees in the History Teaching Option, students may apply for state certification. For more information, go to the Department of Education website.
A variety of classes that fulfill history education requirements can be found at the History Teaching Option.
Government and International Relations
Critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills are invaluable for careers in the government sector and our history students learn all of these. In addition, having an understanding of how the world has worked historically benefits students who are looking for jobs in international relations.
HSTA 311 - Early America
HSTA 315 - The Age of Jefferson and Jackson: The Early American Republic
HSTA 316 - American Civil War Era
HSTA 320 - Birth of Modern US: 1965 - 1945
HSTA 322 - Am History: WWII to Present
HSTA 406 - McCarthy, Populism and Fear in US Politics
HSTA 412IH - American Thought and Culture
HSTA 416 - Race and Class in America
HSTA 450 - History of American Indians
HSTA 470 - American Environmental History
HSTR 425 - Mapping the World
HSTR 105IH - Making Our World in Ten Events
HSTR 130D - Latin American History
HSTR 135D - The Modern Middle East
HSTR 140D - Modern Asia
HSTR 145D - Reinventing Japan
HSTR 322 - 19th Century Europe
HSTR 324 - 20th Century Europe
HSTR 345 - Modern China
HSTR 346 - Modern India
HSTR 350 - Modern Britain
HSTR 353 - Modern France
HSTR 359 - Russia to 1917
HSTR 362 - Modern German
HSTR 372 - The World at War
HSTR 376 - Twentieth Century War
HSTR 407 - Soviet Union: Rise & Fall
HSTR 423 - European Intellectual History
HSTR 435 - Latin America: Human Rights
HSTR 436 - Armed Conflict in Modern Latin America
HSTR 445 - Environ, Health & Sci in Japan
HSTR 446 - Science and Medicine in China
Business
An increasing number of history majors are going into business related jobs. History majors learn skills that set them apart – outstanding reading and writing skills paired with strong communication and presentation skills are necessary for many jobs. In addition, our students learn intangible skills such as a sense of perspective, an ability to make connections, and a willingness to see the world as a dynamic, ever changing place.
All history courses have writing and research components that would be of benefit to students.
Thematic Study
Environmental
Our environmental history professors teach students how to use fragmentary data from the past to make strong and convincing arguments. And in environmental history, they use traditional archives as well as interdisciplinary sources: scientific reports, public policy, and the laboratory of the outdoors. Having experience in these areas helps our students to find jobs in environmentally related fields.
HSTA 468 - History of Yellowstone
HSTA 470 - American Environmental History
HSTR 205CS - The World Environment
HSTR 208RH - Sci, Envir, Tech, Soc: Common Exp.
HSTR 445 - Environ, Health & Sci in Japan
HSTR 467- HIstory of Mountaineering
HSTR 482 - Animal HIstories
HSTR 484 - World Environmental History
Race, Gender, and Sexuality
These courses highlight how race, gender, and sexuality have profoundly shaped societies, religious beliefs, personal identity, and political mobilization across history and across the globe. These interrelated historical forces have structured social hierarchies and inequalities and have intersected with one another to support and subvert social and political formations, such as identity, class, nation, and empire.
HSTA 402 - Sex and Sexuality in America
HSTA 407 - Gender in the US & Canadian West
HSTA 408 - Gender in America
HSTA 416 - Race and Class in America
HSTA 450 - History of American Indians
HSTR 430- Latin Amer Social History
HSTR 431 - Race in Latin America
HSTR 434 - Gender in Latin America
HSTR 435 - Latin America: Human Rights
HSTR 443 - Gender in Asia
Science, Environment, Technology, Society (SETS)
The SETS major offers students a multi-disciplinary course of study that analyzes science, technology, and the environment within their broader cultural contexts, including intellectual and social history, environmental history, religious studies, and philosophy.
A variety of classes that fulfill the SETS major can be found at the SETS option.
Regional Study
American West
Specializing in the History of America and the American West, the department offers advanced level coursework in topics ranging from "Montana and the West" to "Food in America" to "History of American Indians."
MSU's history department offers many courses that relate to the American West.
HSTA 160D - Introduction to the Am West
HSTA 320 - Birth of the Modern US: 1865 - 1945
HSTA 322 - Am HIstory: WWII to Present
HSTA 407 - Gender in US & Canadian West
HSTA 409 - Food in America
HSTA 416 - Race and Class in America
HSTA 450 - History of American Indians
HSTA 460 - Montana and the West
HSTA 464 - Trans-Mississippi West
HSTA 468 - History of Yellowstone
American History
Gaining a strong background in American history helps to understand the evolution of the country and what it means to be an America. Our faculty cover all periods of American history in their courses which give students a broad perspective and context on current and historical events.
MSU has introductory American history courses available. Other notable American history courses:
HSTA 311 - Early America
HSTA 315 - The Age of Jefferson and Jackson: The Early Republic Years
HSTA 316 - American Civil War Era
HSTA 320 - Birth of the Modern US: 1865 - 1945
HSTA 322 - Am HIstory: WWII to Present
HSTA 402 - Sex and Sexuality in America
HSTA 406 - McCarthy, Populism and Fear in US Politics
HSTA 407 - Gender in US & Canadian West
HSTA 408 - Gender in America
HSTA 409 - Food in America
HSTA 412 - American Thought and Culture
HSTA 416 - Race and Class in America
HSTA 450 - History of American Indians
HSTA 470 - American Environmental History
Asian History
Asia has shaped our world’s history and will continue to do so. Our courses give students the background on historical factors in the development of modern Asian nations and insight into the cultures and peoples found on our largest continent with almost sixty percent of the world’s population.
HSTR 140D - Modern Asia
HSTR 145D - Reinventing Japan
HSTR 340 - Age of the Shoguns
HSTR 342 - Japan's Meiji Revolution
HSTR 345 - Modern China
HSTR 346 - Modern India
HSTR 375 - Eurasian Borderlands
HSTR 443 - Gender in Asia
HSTR 445 - Environ, Health & Sci in Japan
HSTR 446 - Science and Medicine in China
HSTR 484 - World Environmental History
European History
The study of Europe, as the source of many of the ideas that have shaped our country and the world, remains central to understanding processes that shape our lives. From the development of ideas about the nation-state, democracy, and capitalism to the invention of the printing press, the railroad, and other
HSTR 105IH - Making Our World in Ten Events
HSTR 302 - Ancient Greece
HSTR 304 - Ancient Rome
HSTR 322 - 19th Century Europe
HSTR 324 - 20th Century Europe
HSTR 350 - Modern Britain
HSTR 353 - Modern France
HSTR 359 - Russia to 1917
HSTR 362 - Modern Germany
HSTR 372 - The World at War
HSTR 375 - Eurasian Borderlands
HSTR 376 - Twentieth Century War
HSTR 407 - Soviet Union: Rise & Fall
HSTR 423 - European Intellectual History
HSTR 425 - Mapping the World
HSTR 467 - History of Mountaineering
HSTR 468 - From Empire to Republic
HSTR 484 - World Environmental History
Latin American History
Students interested in transnational studies or the history of Latin America will find a variety of courses available to them. Research interests of faculty are wide ranging and include social, cultural, and political history, and the study of migration, labor, politics, environment, gender and race relations, and popular movements.
HSTR 130D - Latin American History
HSTR 330 - History of Mexico
HSTR 430 - Latin Amer Social History
HSTSR 431 - Race in Latin America
HSTR 433 - Latin American Perspectives
HSTR 434 - Gender in Latin America
HSTR 435 - Latin America: Human Rights
HSTR 436 - Armed Conflict in Modern Latin America
HSTR 484 - World Environmental History
Middle Eastern and Egyptian History
The Middle East has long been a the center of human history - from some of the world's first civilizations to today's news. Courses explore the birth of world religions, the rise and fall of great empires, the development of scientific and mathematic and philosophical ideas, the rise of global political movements, and intellectual production and ownership of antiquity.
HSTR 135D - The Modern Middle East
HSTR 150D - Religion, Conflict & Politics
HSTR 160 - Modern World History
HSTR 207CS - Sci and Tech in World History
HSTR 210IH - History of the Bible
HSTR 308 - Ancient Egypt
HSTR 331 - Archaeology, Exploration, and Religion
HSTR 366 - Middle East/20th Century
HSTR 372 - The World at War
HSTR 376 - Twentieth Century War
HSTR 425 - Mapping the World
HSTR 484 - World Environmental History