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Saint Martin's University's history program consists of critical examination of the world's peoples, places, and cultures in the past. Students studying history at Saint Martin's have the opportunity to work directly with our outstanding, award-winning faculty in close proximity to the Washington state capital, Olympia.

Program highlights

  • Academic rigor prepares students for advanced study.
  • Approximately 50 percent of graduates pursue advanced degrees. Saint Martin’s graduates have been accepted at such institutions as Seattle University, University of Arizona, University of Washington and Willamette University.
  • Each department faculty member has received the Saint Martin's Outstanding Faculty Award.
  • Professor Aaron Goings is a Fulbright Scholarship recipient (Finland 2014-2015)

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At Saint Martin’s we believe that geographical, cultural, and temporal specializations are essential to the study of history, and, therefore, our program makes it possible for students to pursue concentrations in:

  • United States history
  • European history
  • Non-Western history

We also offer courses in:

  • African history
  • Asian history
  • Latin American history
  • Middle Eastern history

Unique thematic and methodological courses such as immigration, women's, and labor history, compliment the core courses.

Saint Martin’s students have ample opportunity to display the skills they acquire at Saint Martin's by working as history interns on campus and in the wider community, as well as during the annual Saint Martin's Scholars' Day presentations and the public presentations of their senior capstone projects.

Internship opportunities include:

  • Washington State Legislature
  • Washington State Historical Society
  • Simpson Timber Archive
  • Historical associations throughout Washington

It is our expectation that graduates from the history program will have excellent oral and written communication skills. Developing these skills will help graduates from the history program secure professional positions as educators and in the field of public history.

In part because of the skills students learn within our program, history graduates from Saint Martin's have successfully pursued careers in:

  • Education
  • Law
  • Journalism
  • Business
  • Government
  • Social Justice

For a complete list of professional applications, visit "What Can I Do With This Major?". For additional information about how Saint Martin’s can help you find the career for you, visit our Career Center.

Requirements

Major

  • 40-46 semester hours of CORE requirements
  • 27 semester hours combined from upper-division courses in history, which varies depending on your emphasis. (United States, European or Non-Western history)

No more than six semester hours of internship credit may be applied toward requirements for a history major.

For information on the Washington State teacher education endorsement in history, please refer to the requirements as outlined in the education section of the academic catalog. For specific requirements for the endorsement in history, please review the History - Grades 5-12, Competency-based Endorsement form.

Visit the undergraduate academic catalog for a complete breakdown of CORE (general) requirements for bachelor's degrees.

European Emphasis:
(27 semester hours)		Three semester hours in American history (upper or lower-division)
Three semester hours in history of non-Western cultures (upper or lower-division)
Nine upper-division semester hours in European History, including HIS 344 and HIS 347 
Nine semester hours in political science, six of which must be upper-division work
HIS 498: Research Methods
HIS 499: Senior Seminar/Paper
United States Emphasis:
(27 semester hours)		Three semester hours in European history (upper or lower-division)
Three semester hours in history on non-Western cultures (upper or lower-division)
Nine upper-division semeste hours in U.S. history, including six semester hours from HIS 356, HIS 357, HIS 358 or HIS 359
Nine semester hours in political science, six of which must be upper-division work
HIS 498: Research Methods
HIS 499: Senior Seminar/Paper
Non-Western Emphasis:
(27 semester hours)		Three semester hours in European history (upper or lower-division)
Three semester hours in U.S. history (upper or lower-division)
Nine semester hours of your choice from HIS 410, HIS 411, HIS 413, or HIS 415
Nine semester hours in political science, six of which must be upper-division work
HIS 498: Research Methods
HIS 499: Senior Seminar/Paper

 

Minor

  • Six semester hours of lower-division courses in American history or European history
  • Six semester hours of upper-division courses in American history or European history
  • Six semester hours of upper-division courses in political science
American history:HIS 141: U.S. History to 1877
-or-
HIS 142: U.S. History Since 1877
-or-
Equivalents
European history:HIS 101: Development of Western Civilization
-or-
HIS 102: Survey of Modern Europe since 1648
-or-
Equivalents

 

European history:HIS 344: Nineteenth Century Europe
-or-
HIS 347: Twentieth Century Europe
American history:HIS 356: Colonial American History to 1763
-or-
HIS 357: United States History 1763-1877
-or-
HIS 358: United States History since 1945

 

PLS courses:Six (6) Upper-Division semester hours

 

Saint stories

Aaron Goings with colleagues in Finland

Saint returns to teach

“Outstanding faculty mentored me throughout my career at Saint Martin's, and helped me to develop a strong interest in social justice, work and class struggle.”

Aaron Goings College of Arts and Sciences Professor of History

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Faculty