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Program Requirements

2024-2025 Academic Year

Chair

Arthur McCalla, BA (Queen’s University), MAR (Yale University), PhD (University of Toronto), Professor
(July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024)

Adriana Benzaquén, BA, MA, PhD (York University), Professor
(January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025)

Admission Requirements
Review sections 2.1.4 Admission Requirements and 2.1.6 Additional Admission Requirements.

History courses are designed to meet the needs and interests of various students: those who choose to take one or two courses as electives or as part of their program in another course of study; those who decide to minor in the field of history; and those who register to do a concentration, major, or honours degree in history. Courses are offered primarily in the areas of European, North American, and World history with an emphasis on the theme of women’s history. Certain courses adopt a comparative perspective. Many may be taken to fulfill requirements in Women’s Studies, Canadian Studies, Cultural Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, and Child and Youth Studies. Selected courses are available and delivered online.

Courses at the 1000 level and 2000 level have no prerequisites; those at the 3000 level and 4000 level normally require 1.0 unit of previous study in history at the 2000 level; seminars at the 4000 level require written permission of the instructor or the department Chair.

Any student planning to major, concentrate, or minor in history should consult the department to help in planning an academic program. The following are the requirements for the major, concentration, and minor, but, in consultation with faculty, variations are possible. Students are reminded that final responsibility for meeting departmental and university regulations rests with themselves.

The program structure is meant to allow for flexibility within a basic framework. Both the concentration and the major provide opportunity for the student to focus on areas of history that are of special interest, and at the same time they ensure a well-balanced understanding of the discipline. The student may take up to two additional units in history at any level as electives.

History Areas of Study
History courses are offered in the following areas:

▸ European History: HIST 1102, 1103, 2200, 2201,
2205, 2207, 2208, 2209, 2211, 2220, 2250, 2281, 2285, 2288, 2302, 2303, 3305, 3314, 3315, 3340, 3370, 3382, 3385, 3386, and 4480

▸ North American History: HIST 1121, 1122, 2210, 2216, 2219, 2222, 2225, 2230, 2231, 2234, 2235, 2236, 2237, 2282, 2391, 3304, 3320, 3321, 3322, 3323, 3328, 3329, 3330, 3337, 3341, 3342 and 4481

▸ World History: HIST 1131, 1132, 2233, 2251, 2255, 2260, 2265, 2289, 2300, 3360, 3361, 3362, 3365, 3366, and 4480

Canadian Studies
Many history courses are eligible for inclusion in the Canadian Studies degree.

The Department of History does not accept Challenge for Credit.

Major

Students intending to complete the major degree must declare their intention to do so before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units with the following requirements:
❏ a minimum of 8.0 and a maximum of 10.0 units in the major as follows:

1.0 unit of HIST at the 1000 level, selected from:
HIST 1102 and 1103,
HIST 1121 and 1122,
HIST 1131 and 1132;
or permission of the department to substitute 1.0 unit at the 2000 level or above
3.0 units of HIST at the 2000 level
HIST 3390, 3391, 4480 and 4481
2.0 additional units of HIST at the 3000 level or above
no more than 6.0 units may be taken in any single area of study (Europe, North America, World)
a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 8.0 units of HIST

❏ a minor consisting of 3.0 units as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units
❏ students may choose a second 3.0 unit minor in any area that offers a minor
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (exclusive of the major):

Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ at least 9.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above
❏ Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.

Special Studies
Students may count a maximum of 4.0 units of directed/independent/research studies courses towards the degree, with no more than 2.0 units in any single discipline.

Major Certificate

Students who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Arts General Studies degree may apply to do a major certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the major degree listed above.

Combined Major

The combined major degree is intended for those students who wish to gain in-depth knowledge of two disciplines. Students must declare a major or combined major before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units. In order to complete a combined major in History, the following requirements must be met:
❏ a minimum of 6.0 units and a maximum of 8.0 units in the History combined major as follows:

1.0 unit of HIST at the 1000 level, selected from:
HIST 1102 and 1103,
HIST 1121 and 1122,
HIST 1131 and 1132;
or permission of the department to substitute 1.0 unit at the 2000 level or above
HIST 3390 and 3391
HIST 4480 or 4481
3.0 additional units of HIST at the 2000 level or above
0.5 additional units of HIST at the 3000 level or above
no more than 4.0 units may be taken in any single area of study (Europe, North America, World)

❏ a second combined major specified by another program (Biology, Canadian Studies, Chemistry, Communication, Cultural Studies, Economics, English, Family Studies, French, Gerontology, Mathematics, Political Studies, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, Women’s Studies)
❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 6.0 units of each combined major
❏ at least 5.0 units of the 12.0 units overall required for the combined majors must be at the 3000 level or above
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (inclusive of the majors):

Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ at least 9.0 units of the total 20.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above
❏ Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.

Students wishing to combine an arts major and a science major (e.g. Chemistry and English or Biology and Political Studies):
❏ must meet all of the requirements listed above
and
♦ to complete a BSc (Combined Major) primary science
discipline plus secondary arts discipline

must complete a minimum 12.0 units of the total 20.0 units in science disciplines

♦ to complete a BA (Combined Major) primary arts discipline
plus secondary science discipline

must complete a minimum 12.0 units of the total 20.0 units in arts disciplines

Combined Major with Honours

Students wishing to do a combined major with honour degree in History must apply in writing to the department Chair.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship Option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units with the following requirements:

❏ a minimum of 9.0 and a maximum of 11.0 units in the honours subject as follows:

❏ 1.0 unit of HIST at the 1000 level, selected from:

HIST 1102 and 1103,
HIST 1121 and 1122,
HIST 1131 and 1132;
or permission of the department to substitute 1.0 unit at the 2000 level or above

❏ 3.0 units of HIST at the 2000 level

❏ HIST 3390, 3391, 4480, 4481 and 4499

❏ 2.0 additional units of HIST at the 3000 level or above

❏ no more than 6.0 units may be taken in any single area of study (Europe, North America, World)

❏ a second combined major specified by another program (Biology, Canadian Studies, Communication, Cultural Studies, Economics, English, Family Studies, French, Gerontology, Mathematics, Political Studies, Psychology, Women’s Studies)

❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required units of each combined major

❏ at least 8.0 units of the 15.0 units overall required for the combined majors must be at the 3000 level or above

❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (inclusive of the majors):

Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
(Note: MATH 2208 and 2209 are strongly recommended)
Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ at least 9.0 units of the total 20.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above

❏ obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in 9.0 units of the required HIST honours courses

❏ achieve a minimum of B- in the honours thesis

❏ obtain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken

❏ Note: No more than 2.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.

Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better in 9.0 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken.

Combined Major Honours Certificate

Students who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Arts Combined Major degree, with a combined major in History, may apply to do a combined major honours certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the combined major honours degree listed above and meet the University regulations regarding honours certificates.

Honours Degree

The honours degree offers students the opportunity, under the direction of a thesis supervisor (a member of the history faculty), to engage in original historical research by examining in depth a topic of interest to them and produce an analytical and well-written thesis. It provides preparation for post-graduate study and also serves a variety of career aspirations.

Students wishing to take an honours degree must apply in writing to the department Chair after successful completion of 10.0 units of study and before completion of their third year or 15.0 units of study. The minimum requirement for admission is a GPA of 3.0 in history courses, along with successful completion of HIST 3390 and HIST 3391. The department will assist interested applicants in securing a faculty member to supervise the honours thesis (HIST 4499). An honours thesis proposal must be submitted by March 30 of the third year of one’s program or, in the case of part-time students, March 30 of the academic year immediately preceding enrolment in HIST 4499.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units with the following requirements:

❏ a minimum of 10.0 and a maximum of 12.0 units in the honours subject as follows

1.0 unit of HIST at the 1000 level, selected from:
HIST 1102 and 1103,
HIST 1121 and 1122,
HIST 1131 and 1132;
or permission of the department to substitute 1.0 unit at the 2000 level or above
4.0 units of HIST at the 2000 level
HIST 3390, 3391, 4480, 4481 and 4499
2.0 additional units of HIST at the 3000 level or above
no more than 8.0 units may be taken in any single area of study (Europe, North America, World)

❏ a minor consisting of 3.0 units as specified by the department. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (exclusive of the honours subject):

Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in 10.0 units of the required HIST honours courses
❏ achieve a minimum of B- in the honours thesis
❏ obtain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken
❏ Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.

Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better in 10.0 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken.

Honours Certificate

Students who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in History may apply to do an honours certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the honours degree listed above and meet the University regulations regarding honours certificates. Application must be made in writing to the department Chair by March 30 of the academic year prior to enrolment in the program. Applicants should note the requirement that honours thesis proposals must be submitted by March 30 of the academic year immediately preceding enrolment in HIST 4499.

Concentration

To obtain a concentration in History, students must fulfill the following requirements:
❏ 1.0 unit of HIST at the 1000 level, selected from:
❏ HIST 1102 and 1103,
❏ HIST 1121 and 1122,
❏ HIST 1131 and 1132;
or permission of the department to substitute 1.0 unit at the 2000 level or above
❏ 1.0 additional unit at the 2000 level
❏ 2.0 additional units at the 3000 level or above Note: It is strongly recommended that 0.5 unit of HIST 3390, 3391, 4480 or 4481 be taken
❏ No more than 3.0 units in any single area of study (Europe, North America, World)

Minor

To obtain a minor in History, students must fulfill the following requirements:
❏ 3.0 units of HIST, 1.0 unit of which must be at the 3000 level or above

Academic Note: This web-based calendar information is applicable for the 2024-2025 academic year which runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025.

For information on previous years, please consult the University Academic Calendars web page.