History

Marion Gray, Chair
Main Office: 4301 Friedman
Telephone: (269) 387-4650
Fax: (269) 387-4651

Robert F. Berkhofer, III
Luigi Andrea Berto
Amos Beyan
Linda Borish
José Brandão
Michael Chiarappa
Janet Coryell
Frederick J. Dobney
Howard Dooley
E. Rozanne Elder
Nora Faires
Sally E. Hadden
Bruce Haight
Barbara Havira
Lynne Heasley
Catherine Julien
Mitch A. Kachun
Cheryl H. Lyon-Jenness
Paul Maier
Edwin Martini
James M. Murray
John Norman
Onaiwu Ogbomo
James Palmitessa
Lewis Pyenson
Eli Rubin
Larry Simon
Kristin Szylvian
Wilson Warren
Victor Xiong
Takashi Yoshida

The Department of History offers several academic and professional programs with varying requirements. Students intending to major in history should meet at least once a semester with a faculty advisor in the Department Advising Office, 4451 Friedmann, phone (269) 387-4659. HIST 1900 is an orientation course to the historical professions, and to basic research and presentation skills in the discipline, and should be taken in the spring semester freshman year or fall semester sophomore year.

History majors lead to the degree of Bachelor of Arts. At least half of the minimum credit hour requirement for any major or minor must be earned at Western Michigan University. Only courses in which a grade of “C” or better is earned may be applied toward a major, minor, and required electives or cognates, including the last semester of foreign language requirements. Course work in allied social sciences and humanities, is specified by curriculum. Consult the Department of History Undergraduate Handbook.

The Department of History strongly encourages foreign study at one of WMU’s international centers or in similar programs, and acquisition of foreign language skills beyond minimum program requirements.

Honors in History

History majors may apply for and receive the Honors in History designation on their official transcript. At the time of application, history majors must have completed 30 credit hours in history including 6 hours in writing-intensive or 4000-level history courses. Applicants must also have completed at least 90 credit hours overall. At least half of all credit hours and all writing-intensive and 4000-level history courses used for the Honors designation must be completed at Western Michigan University. A minimum overall Western Michigan University GPA of 3.5 and a GPA of 3.75 in History is required for the Honors designation. Students must also submit the recommendation of a faculty mentor and a substantial writing sample that shows capacity for original thought in the interpretation, analysis, and effective communication of historical information. Additional information about the Honors in History desgination and application forms may be obrained in the Department of History Advising Office, 4451 Friedmann Hall. Information is also available at the Department of History website: www.wmich.edu/history.