Bachelor of Arts — Major in History
Description
The Bachelor of Arts in History focuses on the diverse cultures in our community, our country, and our world. The degree will allow students to develop the knowledge, core competencies, and skills characteristic of a traditional BA program, while preparing students to respond creatively and innovatively to a range of challenges in our community and our world. Whether they pursue a general History BA, or choose to specialize in either the Asian or Military History streams, students will be prepared for entry into the labour market through the incorporation of essential skills in all courses. They will also benefit from the commitment of our faculty to teaching excellence and from the small class sizes at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Arts degrees have high rates of student satisfaction, and the literacy and analytical skills developed in such programs will prepare students to become constructive members of society and to fit well into the workplace.
Careers
The versatility of the Bachelor of Arts in History will allow students to design their program of study in such a way that it will prepare them for careers or further study in areas such as business, community service, law, policing, elementary and secondary education, public history, the military, professional writing, public administration, self-employment, and social work, as well as graduate programs in History. The proposed BA, History, will provide several thematic streams which will allow students to enter traditional graduate programs, as well as more specialized programs such as those offered at the University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, University of Calgary, University of New Brunswick, and the Royal Military College. The Bachelor of Arts, History, will also offer students an upper-level capstone course on the applications of history that will prepare them for leadership roles in the community and equip them with skills applicable to the fields of teaching, public history, and research.
Entrance Requirements
Students may be admitted into the BA program at any time that admission requirements are met and will receive priority course registration. For admission to the B.A. program, students must have a grade of ‘B’ in English 12 (or equivalent) and a grade of ‘C’ in principles of Math 11 (or equivalent) or Applications of Math 12.
Students who do not qualify upon initial registration at Kwantlen but possess at least a 'C' in English 12 (or equivalent) or Applications of Math 12 will be able to apply for entry to the B.A. Qualifying Year. Students will be admitted to the B.A. program in the second year provided they have successfully completed appropriate qualifying courses. Other unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to meet an Educational Advisor for the appropriate qualifying courses that satisfy the application criteria.
Registration access to third or fourth year courses is first awarded to students who have completed at least 60 credits of coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.00, as well as a grade of 'C' in all required courses including the English writing requirement, 2 Quantitative courses, 12 credits of breadth courses, the language requirement, Principles of Math 11 (or equivalent), and all first and second year course requirements for their declared major and/or minor program(s).
Content
History students begin their first year of studies with broad courses that introduce them to the political and economic history of substantial areas of the globe, as well as key themes in historical development. In the second year, they progress to more specifically defined regional courses, considering not only economic and political history, but also social and cultural developments. At the third year level, students undertake in-depth studies of particular countries, considering all aspects of historical development, often in a seminar setting. Finally, in fourth year seminars students examine more narrowly focused topics, usually thematically defined, again considering all aspects of that particular topic.
The following core requirements are to be completed for all Bachelor of Arts Degree Programs:
- Complete a total of 120 credits with a minimum of 65 credits in Arts courses (Humanities and/or Social Sciences), and 45 credits with courses numbered 3000 or higher.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. with a minimum grade of 'C' in all of the following required courses within the degree program (except where stated):
- 6-credit English writing requirement which includes ENGL 1100 and one of either ENGL 1202 or 1204.
- Minimum 9-credit quantitative requirement that must include a minimum of 3 approved quantitative courses, and of which one approved course must be taken from the Faculty of Science and Horticulture.
- 24-credit breadth requirement consisting of a minimum of one course in at least four separate Social Science or Humanities disciplines outside of the major program area, one of which must be at the 3000-level or higher. CMNS 3100, LCOM 1100, and LCOM 4100 may also be credited towards the breadth requirement.
- Second language at the Grade 11 level (Beginner’s or Introductory Language 11 courses are ineligible to meet this requirement), or 6-credits of post-secondary language courses (in the same language). Students need only achieve a passing grade to fulfill this requirement. Students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement waived.
- Required courses for the major and/or minor program(s).
Other completed courses may qualify to meet degree requirements. Students are encouraged to contact the BA Degree Advisor with questions about eligibility for program application or graduation.
In addition to completing the core requirements of all Kwantlen Bachelor of Arts degree programs indicated above, students will have to complete course and program prerequisites as necessary in order to enrol in upper levels courses in the various departments within the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities.
Students are normally expected to complete at least 60 credits at Kwantlen Polytechnic University for a B.A. degree; however, they may apply for an exemption to this ruling on an individual basis. If such an exemption is granted, then residency may be limited to no fewer than 30 credits. In any case, at least 50% of the required upper level credits within the subject area must be completed at Kwantlen.
Major in History
The following major requirements are to be completed for the Bachelor of Arts, History Major program.
1000 LEVEL
Students are required to complete twelve credits of lower levels History courses with 6 of these credits at the 2000 level.
- HIST 1113 Canada to 1867
- HIST 1114 Canada since 1867
- HIST 1120 Europe 1900–1939
- HIST 1121 Europe since 1939
- HIST 1130 Twentieth Century World I: 1900–1945
- HIST 1131 Twentieth Century World II
- HIST 1145 American History 1607–1865
- HIST 1146 American History 1865–1974
- HIST 1150 Introduction to Traditional East Asia
- HIST 1151 Introduction to Modern East Asia
- HIST 1160 Introduction to South Asian History
- HIST 1170 Introduction to African History
2000 LEVEL
- HIST 2101 Europe in the Middle Ages
- HIST 2102 Europe 1450–1789
- HIST 2119 Europe 1789–1914
- HIST 2300 World Civilizations
- HIST 2301 The Ancient World
- HIST 2304 Canadian-American Relations
- HIST 2307 Twentieth Century Britain
- HIST 2335 War in the Modern World
- HIST 2350 Introduction to Modern China
- HIST 2375 Japan under the Shoguns
3000 LEVEL
Students are required to take eighteen credits of third year History. Note that courses at the 3000 level require specific course prerequisites at the 1000 and 2000 levels.
- HIST 3310 The Fibre of Society: Textiles and Global Development
- HIST 3313 Order and Disorder: Canadian Social History
- HIST 3320 The Balkans from 1543–1918
- HIST 3327 Russia to 1917
- HIST 3328 History of the Soviet Union
- HIST 3330 Germany in the Long Nineteenth Century
- HIST 3331 Twentieth Century Germany
- HIST 3340 Civil War and Reconstruction
- HIST 3344 Colonial America
- HIST 3345 The American West
- HIST 3350 China in the Twentieth Century
- HIST 3360 British India, 1857–1947
- HIST 3361 The Indian Subcontinent since 1947
- HIST 3370 Modern Japan
- HIST 3380 World War II in the Pacific
- HIST 3390 Canada & World War One
- HIST 3392 British Home Front during World War II
- HIST 3397 Guerillas in the Mist: Terrorism in the Twentieth Century
4000 LEVEL
All students are required to take:
- HIST 4400 Applications of History.
In addition to HIST 4400, students will need to take at least nine credits of fourth year History.
- HIST 4407 Twentieth Century British Society and Culture
- HIST 4430 The Holocaust in History
- HIST 4435 Genocide in the Twentieth Century
- HIST 4445 The US since 1945
- HIST 4450 China & the West
- HIST 4455 Sages and Statecraft in China
- HIST 4460 Gandhi in History
- HIST 4470 The Samurai
- HIST 4480 The American Experience in Vietnam
- HIST 4485 The Great Strategists
- HIST 4490 History of British Columbia
- HIST 4491 Quebec
Asian History Stream
Students who wish to focus their studies on Asian History are recommended to complete their program requirements using courses from the following:
1000 LEVEL
- HIST 1130 Twentieth Century World I: 1900–1945
- HIST 1131 Twentieth Century World II
- HIST 1150 Introduction to Traditional East Asia
- HIST 1151 Introduction to Modern East Asia
- HIST 1160 Introduction to South Asian History
2000 LEVEL
- HIST 2300 World Civilizations
- HIST 2350 Introduction to Modern China
- HIST 2375 Japan under the Shoguns
3000 LEVEL
- HIST 3350 China in the Twentieth Century
- HIST 3360 British India, 1857–1947
- HIST 3361 The Indian Subcontinent since 1947
- HIST 3370 Modern Japan
- HIST 3380 World War II in the Pacific
- HIST 3397 Guerillas in the Mist: Terrorism in the Twentieth Century
4000 LEVEL
- HIST 4400 Applications of History (required)
- HIST 4450 China & the West
- HIST 4455 Sages and Statecraft in China
- HIST 4460 Gandhi in History
- HIST 4470 The Samurai
- HIST 4480 The American Experience in Vietnam
Military History Stream
Students who wish to focus their studies on Military History are recommended to complete their program requirements using courses from the following:
1000 LEVEL
- HIST 1113 Canada to 1867
- HIST 1114 Canada since 1867
- HIST 1120 Europe 1900–1939
- HIST 1121 Europe since 1939
- HIST 1130 Twentieth Century World I: 1900–1945
- HIST 1131 Twentieth Century World II
- HIST 1145 American History 1607–1865
- HIST 1146 American History 1865–1974
2000 LEVEL
3000 LEVEL
- HIST 3340 Civil War and Reconstruction
- HIST 3380 World War II in the Pacific
- HIST 3390 Canada & World War One
- HIST 3392 British Home Front during World War II
- HIST 3397 Guerillas in the Mist: Terrorism in the Twentieth Century
4000 LEVEL
- HIST 4400 Applications of History (required)
- HIST 4435 Genocide in the Twentieth Century
- HIST 4470 The Samurai
- HIST 4480 The American Experience in Vietnam
- HIST 4485 The Great Strategists
- HIST 4497 Canada and World War II
Graduation
Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts, Major in History.
