HIST:BA - Bachelor of Arts in History

BA in History: Social Studies Education Major

This program prepares students interested in Social Studies and social sciences for teaching at the secondary level. The new degree incorporates current results from education research, effective curriculum materials, use of technology, and a global perspective in collaborative learning. Program requirements include field experiences and an internship. Interested students are encouraged to contact the department for additional details and information on teacher support programs.

To qualify for admission to the program, undergraduate candidates must have met all the lower division requirements including: 60 credit hours of lower-division courses, all general education requirements, lower division GPA of 2.5 or higher, and achieve the competencies of the FTCE General Knowledge Exam (GK).

All students must pass the GK Exam by the time they reach 72 credit hours in their program of study. All stated admission requirements are to be considered minimum. A student who meets these minimum requirements is not automatically assured admission. Program admission requirements are subject to change. It is the responsibility of the student to assure that he/she has met the requirements.

Academic Progression Requirements

Students are admitted directly to their chosen major at the university. Students are expected to make good progress based on critical indicators that include course completion and GPA requirements. In cases where students are not making successful progress, a change of major may be required. Academic advisors work with students to identify an appropriate major where a student will be successful in completing an undergraduate degree.

Teacher Certification

Students with a BA in History degree can apply for temporary teacher certification, allowing them to work while applying for full certification. Students who complete the Education Minor will have fulfilled some of the requirements of full certification. Therefore, students are encouraged to minor in Education while they complete the requirements for this major.

Students interested in the Teacher Certification should contact the School of Education and Human Development, Teaching and Learning Department.

Other Curricular Offering: Combined BA in History to MA in History Accelerated Degree Pathway

This accelerated BA/MA degree pathway allows our highly qualified undergraduate students the opportunity to pursue a MA in History degree while they are completing their undergraduate studies. Applicants must meet the admissions criteria for the graduate degree program to which they are applying.

Students who pursue this accelerated degree pathway must complete all requirements for the undergraduate history major, including the prerequisites and the senior seminar, our capstone course. As part of the accelerated degree pathway, students also will enroll in three 5000-level courses (9 credits), which will count towards the BA and MA degrees. After completing all undergraduate credits, including the double counted courses, students will receive the BA degree. In their final year, students will take a total of 21 credit hours at the graduate level, including a two-semester Research Seminar (6 credits), Historical Methods (3 credits), and graduate seminars (12 credits).

Credit/Course Requirements

Senior Year

In their senior year, students will complete three History courses at the 5000 level (9 credits) and complete the exit requirement for the undergraduate History major, the Senior Seminar, HIS 4935 (3 credits). Students will be advised to take one graduate class and the senior seminar in the first semester of their senior year, and two graduate classes in the second semester of their senior year.

Students must apply for graduation so that they will receive the BA in History degree at the end of their senior year.

Fifth Year

During the fifth year, students will complete 21 hours of graduate level work, including the following:

-- One two-semester; History Graduate: 6 credits

-- Research Seminar (begins in Fall only)
-- course: 3 credits
-- Four Courses at the 5000 or 6000 level, 5000-level courses taken in the fifth year may not be cross-listed with 4000-level courses: 12 credits

Students are expected to finish their MA coursework within a year of receiving their BA degree. Students who do not finish within a year may continue in the program at the discretion of the Graduate Program Director.

Admissions Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History

See general university admissions requirements at admissions.fiu.edu.

Admissions Requirements for the Combined BA in History to Master of Arts (MA) in History Accelerated Degree Pathway

(1) At the time of application, students must be scheduled to complete a minimum of 75 credits towards their bachelors' degree by the end of the current semester. These credits must include at least 4 upper-division history courses (preferably at FIU). Students generally begin the application process at the beginning of first semester of their 3rd year.

(2) Students who satisfy the above requirement may submit an application on a rolling basis, but the admission decision will not be finalized until the current semester's grades are posted.

(3) Applicants must have at least a 3.25 upper-division GPA (UG60) and a minimum 3.5 GPA in upper-division FIU history courses. (Upper-division courses not taken at FIU may be considered at the discretion of the Graduate Committee.) These GPA requirements are minimum requirements, and admission is not guaranteed to students who meet those thresholds.

(4) Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation from full-time FIU History faculty. (Letters from full-time faculty not at FIU may be considered at the discretion of the Graduate Committee.)

(5) Applicants must write a statement of purpose and submit a writing sample that is relevant to the discipline. 

The History Department's Graduate Committee will make the final decision regarding admission to the program. Students should consult the History Department website and the Graduate Program Director for a more comprehensive discussion of admission and program requirements.