History BA and Minor Program Specifics

Course Requirements

Course Descriptions

Academic Rhode Map

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• understand how historians gather, interpret and analyze a wide range of primary and secondary source data/material (including literary, geographical, political and socioeconomic material) and how historians construct a coherent narrative from this information
• demonstrate the skills of historical analysis and interpretation, such as compare and contrast, differentiate between historical facts and interpretation, consider multiple perspectives, analyze cause and effect relationships, compare competing historical narratives, recognize the tentative nature of historical interpretation and analyze the influence of the past
• think chronologically and comprehensively, identifying temporal structures of historical narratives and comprehending the meanings of historical texts, monographs and documents, including their audiences, goals, perspectives and biases
• develop research capabilities that enable them to formulate historical questions and themes, obtain and question historical data, identify the gaps in available records, place sources in context and construct reliable historical interpretations
• demonstrate their knowledge of the history, culture and values of diverse peoples and traditions throughout the world and compare patterns of continuity and change
• understand the historical context for the interaction and interdependence of politics, society, science and technology in a variety of cultural settings
• formulate and explain their own interpretations of the past by examining and communicating them with clarity and precision in a variety of oral and written assignments
• demonstrate research skills utilizing the full range of available materials, including those found in libraries, archives, museums and electronic resources
• demonstrate the skills necessary to be an independent and lifelong learner

Why or in what ways is writing important to your discipline/field/profession?

Writing is fundamental to the study of history. Without writing, there is no history. In order to learn from the past, historians are dependent upon writing and fully engaged with it at all times. The analysis of written documents and the clear communication of what is found in them are essential to the discipline. We make full use of other sources (the oral tradition, the remains of material culture), but writing is the only medium through which those who can no longer speak can still impart to us their thoughts, feelings and the facts of their time as they were aware of them.

Writing is not only fundamental to historical research, it is also the means by which we communicate with professional colleagues, students and members of the public. Effective and clear writing is basic to historical studies.

Simon Schama, the noted art historian, said that historians deal with “the past in all its splendid messiness.” It is up to historians to study that messy past and present in written form a more ordered and understandable view of historical events and peoples.

Which courses are designated as satisfying the Writing in the Discipline (WID) requirement by your department? Why these courses?

The History Department has designated HIST 281, 282 and 389 as its WID courses.

HIST 281 introduces students to the history of history as a profession, the sub-fields of history such as social, political, economic etc. while at the same time having them write various assignments typical of a history course: synopses, precis and book reviews to name a few.

HIST 282 introduces students to a historical topic and then each student chooses a theme within that topic on which to conduct research and write a paper. The first two courses provide the building blocks for the kind of writing the History Department expects at the 200 and 300 level.

HIST 389 allows students to build on the skills they’ve learned in earlier courses in order to self-design a research project.

What forms or genres of writing will students learn and practice in your department’s WID courses? Why these genres?

History students will learn to write narratives, analyses, and interpretations of historical sources – the essential building blocks of the discipline.

What kinds of teaching practices will students encounter in your department’s WID courses?

History department WID courses are conducted as workshop/seminars. There will be virtually no lecturing by professors. Rather, students will be assigned readings and/or short written materials that will serve as discussion points during class meetings. (In preparation for such meetings, students are asked to bring in worksheets relevant to the day’s assignment – low stakes writing). Students will also do group work, for example the interpretation/dissection of a historical source (e.g. The Petition of Right from 1628).

When they’ve satisfied your department’s WID requirement, what should students know and be able to do with writing?

Students who have completed the History Department’s WID courses should be able to analyze and interpret historical materials, whether they are historians’ writings, articles, monographs, textbooks or primary sources (material from the historical period under study). They should be able to formulate research questions and then research and write a history essay that has a strong thesis statement and that provides evidence that supports the paper’s thesis.

Declaring a minor allows students to explore other areas of interest outside of their majors and make interdisciplinary connections. Minor areas at RIC complement and reinforce all major areas of study. By declaring a minor, students can set themselves apart as a candidate for job, internship, and volunteer opportunities.

Minor in History

Minor in Public History