Why study History at MC?

Maryville College History majors encounter the seemingly endless diversity of human experience, as lived through thousands of years from the ancient world to the 21st century. They explore individuality and social organization, politics and religion, war and peace, art and economy, stability and revolution, the rise and fall of republics and empires, and much else. They reconstruct the changing social nature of love, hate, honor, fear, patriotism, respect, and devotion. They can choose courses in United States, European, Asian, African and Latin American history.

Studying history is concerned with our own times as well as the past. Why are things the way they are? Could they be different? What would that take? What can we reasonably expect in decades to come? These questions about the present and the future lie behind almost all study of the past. Studying history can help you free your mind, because it uncovers possibilities for ways of being, thinking, and acting.

Studying history equips you to learn, to think, to communicate–to succeed.

ON CAMPUS OPPORTUNITIES

Since 2021, History Professor Dr. Nancy Locklin-Sofer and her students have been working to solve a nearly 100-year-old local mystery involving a serial killer whom the media dubbed “The Night Marauder.” Their findings, which have received nationwide media attention, are posted on a blog and will eventually be compiled into a book. Phi Alpha Theta is a national honor society in history, and the College’s Alpha-Mu-Psi chapter welcomes new inductees every April. Students who qualify for participation are eligible for scholarships and may present papers at conferences. The History Society is open to any student with an interest in history. Together, these groups host a history fair and plan events such as the year-end historical water gun battle “reenactment.”

Photo of Gracie McKee

Gracie McKee

Hometown: Maryville, Tennessee

Gracie’s career goals include enrolling in the Fashion Institute of Technology’s master’s program in Fashion Archiving, combining her passion for history and fashion.

She enjoys the study of history because “it provides the opportunity to learn new perspectives, engage in exploration of the past, and develop a deeper understanding of the world.” For her, the difference between college-level history classes and high-school history classes has been striking. “There are whole, semester-long classes on one era of history, and those are some of the best.” She rounds out her academic experience as a member of the College’s History, Preservation and Traditions Club, a reporter with the College’s newspaper, and an academic mentor.

 

Photo of Eleanor Forester

Eleanor Forester ’21

Currently: Pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Memphis Theological Seminary

Eleanor majored in History and graduated as the 2021 Outstanding Senior, recognized for her exemplary academic record and Senior Study, involvement on campus and potential to be an outstanding alumna. Currently pursuing her master’s degree with the intention of becoming an ordained minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Eleanor credits the MC faculty with preparing her for graduate school.

“My professors were unfailingly engaging, organized and encouraging,” she said. “My classes helped me strengthen skills I need for my graduate studies: independent research strategies, writing competency, historical contextualization and critical reading/thinking skills. I began my graduate program with much confidence because of my experience with the Maryville College History Department.”

Professor of History
Dr. Nancy Locklin-Sofer
Professor of History
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Professor of History
Dr. Aaron Astor
Professor of History
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Associate Professor of History
Dr. Doug Sofer
Associate Professor of History
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Adjunct Instructor of English, History, Italian & Latin
Ted Higgs
Adjunct Instructor of English, History, Italian & Latin
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The History Major also builds skills that employers across the economy need. The Maryville history curriculum emphasizes creative thinking, effective writing and speaking, and in-depth research. These skills are useful well beyond school—in a world of accelerating change, the ability to think outside the box, communicate clearly, and back up your views with facts can give you an edge in the job market. Recent Maryville College history graduates have gone on to careers in law, government, politics, ministry, non-profit organizations and many different kinds of business. Other students who have chosen our History for Teacher Licensure track, a combination of history and teacher-education courses that directly prepares students for careers in secondary education, have graduated to become high school and middle school history teachers.

Graduate School Placements

Appalachian State University
Cooperstown Graduate Program
Dalhousie University
East Tennessee State University
Howard University
James Madison University
Middle Tennessee State University
Tennessee Technological University
University of Edinburgh, Scotland
University of Miami of Ohio
University of Missouri at Kansas City
University Of Tennessee
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Vanderbilt University

Students successfully completing the program of study will have achieved the following:

  • Conduct independent, analytical research building on existing historical interpretations.
  • Analyze primary sources in historical context.
  • Create and defend an historical interpretation with precision and clarity in both written and oral form.
  • Show evidence of an understanding of major economic, social, political and cultural aspects of world history, U.S history, and the history of at least one other specific region of the world.
  • Demonstrate sufficient knowledge to make comparisons over space and time.
  • Meet appropriate public school teaching standards. (History for Licensure)

The Major in History consists of 47 hours, including 39 in history and 8 in related fields. Transfer students bringing 45 or more credit hours in transfer are exempted from HUM 299, with the result that the major requirement is reduced to 46 hours.

Required courses include:

Major and Major-Related Courses

HIS 149: Or other History course meeting core requirement in the Historical Reasoning Domain

HIS 149: Selected Topics in History(3 hrs)
HIS 242: World Civilization from Earliest Times to 1500 C.E(3 hrs)
HIS 243: Modern World History: 1500-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 262: Theory and Method in the Study of History(3 hrs)
HUM 299: Issues in Professional Development(1 hrs)
HUM 347: Research in the Humanities(1 hrs)
HIS 351: Senior Study I(3 hrs)
HIS 352: Senior Study II(3 hrs)

Six credit hours selected from the following courses:

HIS 131: Early American History: 1492-1865(3 hrs)
HIS 132: Modern American History: 1865-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 248: Appalachian Cultural and Social History(3 hrs)
HIS 251: Economic History of the United States(3 hrs)

Three credit hours selected from the following courses:

HIS 221: Europe and the World in the 20th Century(3 hrs)
HIS 224: Latin America and the United States(3 hrs)

Twelve credit hours selected from the following courses:

HIS 303: Studies in United States History(3 hrs)
HIS 305: African American History: 1500-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 307: History of the U.S. South: 1600-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 321: Studies in Modern European History(3 hrs)
HIS 333: Studies in Asian History(3 hrs)
HIS 334: Studies in Latin American History(3 hrs)
HIS 335: Studies in African History(3 hrs)
HIS 341: Medieval Love (3)(3 hrs)
HIS 345: Studies in World History(3 hrs)
HIS 342: Studies in Pre-Modern History(3 hrs)
HIS 349: Selected Topics in History(3 hrs)

Six credit hours in related courses selected from:

ART 111: Survey of Ancient Through Medieval Art(3 hrs)
ART 212: Renaissance, Baroque and Modern Art (3 hrs)
ART 311: 20th Century Art(3 hrs)
ECN 334: History of Economic Thought(3 hrs)
ENG 191: American Literature: Puritan through Romantic(3 hrs)
ENG 292: American Literature: Realism to the Present(3 hrs)
ENG 311: History of the English Language(3 hrs)
ENG 333: English Literature of the 17th Century(3 hrs)
ENG 334: English Literature of the Restoration and 18th Century(3 hrs)
ENG 335: English Literature of the 19th Century(3 hrs)
MUS 312: History of Music in the United States(3 hrs)
PHL 201: Ancient and Medieval Philosophy(3 hrs)
PHL 205: Early Modern Philosophy from 16th to the 18th Century(3 hrs)
PHL 206: Enlightenment & Late Modern Philosophy 18th-20th Century(3 hrs)
PHL 207: Contemporary Philosophy(3 hrs)
REL 348: Explorations in the History of Religions(3 hrs)
THT 316: Theatre History I(3 hrs)
THT 317: Theatre History II(3 hrs)

The Minor in History consists of 15 hours.

Required courses include:

Minor and Minor-Related Courses

Course that fulfills the historical reasoning domain in the core curriculum
One History course at the 300 level
Six hours in other courses in history

Either of the following courses:

HIS 242: World Civilization from Earliest Times to 1500 C.E(3 hrs)
Or
HIS 243: Modern World History: 1500-Present(3 hrs)

The Minor in History for Additional Teaching Endorsement requires the completion of 18 hours in History.

Required courses include:

Minor and Minor-Related Courses

HIS 2XX and 3XX: An additional 3-hour course in history at the 200 or 300 level excluding internships and senior study.

.

HIS 131: Early American History: 1492-1865(3 hrs)
HIS 132: Modern American History: 1865-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 262: Theory and Method in the Study of History(3 hrs)
HIS 242: World Civilization from Earliest Times to 1500 C.E(3 hrs)
HIS 243: Modern World History: 1500-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 2XX: (3 hrs)
Or
HIS 3XX: (3 hrs)

The Major in History for Teacher Licensure requires 38 hours in major and related fields and 34 credit hours in courses related to educator preparation.

Required courses include:

Major and Major-Related Courses

HIS 149: Or other History course meeting core requirement in the Historical Reasoning Domain

HIS 131: Early American History: 1492-1865(3 hrs)
HIS 132: Modern American History: 1865-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 149: Selected Topics in History(3 hrs)
HIS 242: World Civilization from Earliest Times to 1500 C.E(3 hrs)
HIS 243: Modern World History: 1500-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 262: Theory and Method in the Study of History(3 hrs)

Three credit hours selected from the following courses:

HIS 221: Europe and the World in the 20th Century(3 hrs)
HIS 224: Latin America and the United States(3 hrs)

Nine credit hours selected from the following courses:

HIS 303: Studies in United States History(3 hrs)
HIS 305: African American History: 1500-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 307: History of the U.S. South: 1600-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 321: Studies in Modern European History(3 hrs)
HIS 333: Studies in Asian History(3 hrs)
HIS 334: Studies in Latin American History(3 hrs)
HIS 335: Studies in African History(3 hrs)
HIS 341: Medieval Love (3)(3 hrs)
HIS 342: Studies in Pre-Modern History(3 hrs)
HIS 345: Studies in World History(3 hrs)
HIS 349: Selected Topics in History(3 hrs)

Educator Preparation Courses

PSY 101: Introductory Psychology(3 hrs)
PSY 218: Adolescent Development(3 hrs)
EDU 202: Educational Technology(3 hrs)
EDU 299: Contemporary and Professional Issues in Education(1 hrs)
EDU 300: Field Experience(1 hrs)
EDU 301: Models of Classroom Management & Instruction(3 hrs)
EDU 312: Instructional Strategies for Diverse Learners(3 hrs)
EDU 321: Disciplinary Literacy Methods(3 hrs)
EDU 333: Applied Pedagogy(3 hrs)
EDU 351: Senior Study I(3 hrs)
EDU 352: Senior Study II: Professional Seminar(3 hrs)
EDU 403: Clinical Practice for PK12/Secondary (10)(10 hrs)
EDU 411: Educational Assessment & Evaluation(3 hrs)

The Major in History/Economics for Teacher Licensure requires 48 hours in major and related courses and 34 credit hours in courses related to educator preparation.

Required courses include:

Major and Major-Related Courses

HIS 149: Or other History course meeting core requirement in the Historical Reasoning Domain

HIS 131: Early American History: 1492-1865(3 hrs)
HIS 132: Modern American History: 1865-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 149: Selected Topics in History(3 hrs)
HIS 242: World Civilization from Earliest Times to 1500 C.E(3 hrs)
HIS 243: Modern World History: 1500-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 262: Theory and Method in the Study of History(3 hrs)
ECN 201: Principles of Economics(4 hrs)
ECN 251: Economic History of the United States(3 hrs)
ECN 332: Money and Banking(3 hrs)

Three credit hours selected from the following courses:

HIS 221: Europe and the World in the 20th Century(3 hrs)
HIS 224: Latin America and the United States(3 hrs)

Nine credit hours selected from the following courses:

HIS 303: Studies in United States History(3 hrs)
HIS 305: African American History: 1500-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 307: History of the U.S. South: 1600-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 321: Studies in Modern European History(3 hrs)
HIS 333: Studies in Asian History(3 hrs)
HIS 334: Studies in Latin American History(3 hrs)
HIS 335: Studies in African History(3 hrs)
HIS 341: Medieval Love (3)(3 hrs)
HIS 342: Studies in Pre-Modern History(3 hrs)
HIS 345: Studies in World History(3 hrs)
HIS 349: Selected Topics in History(3 hrs)

Educator Preparation Courses

PSY 101: Introductory Psychology(3 hrs)
PSY 218: Adolescent Development(3 hrs)
EDU 202: Educational Technology(3 hrs)
EDU 299: Contemporary and Professional Issues in Education(1 hrs)
EDU 300: Field Experience(1 hrs)
EDU 301: Models of Classroom Management & Instruction(3 hrs)
EDU 312: Instructional Strategies for Diverse Learners(3 hrs)
EDU 321: Disciplinary Literacy Methods(3 hrs)
EDU 333: Applied Pedagogy(3 hrs)
EDU 351: Senior Study I(3 hrs)
EDU 352: Senior Study II: Professional Seminar(3 hrs)
EDU 403: Clinical Practice for PK12/Secondary (10)(10 hrs)
EDU 411: Educational Assessment & Evaluation(3 hrs)

Additional teaching endorsement in Geography may be earned through completion of the following courses:

Note: One of these courses may be used to fulfill the general education requirement for Culture and Intercultural Dynamics.

INT 201: Contemporary Global Issues(3 hrs)
Two different Culture and Intercultural Dynamics (CD) courses


The Major in History/Government for Teacher Licensure requires 47 hours in major and related courses and 34 credit hours in courses related to educator preparation.

Required courses include:

Major and Major-Related Courses

HIS 149: Or other History course meeting core requirement in the Historical Reasoning Domain

HIS 131: Early American History: 1492-1865(3 hrs)
HIS 132: Modern American History: 1865-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 149: Selected Topics in History(3 hrs)
HIS 242: World Civilization from Earliest Times to 1500 C.E(3 hrs)
HIS 243: Modern World History: 1500-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 262: Theory and Method in the Study of History(3 hrs)
PLS 121: Contemporary Political Issues(3 hrs)
PLS 122: American Government and Politics(3 hrs)

Three credit hours selected from the following courses:

HIS 221: Europe and the World in the 20th Century(3 hrs)
HIS 224: Latin America and the United States(3 hrs)

Nine credit hours selected from the following courses:

HIS 303: Studies in United States History(3 hrs)
HIS 305: African American History: 1500-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 307: History of the U.S. South: 1600-Present(3 hrs)
HIS 321: Studies in Modern European History(3 hrs)
HIS 333: Studies in Asian History(3 hrs)
HIS 334: Studies in Latin American History(3 hrs)
HIS 335: Studies in African History(3 hrs)
HIS 341: Medieval Love (3)(3 hrs)
HIS 342: Studies in Pre-Modern History(3 hrs)
HIS 345: Studies in World History(3 hrs)
HIS 349: Selected Topics in History(3 hrs)

Either of the following courses:

PLS 211: Comparative Government and Politics(3 hrs)
Or
PLS 212: International Politics(3 hrs)

Educator Preparation Courses

PSY 101: Introductory Psychology(3 hrs)
PSY 218: Adolescent Development(3 hrs)
EDU 202: Educational Technology(3 hrs)
EDU 299: Contemporary and Professional Issues in Education(1 hrs)
EDU 300: Field Experience(1 hrs)
EDU 301: Models of Classroom Management & Instruction(3 hrs)
EDU 312: Instructional Strategies for Diverse Learners(3 hrs)
EDU 321: Disciplinary Literacy Methods(3 hrs)
EDU 333: Applied Pedagogy(3 hrs)
EDU 351: Senior Study I(3 hrs)
EDU 352: Senior Study II: Professional Seminar(3 hrs)
EDU 403: Clinical Practice for PK12/Secondary (10)(10 hrs)
EDU 411: Educational Assessment & Evaluation(3 hrs)

Additional teaching endorsement in Geography may be earned through completion of the following courses:

Note: One of these courses may be used to fulfill the general education requirement for Culture and Intercultural Dynamics.

INT 201: Contemporary Global Issues(3 hrs)
Two different Culture and Intercultural Dynamics (CD) courses

In addition to required courses for majors and minors, Maryville College students take classes in the Maryville Curriculum, a core program of general education. Consisting of 51 credit hours, the Maryville Curriculum ensures that students see their major in a wider context and develop the basic communication, quantitative, and critical thinking skills that are needed for success in college and career.

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