Department of History and Philosophy
History Major
History encompasses the study of human experiences and institutions from ancient times to the present. By studying the development in time of politics, societies, economies, attitudes, systems of thought, and cultures, Lander University history graduates will:
1. develop the skills necessary to conduct historical reasoning; and
2. have the skills and experience to continue their academic study in graduate school or find employment within or outside of the field of history.
Degree programs in history are useful preparation for entry into law, business, and other professions. In addition to solid preparation for the teaching profession, history majors may also find career opportunities in government service, in historic preservation, or in archives and museums.
The Lander history curriculum provides opportunities to study many chronological epochs (ranging from antiquity to the contemporary period), world cultures (of the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America), and topics such as social change, race relations, religion, sports, the American South, and military history. Apart from completing required courses (at the 100-level, HIST 199: Careers in History, HIST 201: The Professional Historian: Practice and Theory in the History Discipline, and HIST 499: Senior Capstone Seminar), students are encouraged by their academic advisors to develop a sequence of history courses drawing on this variety of offerings.
Degree options include:
History, Bachelor of Arts (BA). Recommended for students with a deep passion for history and the intention of continuing their education in graduate school. The BA requires 6 hours of foreign language, and 3 hours of student research or internship. These additional skills are intended to advance the student’s preparation for graduate school.
History, Bachelor of Science (BS). Recommended for students who are interested in history, with a wide range of options for future study and/or career. This is a very flexible degree program, allowing students many elective hours to complete a minor or a double major. Students graduating with the History BS degree go on to careers in many different fields, including business, the law, public service, state or national parks, and archival or museum work. History BS students are also well prepared for graduate school.
History, Bachelor of Science, Public History Concentration. Recommended for students who are interested in history and intend to pursue a career in public history, such as historic preservation, archival and museum work, documentary filmmaking, or work at state/national parks. The Public History concentration includes the same core elements as the History BS degree, but replaces some of the upper-level elective options with courses designed to prepare students for careers in public history, such as oral and local history, memory and memorialization, museum studies, grant-writing, and documentary filmmaking.
History, Bachelor of Science, Secondary Social Studies Teacher Certification. Recommended for students who are interested in teaching history on the high school level. The program includes the same core elements as the History BS degree, but requires additional social science and pedagogical coursework and field experiences that will prepare students to become certified teachers.
All history majors must complete at least eighteen hours of credit at the 200-level or above (including HIST 499.Senior Capstone Seminar) in history courses offered at Lander University. Students must have a cumulative 2.0 average in all major courses in order to graduate.
Teacher Certification Program Goals
History students may elect to earn secondary teacher certification. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Students must meet the social studies education standards of the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS). Students graduating from Lander University with recommendation for teacher certification complete student teaching, coursework and testing requirements for recommendation for certification in South Carolina consistent with the College of Education’s conceptual framework. This framework provides direction for programs, courses, teaching and teacher candidate assessment. The framework is built on the conceptual model of the “Professional Educator” as one who demonstrates these Learner Outcomes.
The Professional Educator
1. integrates content knowledge and skills of scholarly inquiry to teach all students;
2. plans, provides and assesses learning experiences that are supported by research, knowledge of best practice and professional standards;
3. communicates and collaborates with diverse populations (students, educators, families and community members) exhibiting professional behaviors and dispositions; and
4. engages in reflection and professional development to foster student learning and inform instructional decisions.
Student Eligibility
Students enrolled in Secondary (History, English, Chemistry, Mathematics) or PK-12 (PE, Art, Music):
Provisional Status
1. Always demonstrate professional behaviors and dispositions*.
2. Maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA on Lander coursework; achieve a grade of “B” or higher in each field experience; achieve a grade of “C” or higher in all EDUC, ECED, MONT, and SPED courses (see catalog for further details, including each department's GPA requirements within the specific content area).
3. Pass ALL 3 sections of Praxis Core or have exempting SAT/ACT scores on file at Lander University and confirmed by the Department of Teacher Education.
4. Successfully complete other reviews as required by departments in specific content areas.
5. Apply for admission to the professional program in teacher education (see Department of Teacher Education section of catalog for requirements).
Candidate Status
1. Enter candidacy with formal admission to the professional program in teacher education.
2. Always demonstrate professional behaviors and dispositions*.
3. Maintain a 2.75 GPA on Lander coursework; achieve a grade of “B” or higher in each field experience; achieve a grade of “C” or higher in all EDUC, ECED, MONT, and SPED courses (see catalog for further details, including each department's GPA requirements within the specific content area).
4. Take the Praxis II prior to the student teaching semester**.
5. Take the PLT (Principles of Learning and Teaching) by the end of the student teaching semester**.
6. Successfully complete other departmental requirements, reviews, projects, or milestones.
Students not meeting one or more of the requirements will not progress to Candidate Status.
*Lander University has high expectations for all teacher education majors. Teacher education majors who exhibit unacceptable dispositions may be removed from the program. Procedures for removal are outlined within the Department of Teacher Education handbook.
**Praxis II and PLT must be passed to apply for certification with the South Carolina Department of Education.