You are in the official 1996-97 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.

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History

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School of Social Sciences
Department of History
JERONIMA L. ECHEVERRIA, Chair
Social Science Building, Room 101
(559) 278-2153

B.A. in History
M.A. in History
Minor in History
Single Subject Teaching
Credential in Social Science

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History is the study of man's recorded past. It encompasses all aspects of human behavior, social organization, and cultural development. The arts and the sciences, the development of technology, and changing economic forces are as much a part of history as is politics or social conflict.

Students of history are engaged in a journey through time in which they can witness and compare the development of a variety of cultures and the interrelations between people in many different circum stances. Through the study of past events, history provides a great storehouse of experience by which the theories of the other social sciences can be tested. And through its analysis of the development of institutions and cultures, it provides one of our best tools for understanding social phenomena.

History is also one of the broadest and most universal of the humanities. Just as the personalities of individuals are shaped through the totality of their past experiences, so cultures and institutions also develop in time. The study of history can help students understand themselves and their culture better and develop a more tolerant and humane spirit toward others. In this way, as in so many others, a knowledge of the past can help all of us meet the problems of today with greater under standing and compassion.

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Faculty and Program

The Department of History has 18 faculty members offering a wide variety of courses in the history of Europe, the United States, Latin America, the British Empire, Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East, as well as courses in intellectual and cultural history, social history, military history, and the history of women.

The History Department offers a major and minor in history for the Bachelor of Arts degree, a graduate program leading to the Master of Arts, and courses for use in the teaching credential program. It participates in the interdisciplinary programs and minors in Armenian studies, Asian studies, classical studies, Latin American studies, Russian area studies, and women's studies. History courses may also be used as electives toward graduation in most other majors, and the History Department encourages students to take minors and second majors in other fields as well.

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Career Opportunities

History majors are trained to read with comprehension and to compare and analyze both written and oral material. In addition they must know how to evaluate evidence and sources, how to critique the writing of others, and how to do research and writing on their own. These are highly valued skills in many occupations and professions today, and the History Department offers preparation for careers in teaching, law, government service, librarianship, journalism, publishing, and business. Career opportunities may also be found in such diverse fields as marketing, advertising, insurance, public relations, social services, urban planning, and the foreign service.

Students with questions related to their future careers are encouraged to consult with the faculty advisers of the History Department, as well as with the Office of Advising Services and the Office of Career Planning and Placement Services, which can provide much useful information with regard to career planning and current job market trends.

History - Degrees

History - Courses

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