History Minor

Description. The Department of History offers students the opportunity to minor in History by completing 18 credits (six courses) in the department. The first 6 credits form the core of the minor and encompass the general education requirements in history. After completing the core courses, students are invited to select from the electives offered by the Department of History to complete the minor. At least one elective must be at the 300-level to complete a History minor.

Rationale. The study of history supports the analytical skills desired by many graduate programs, including law schools, by teaching students to evaluate evidence, and to present and defend arguments about historical change based on evidence. It also provides students with important information about the world in which they live, the process of social change and the factors affecting it, and the creation and evolution of cultural institutions. Students with a strong historical background will be well equipped to work in public institutions because they will have a coherent understanding of the purposes and limitations of public systems. They also will be excellent employees in private institutions because they will understand and be able to support the social and economic purposes of private industry. Finally, students who have studied history make more conscious and active citizens, because they are aware of the role of race and class in America. They are cognizant of the rich history of America’s political institutions and their civic responsibilities to use, protect, and maintain their political and legal rights.

Minor coordinator. Professor Andrea Balis, Department of History (212.237.8312, [e-mail])

Requirements. A maximum of two courses can overlap with a student’s major, other minor or program.

Additional information. Students who enrolled for the first time at the College in September 2009 or thereafter must complete the minor in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to that date may choose the form shown here or the earlier version of the minor. A copy of the earlier version may be oin the 2008–2009 Undergraduate Bulletin, available at http://johnjay.jjay.cuny.edu/bulletins/undergraduatebulletin20082009.pdf.

Part One. Survey Courses

Select two

HIS 203	The Ancient World	3
HIS 204	The Medieval World	3
HIS 205	The Modern World	3

HIS 205: Please note: Students who have completed HIS 231 must take HIS 205.

Total Credit Hours: 6

Part Two. Electives (Select Any Four History Courses)

Electives with appeal for students interested in attending law school

HIS 201	American Civilization - From Colonial Times through the Civil War	3
HIS 202	American Civilization - From 1865 to the Present	3
HIS 277	American Legal History	3
HIS 320	Topics in The History of Crime and Punishment in the United States	3
HIS 323	History of Lynching and Collective Violence	3
HIS 352	History and Justice in the Wider World	3
HIS 354	Law and Society in Ancient Athens and Rome	3
HIS 359	History of Islamic Law	3

Electives with appeal for students interested in government and political science

HIS 201	American Civilization - From Colonial Times through the Civil War	3
HIS 202	American Civilization - From 1865 to the Present	3
HIS 219	Violence and Social Change in America	3
HIS 252	Warfare in the Ancient Near East and Egypt	3
HIS 254	History of Ancient Greece and Rome	3
HIS 256	History of Muslim Societies and Communities	3
HIS 264	China to 1650	3
HIS 274	China: 1650-Present	3
HIS 282	Selected Topics in History	3
HIS 340	Modern Military History from the Eighteenth Century to the Present	3
HIS 356/GEN 356	Sexuality, Gender, and Culture in Muslim Societies	3
HIS 370	Ancient Egypt	3

Electives with appeal for students interested in criminal justice

HIS 219	Violence and Social Change in America	3
HIS 224	A History of Crime in New York City	3
HIS 277	American Legal History	3
HIS 320	Topics in The History of Crime and Punishment in the United States	3
HIS 323	History of Lynching and Collective Violence	3
HIS 325	Criminal Justice in European Society, 1750 to the Present	3
HIS 352	History and Justice in the Wider World	3
HIS 354	Law and Society in Ancient Athens and Rome	3
HIS 359	History of Islamic Law	3

Electives with appeal for students interested in social and cultural history

HIS 131	Topics in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine	3
HIS 214	Immigration and Ethnicity in the United States	3
HIS 219	Violence and Social Change in America	3
HIS 265/LLS 265	Class, Race and Family in Latin American History	3
HIS 270	Marriage in Medieval Europe	3
HIS 282	Selected Topics in History	3
HIS 352	History and Justice in the Wider World	3
HIS 359	History of Islamic Law	3
HIS 364/GEN 364	History of Gender and Sexuality: Prehistory to 1650	3
HIS 381	Social History of Catholicism in the Modern World	3

Electives with appeal for students interested in global history

HIS 208	Exploring Global History	3
HIS 252	Warfare in the Ancient Near East and Egypt	3
HIS 254	History of Ancient Greece and Rome	3
HIS 260/LLS 260	History of Contemporary Cuba	3
HIS 264	China to 1650	3
HIS 282	Selected Topics in History	3
HIS 265/LLS 265	Class, Race and Family in Latin American History	3
HIS 270	Marriage in Medieval Europe	3
HIS 274	China: 1650-Present	3
HIS 325	Criminal Justice in European Society, 1750 to the Present	3
HIS 352	History and Justice in the Wider World	3
HIS 354	Law and Society in Ancient Athens and Rome	3
HIS 356/GEN 356	Sexuality, Gender, and Culture in Muslim Societies	3
HIS 359	History of Islamic Law	3
HIS 362	History of Science and Medicine: Prehistory to 1650	3
HIS 364/GEN 364	History of Gender and Sexuality: Prehistory to 1650	3
HIS 366	Religions of the Ancient World	3
HIS 370	Ancient Egypt	3
HIS 381	Social History of Catholicism in the Modern World	3
HIS 383	History of Terrorism	3
HIS 3XX	African Diaspora History II: Since 1808	3
HIS 3XX	African Diaspora History II: Since 1808	3

Electives with appeal for students interested in New York City history

HIS 214	Immigration and Ethnicity in the United States	3
HIS 217	History of New York City	3
HIS 224	A History of Crime in New York City	3

See the current course schedule for a full listing of History courses.

Total Credit Hours: 12

Total Credit Hours: 18