Dec 26, 2024

OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25

History—Pre-Law Major (B.A.)

Major code BA4214

College of Arts and Sciences
History Department
Bentley Annex 452
Phone: 740.593.4334
History.Department@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/cas/history

Contacts:
Joshua Hill, Undergraduate Chair
hillj6@ohio.edu
Kevin Uhalde, History Pre-Law Major
uhalde@ohio.edu

Program Overview

History’s emphasis on reading and interpreting evidence, appreciating context, and writing makes it an ideal major for students preparing for law school. The specific intra- and extra-departmental requirements of our program have been tailored to provide the knowledge base, intellectual rigor, and academic skills necessary to prepare you for law school and a legal career.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy

No selective or limited admission requirements.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

Students who study History - Pre-Law at Ohio University have been admitted to top law programs nationwide and within Ohio. For those interested in pursuing a career upon graduation, history majors have gone on to successful careers in business, government service, publishing, teaching, consulting, medicine, law, and museum work. Several recent generous donations given to the department by former students further testify to the fact that pursuing a degree in history at Ohio University can lead to future success.

Browse through dozens of internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake, OHIO’s key resource for researching jobs, employers, workshops, and professional development events.

Requirements

University-wide Graduation Requirements

Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University-wide page.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement

View the College and Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirements .

History Pre-Law Hours Requirement

Complete a total of 33 semester credit hours of HIST coursework, including all of the requirements below.

Introductory History Courses

Complete ONE course from each of the following three geographical areas:

Component A: European History

Complete ONE of the following courses from European history:

HIST 1210 - Western Civilization: Antiquity to 1500 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 1220 - Western Civilization: Modernity from 1500 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2220 - Europe in the Twentieth Century Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2300 - Capitalism and Its Critics: An Intellectual History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2500 - Medieval History in Film & Literature Credit Hours: 4
HIST 2530 - Life, Love, and Death in the Medieval World Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2540 - Bread, Wine, Salt, Fat: History of Food before Refrigeration (500-1600) Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2750 - Disease, Medicine, and Society in Europe to 1800 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2755 - Nature, Science and Religion in premodern Europe to 1750 Credit Hours: 3

Component B: World History

Complete ONE of the following courses in World history:

HIST 1320 - Introduction to World History Before 1750 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 1330 - Introduction to World History Since 1750 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2200 - A Global Military History from Antiquity to the Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2270 - The Middle East and the World Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2460 - The Rise of Modern Asia Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2600 - Soccer and World History, 19th Century to the Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2700 - Comparative Slavery: Ancient and Atlantic Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2905 - History of Technology in Society Credit Hours: 3

Component C: United States History

Complete ONE of the following courses in United States history:

HIST 2000 - Survey of United States History, 1600-1877 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History, 1865-present Credit Hours: 3

Historical Research and Writing

Complete the following course during the junior year:

HIST 3111J - Historical Research and Writing Credit Hours: 3

History Major Part II:

Section I- Elective Courses

Complete a total of 21 hours of history courses at 3000 and above. Courses taken at and above 3000 to meet the Chronological and Geographical requirements will also count toward the elective requirement. Some courses may meet both a Chronological and Geographical requirement.

Chronological History Course Requirement

Courses taken at or above 3000 to meet the Chronological History Course requirements will also count toward the elective requirements.

Complete one course from two of the three following components.

Geographical History Course Requirement

Courses taken at or above 3000 to meet the Geographical History Course requirements will also count toward the elective requirements.

Complete one course from two of the three following components.

Component A: World History

Pre-Modern
HIST 3290 - Ancient Near East: Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Levant Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3370 - Middle East History 600 to 1500 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3450 - Southeast Asia to c. 1750: The Creative Synthesis Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3463 - History of China from Antiquity to the Early Modern Era Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3480 - Traditional Japan Credit Hours: 3
Early Modern
HIST 3000 - Atlantic History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3230 - Latin American History: The Colonial Era Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3270 - Slavery in the Americas Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3410 - History of Africa to 1850 Credit Hours: 3
Modern
HIST 3231 - Latin American History: From Independence to the Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3233 - The History of Modern Mexico Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3250 - History of U.S.- Latin American Relations Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3301 - African History Through Film Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3330 - Oil, the Persian Gulf, and World Power Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3360 - History of North Africa Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3371 - Middle East History 1500 to the present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3372 - Protest, Rebellion, and Revolution in the Modern Middle East Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3390 - Women in African History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3411 - History of Africa Since 1850 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3420 - History of South Africa Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3451 - Southeast Asia, c. 1750 to 1945: Change and Conflict Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3452 - Southeast Asia, 1945 to the Present: The Search for Stability Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3464 - History of China from the Early Modern Era to the Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3465 - History of US China Relations Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3481 - Modern Japan Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3500 - Science and Society in the Modern World Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3790 - History of Sea Power Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3792 - History of Secret Intelligence: Great Game to Five Eyes Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3866 - Afghan Wars Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4742 - The Cold War: a Global History Credit Hours: 3
General
HIST 3232 - History of Brazil Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3320 - Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Middle East History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3440 - History of Vietnam Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4902 - Colloquium in Latin American History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4904 - Colloquium in the History of Southeast Asia Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4905 - Colloquium in Middle Eastern History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4906 - Colloquium in African History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4907 - Colloquium in East Asian History Credit Hours: 3

Component B: European History

Pre-Modern
HIST 3291 - Ancient Greece Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3292 - Ancient Rome Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3293 - World of Late Antiquity: Culture and Society in the Late Roman Empire Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3520 - Roman Law & Society Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3521 - Medieval Law & Society, 500-1000 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3531 - Vikings - Saxons - Franks: Western Europe, 476-1066 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3532 - History of the Crusades Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3533 - Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000-1350 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3540 - History of Early Christianity Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3541 - Medieval Christianity: Church and Society Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3555 - Women in Medieval Europe Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3560 - The Italian Renaissance Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3562 - Muslims, Christians, and Jews in the History of Medieval Spain Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4536 - Eternal Rome: Piety and Power Credit Hours: 3
Early Modern
HIST 3542 - The European Reformation Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3580 - Power and Revolution in Early Modern Europe, 1450-1650 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3581 - Politics, Power and People in Europe, 1650-1775 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3600 - Women in Early Modern European History, 1400-1800 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3710 - Magic, Heresy and Witchcraft in Europe Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3715 - Sex, Crime and Deviance in Europe, 1200-1800 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3820 - History of Russia Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3860 - Shakespeare’s England, 1450-1603 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3861 - Revolutionary Britain, 1603-1702 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3862 - English History to 1688 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3864 - Making Modern Britain, 1702-1815 Credit Hours: 3
Modern
HIST 3213 - War, Violence, Modernity Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3281 - Jewish History Since 1492 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3550 - The Age of Darwin, 1800-Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3640 - Europe Between World Wars, 1919-1939 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3641 - Contemporary Europe Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3680 - Germany in the 19th- Century Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3681 - Germany in the 20th Century Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3682 - Nazi Germany Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3683 - Germany between East and West since 1945 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3731 - Balkan dreams and nightmares: Southeastern Europe from 1908 to the Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3741 - Origins of World War II, 1914-1941 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3750 - World War I Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3770 - The Holocaust Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3791 - Britain and the World since 1970 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3821 - Russia: Road to Revolution 1825-1917 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3822 - Soviet Union Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3823 - The USSR in World War II Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3831 - Modern Poland: War, Revolution and Peace from 1905 to the Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3840 - Ethnic Cleansing in Modern European History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3865 - Churchill’s Britain Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3867 - British Empire in the 19th Century Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3868 - British Empire in the 20th Century Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4770 - Perspectives on the Holocaust: Sources and Interpretation Credit Hours: 3
General
HIST 4903 - Colloquium in European History Credit Hours: 3

Component C: North American History

Early Modern
HIST 3002 - Colonial British North America Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3004 - Revolutionary Era Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3008 - The Age of Hamilton and Jackson: Life in Early America Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3018 - History of the American South to 1900 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3020 - Survey of American Indian History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3090 - American Constitutional History, Part 1: Origins to Reconstruction Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3200 - Women in American History Before 1877 Credit Hours: 3
Modern
HIST 3030 - United States in World War II Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3050 - The United States and the Vietnam War Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3060 - American Environmental History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3070 - Famous Trials in American History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3081 - The Civil War and its Aftermath Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3095 - American Constitutional History, 1880s-Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3100 - Emergence of the Modern United States: Progressive Era and Roaring Twenties Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3104 - United States, 1945-Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3106 - History of American Conservatism Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3110 - History of Public Health Disasters Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3140 - Pop/High Culture in 20th Century America Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3141 - History of American Radicalism: From the Populists to Occupy Wall Street Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3144 - US Social History in the 20th century Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3146 - American Ideas, 20th- Century Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3147 - History of Now: America, 1989-Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3148 - Cultural Rebels in the Modern U.S. Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3150 - Survey of African American History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3162 - History of U.S. Involvement in World Affairs, 1898-1945 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3164 - History of U.S. Involvement in World Affairs, 1945-Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3170 - Survey of Ohio History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3201 - Women in American History Since 1877 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3202 - Women’s Health and Medicine in U.S. History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3211 - American Military History, 1600-Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3220 - 1960s in U.S.: Decade of Controversy Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3224 - The 1980s in the U.S.: The Age of Reagan and Madonna Credit Hours: 3
General
HIST 4901 - Colloquium in United States History Credit Hours: 3

Pre-Law History Major Intradepartmental Course Requirements

Complete two of the following courses. They may also satisfy the Chronological and Geographical requirements for your major.

HIST 3004 - Revolutionary Era Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3008 - The Age of Hamilton and Jackson: Life in Early America Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3018 - History of the American South to 1900 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3060 - American Environmental History Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3081 - The Civil War and its Aftermath Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3090 - American Constitutional History, Part 1: Origins to Reconstruction Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3095 - American Constitutional History, 1880s-Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3104 - United States, 1945-Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3106 - History of American Conservatism Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3146 - American Ideas, 20th- Century Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3164 - History of U.S. Involvement in World Affairs, 1945-Present Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3200 - Women in American History Before 1877 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3201 - Women in American History Since 1877 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3220 - 1960s in U.S.: Decade of Controversy Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3224 - The 1980s in the U.S.: The Age of Reagan and Madonna Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3270 - Slavery in the Americas Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3520 - Roman Law & Society Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3521 - Medieval Law & Society, 500-1000 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3533 - Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000-1350 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3555 - Women in Medieval Europe Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3715 - Sex, Crime and Deviance in Europe, 1200-1800 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3860 - Shakespeare’s England, 1450-1603 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3861 - Revolutionary Britain, 1603-1702 Credit Hours: 3
HIST 3867 - British Empire in the 19th Century Credit Hours: 3
HIST 4500 - The New Deal and Its Challengers, 1933-1945 Credit Hours: 3
T3 4070 - Sin and Sex in Western Legal History Credit Hours: 3

Pre-Law History Major Extradepartmental Requirements

Complete two of the following courses. Most of them will also fulfill your Arts and Sciences breadth requirements.

AAS 2540 - History of Injustice in the United States Credit Hours: 3
AAS 3680 - African American Political Thought Credit Hours: 3
AAS 3691 - U.S. Constitutional Law: Pre-Civil Rights Movements Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 3530 - Anthropology of Violence and Peace Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 4620 - Human Rights, Law and Justice Credit Hours: 3
BUSL 2000 - Law and Society Credit Hours: 3
COMS 2020 - Communication and Persuasion Credit Hours: 3
COMS 2150 - Argumentative Analysis and Advocacy Credit Hours: 3
ECON 3160 - Economics and the Law Credit Hours: 3
ECON 3340 - Economics of Antitrust Credit Hours: 3
ENG 3290 - Rhetoric and Law Credit Hours: 3
ENG 3570 - Law and Literature Credit Hours: 3
GEOG 3250 - Political Geography Credit Hours: 3
GEOG 3270 - Geographies of Social Justice Credit Hours: 3
GEOG 3460 - Environmental Law Credit Hours: 3
GEOG 4520 - Environmental and Sustainability Planning Credit Hours: 3
LJC 2000 - Core Course in Law, Justice, & Culture Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 1300 - Introduction to Ethics Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 2400 - Social and Political Philosophy Credit Hours: 3
POLS 2200 - The Politics of Law Credit Hours: 3
POLS 2500 - International Relations Credit Hours: 3
POLS 4010 - American Constitutional Law Credit Hours: 3
POLS 4040 - Civil Liberties Credit Hours: 3
POLS 4210 - The Politics of Law and Sexuality Credit Hours: 3
POLS 4550 - International Law Credit Hours: 3
PSY 3520 - Social Psychology of Justice Credit Hours: 3
SOC 2600 - Criminal Justice Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3600 - Criminology Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3630 - Juvenile Delinquency Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3640 - Police and Society Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3660 - Punishment and Society Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3670 - Corporate and Governmental Crime Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4640 - Law in Societies Credit Hours: 3

Preparation for Law

If you plan to enter law school after earning an undergraduate degree, it is prudent to choose a major that reflects your true academic interest. Law schools draw students from a variety of majors, and history has proven to be one of the most successful in launching students toward successful careers in law. This is because our courses provide an understanding of the context within which the western legal tradition emerged. They explain the impact that laws and courts have had on shaping society and, conversely, how societal change has reshaped legal practice. As critically the habits of a historian teach students to read and contextualize evidence, to consider multiple perspectives, and to frame and express arguments, skills that numerous lawyers and administrators of law schools suggest are the closest approximation of legal practice that can be simulated in an undergraduate curriculum.

Additional information about the history department’s pre-law program is available at: www.ohio.edu/cas/history/undergraduate/pre-law-major.

In addition to our diverse array of history courses, you are advised to use your general electives to take other courses helpful in enhancing your analytical abilities. Those may include courses from English composition and literature, American literature, political science, economics, sociology, philosophy (include ethics and logic), accounting, psychology, and a foreign language. Courses in speech, and training in expression, as well as activities that develop the capacity for independent thought and action, are recommended.

The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that to enter law school you must be able to show possession of an undergraduate degree from an approved college if you wish to take the Ohio Bar Examination. Law schools in the State of Ohio require the degree of all entering students, regardless of the state in which they plan to take the bar examination. More general information regarding pre-law can be found at: www.ohio.edu/cas/undergraduate/pre-law.