The following FAQ is for use as a guide for students who may have general advising questions about requirements in the History Department, Liberal Studies program, or the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. This FAQ is not authoritative and should not be used as a substitute for in-person advising with a faculty advisor. Any questions, comments or suggestions should be directed to Dr. Margaret Storey.
Note: All students must complete the Liberal Studies program. The History Department cannot waive these requirements or authorize substitutions. Students in special circumstances may request course substitutions or waivers within the Liberal Studies Program from the LAS Dean's Office, but substitutions and waivers are NOT automatic and should NOT be expected. Students requesting a substitution must write a letter to the Associate Dean explaining why the substitution should be granted; it should be sent via e-mail to lasassociatedean@depaul.edu, cc-ing your history faculty advisor. Please submit all requests for waivers or substitutions as early as possible, as they often take time to process.
How often shoudl I meet with my advisor?
We recommend that students meet with their advisors at least once per quarter, usually around registration. This is a great opportunity for students to discuss goals and questions regarding the major, as well as any academic or career concerns.endent Study course? How do I arrange to take one?
How many credit hours do I need to graduate?
Students who matriculated Autumn 1999 and afterwards need a minimum of 192 credit hours to graduate, the equivalent of 48 4-hour courses. In some cases, due to double majors, late major declaration, and the possibility that some transfer credit may not be applicable toward graduation (to name but three reasons), students may need more courses than the minimum to graduate.
Am I technically a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior?
44 hours earns sophomore status
88 hours earns junior status
132 hours earns senior status
Can I take five courses in one quarter?
Yes. Enrolling in more than 20 quarter hours requires permission from the college office. There will also be additional tuition charged for enrolling in more than 18 hours. Be aware that the History Department generally discourages students from taking 5 courses, as the workload is generally too high within the major. See next question.
How many credit hours can I take per quarter? In the summer? In December?
The normal limit is 5 courses (20 hours) per quarter. Students must apply to the LAS College Office for permission to take more than 20 hours. The application to do so is available through the LAS Administrative Forms Library. A student may take a maximum of 5 courses (20 hours) in the summer sessions.
There is no hard cap for the December session, but realistically, it would be difficult to take more than two courses. Note, however, that for undergraduates, courses taken in the December interim count against their winter quarter allotment and are billed with winter quarter tuition.
Can I re-take a course that I failed? Can I re-take a course in which I received a D? If I do re-take a class in which I did poorly, how will this appear on my transcript? How will it affect my GPA?
The following is taken from sr.depaul.edu:
Undergraduate students may have the need to repeat courses. When that occurs, all grades achieved are recorded on the academic record. The first time the course is repeated, only the new grade will be used to determine cumulative credit and to calculate the GPA. If a student repeats that course again, the second and all subsequent grades will be used to calculate the GPA. Credit earned is based on the final attempt. A course must be repeated at DePaul in order for this policy to apply. Note: A C– grade is acceptable in a student’s major providing the overall GPA in the major is 2.0.
Students may retake a course in transfer that was originally completed at DePaul. The DePaul grade remains in the GPA, but credit is only accumulated once.
How do I find out which specific courses I still need to take in order to graduate?
Unless students have transfer credit or AP credit, the college office requires students to get this information from their degree progress report (DPR), which can be accessed through Campus Connection. Please check your DPR regularly. If you feel that there is any discrepancy or anything that you do not understand, please promptly discuss this with your history faculty advisor.
In addition to taking all the required courses, what do I have to do in order to graduate? How do I go about applying for graduation in my senior year?
In order for the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences to verify the completion of academic requirements, students must apply for degree conferral (graduation) in advance to have a degree posted and to receive a diploma.
The on-line degree conferral application can be found in Campus Connection, under "For Students," then "Graduation," then "Apply for Degree Conferral."
Please note that paper applications will no longer be accepted. Students must apply for degree conferral on-line via Campus Connection.
In addition, students must schedule a MANDATORY degree conferral review appointment with an Office of Advising and Student Services academic advisor by telephone, (773) 325-8490, or in person at McGowan South, Suite 400. Failure to do this can result in errors that prevent you from graduating in a timely fashion.
Provided all requirements and financial obligations are met, degrees will be posted 30 days after the completion of the quarter.
Please also note the following:
(1) Applying for degree conferral is not a guarantee that the degree will be conferred (this is contingent on all degree requirements being met);
(2) If you wish to participate in commencement exercises (the June graduation ceremony), you must arrange to do this separately. Once you have applied for degree conferral online, you should receive information on how to arrange to participate in the June ceremony.
For more detailed information visit the LAS Undergraduate Academic Advising page
When can I apply for degree conferral?
Application deadlines for degree conferral are:
| Conferral Term | Deadline | |
| November (autumn) | October 1st | |
| March (winter) | January 15th | |
| June (spring) | February 1st | |
| August (summer) | July 15th |
PLEASE NOTE: These are hard-and-fast final deadlines! Please apply WELL IN ADVANCE of the dates specified here. Do not wait until the last minute to apply for degree conferral! (You can apply for degree conferral through Campus Connection as soon as you have completed 132 quarter hours.)
Can I get into a closed History class?
Can I get into a course after the "add" deadline has passed?
Students seeking admission to a course after the quarter's "add" deadline has passed (i.e., after the first week of the quarter) will need authorization from both the instructor and the associate dean (lasassociatedean@depaul.edu).
I took the math placement test but did poorly and don’t feel that my score reflects my true abilities. Can I take a math placement retest?
With advisor approval, students who believe that their assessment scores do not reflect their true mathematical skills can retest most sections of the math placement tests. They need to complete an LAS Mathematics Retest Recommendation form and receive the approval of an advisor in order to retest. The math placement test may only be re-taken once.
Can I complete my DePaul degree while living outside Chicago? Can I take my last 8 hours off-campus:
How do I request an exemption to a University academic policy or requirement?
If you are seeking an exemption to requirements in the Liberal Studies Program (including the First Year Program), to the Modern Language Requirement, or to the Senior Residency Requirement, please view the Undergraduate Exception to Policy information
There is a way for to upload supporting documentation (like syllabi or other pertinent documents) for the College Office to review.
What does Academic Probation mean? What do I have to do to get off probation?
All LAS students (returning and current, degree and non-degree seeking) whose cumulative GPAs were below 2.0 are placed on academic probation. These students are blocked from registering for any classes. Students who have a block will not be permitted to register for the following term until the block is removed. In order for the block to be released, students must meet with their major field department's advisor. Advisors should discuss the new probation guidelines in place. These require students to maintain a term GPA of 2.7 (B-) with no grade lower than 2.3 (C+). Students must fulfill the guidelines covered in the LAS probation brochure (see http://las.depaul.edu/WebMedia/StudentServices/UgrdLASProbationGuide.pdf). Failure to adhere to the guidelines would be cause for academic dismissal at the end of the next term.
Note: Final decisions regarding Liberal Studies courses and how they fit in the student’s curriculum are made by the Liberal Arts and Social Sciences College Office. All students must complete the Liberal Studies program.
Note: For various reasons students may ask for course substitutions within the Liberal Studies Program. Students requesting a substitution should do so using the form available at the Exception to Policy page: http://las.depaul.edu/CurrentStudents/UgradAcademicAdvising/UgradForms/ExceptionToPolicy.asp
Yes, unless you have fulfilled one of the following equivalents:
The only students for whom LSP 120 or one of these equivalents is not required are those who are required to take a calculus sequence for their majors. For more information on the MTL 1 (LSP 120) equivalency exam, please go to the go to the LSP Study Guide at the Quantitative Reasoning Center and use the the "placement" button.
If you began attending DePaul in fall 2006 or later (whether as a first-year or transfer student) you must take LSP 121, UNLESS one of the following situations applies to you:
There is an equivalency test for LSP 121 that students can take, but unless they have a fairly advanced background in computer programming, they are unlikely to "pass out" of LSP 121. For more information on the MTL II (LSP 121) equivalency exam, please go to the Quantitative Reasoning Center (click the "LSP 121" tab, then click the link labeled "LSP 121 Placement Exam Study Guide.")
PLEASE NOTE: Non-Honors students who take both LSP 120 and LSP 121 may "waive" one of their Liberal Studies program Learning Domain courses OTHER THAN the Scientific Inquiry: Lab course. Please note, however, that all students must take at least one course in each Learning Domain. So, for example, a student who is using a Modern Language Option course as a substitute for one of the two "Philosophical Inquiry" domain courses cannot also use the LSP 121 waiver to substitute for the other required course in that domain.
I need to take LSP 121 but cannot find any sections offered. What should I do?
There likely are sections of LSP 121 available, but many students understandably do not realize it because LSP 121 sections are not listed in the same place as other LSP courses in Campus Connection's online registration system. Whereas all other LSP courses (112, 120, 200, etc.) are listed under the "Liberal Studies Program" department in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences ( the leftmost column in Campus Connection's registration interface), LSP 121 sections are listed in a separate "Liberal Studies Program" department that is listed under the College of Computing and Digital Media. (We realize that this is confusing and wish that all LSP courses were listed in the same place!)
Do I have to take the Sophomore Multiculturalism in the US Seminar (LSP 200)?
Yes. All students, including students transferring in after sophomore year, are required to take LSP 200.
How can I satisfy the “Experiential Learning” requirement?
All students must take some kind of Junior Year Experiential Learning (JYEL) course as a degree requirement. Students can fulfill this requirement in a number of ways, including through the following:
Note: You can identify specific JYEL-eligible courses offered each quarter through the Campus Connect enrollment system. (Set the filter in the "Liberal Studies Requirement" field to "Junior Year Experiential Learning.")
Students are encouraged to fulfill their JYEL requirement during their junior year, but some students may complete this requirement in the sophomore or senior year. Please speak with your advisor about the best options for you. Visit the Junior Year Experiential Learning site for further information.
How do I get an internship that meets the “Experiential Learning” requirement?
For further guidance on internships and co-ops, please go to the Career Center and access the relevant portion of their website.
What course should I take to get DePaul credit for an internship and to satisfy the "Experiential Learning" requirement?
If you would like to fulfill the "Experiential Learning" (JYEL) requirement through an internship, the relevant associated courses are:
ISP 250: You, Your Work and the World
ISP 251: Values–based Leadership: Making a Difference While Making a Profit
ISP 252: Creativity as a Change Agent in the Workplace
ISP 253: Public Service Careers
ISP 254: Corporate Social Responsibility
ISP 350: Navigating the Changing Workplace
For further information on which course is appropriate for you, please visit the Career Center.
Please note that internships must be arranged in advance, at least one term before the internship and internship-related course are scheduled to begin.
I currently have a job/internship in a professional area that interests me. Can I use this to satisfy the “Experiential Learning” requirement?
To get internship credit that satisfies the "Experiential Learning" or JYEL requirement, students need to take an internship-linked DePaul course. Most of these are offered through the Career Center. For further information, students should consult the Career Center.
The Career Center also can be contacted by phone at the following numbers:
LOOP: 312-362-8437
LINCOLN PARK: 773-325-7431
If a HST course is "Experiential Learning" eligible, can I apply it toward both my History major and also the Liberal Studies Experiential Learning requirement?
Yes, but using the same course to satisfy requirements for both the major and the Experiential Learning component of the Liberal Studies program will require you to complete an extra Liberal Studies-eligible course (a "domain elective") in a department outside History. According to the Liberal Studies website, "Students who complete one course to fulfill both major field credit and liberal studies credit will complete an additional domain elective (from outside the major). The third language course of the modern language option can fulfill this domain elective."
The following information is found on the Liberal Studies Website:
Students are required to take a Liberal Studies capstone course in their major field during their senior year. Some Liberal Studies capstone courses may be offered jointly for students in related majors and fields of study. These courses provide students with an opportunity to integrate their major area of study with broader issues raised in their general education program. The Liberal Studies capstone experience allows students to see the relationship between the ideas, perspectives, and substantive areas of scholarship and creative work within their major field and those learned through significant aspects of their course work in the learning domain courses and other courses and experiences of the Liberal Studies Program.
A liberal studies capstone course can meet both major field and liberal studies requirements. Students who complete one course to fulfill both major field credit and liberal studies credit, will complete an additional domain elective (from outside the major). The third language course of the modern language option can fulfill this domain elective.
Because the course is offered through the major field department, students must receive a grade of C- or better in this course.
Thus, all History majors must complete a Capstone Seminar during their senior year. The History Capstone is currently HST 397. Note: Students who are double majors, may take their Liberal Studies Capstone in another department, but they must still take HST 397 to meet the departmental major requirements.
Is there a foreign language requirement?
There is a Modern Language Requirement (MLR) for the all College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences students earning a B.A. degree. For students who initially were admitted to DePaul to begin in fall 2007 or later, the modern language requirement may be met in any of the following ways:
Note: American Sign Language (ASL) qualifies as a modern language.
Note: Transfer students will need to provide official high school transcripts in order to use high school coursework to meet the non-English language requirement. (For students who applied to DePaul as high school students, the university already has a copy of the high school transcript.) There is no separate foreign language requirement for the History Department.
What is the “Modern Language option (MLO)”?
Students who have met the modern language requirement and have also successfully completed an additional two to three courses (depending on the level) beyond what they used to satisfy the Modern Language Requirement are eligible for the MLO, which grants a waiver of two courses from the standard Liberal Studies curriculum. The decision as to which courses are waived is made by the LAS college office in consultation with the student. Normally, students use the Modern Language option to reduce their requirements by one course in each of two of the following combinations of learning domains:
Please note: All students must take a laboratory course in the "Scientific Inquiry" domain, and all students must take at least one course in each learning domain. So, for example, a student who is using the LSP 121 waiver to substitute for one of the two "Philosophical Inquiry" domain courses cannot also use an MLO waiver to substitute for the other required course in that domain.
I took a foreign language in high school but didn’t take the foreign language placement test when I first came to DePaul because I didn’t plan to continue in college. I have changed my mind and now want to take a language at DePaul. How do I know which class I should take?
If you don't see an available "button" in Campus Connection giving you access to the language placement exams, contact DePaul Central/Student Records to see about getting authorized to take an on-line placement exam in French, Spanish, German, Italian, or Japanese, the results of which will determine the course you should take. If the language is not one for which DePaul has an online exam, you will need to contact the Modern Language Department.
Be aware that all languages are taught in sequence with the quarters, with 101/201 sections available in the Autumn Quarter, 102/202 in the Winter, and 103/203 in the Spring. It is thus important to plan carefully.
I speak another language at home. Do I still have to fulfill the language requirement?
Even if you are comfortable speaking in a foreign language, you still need to have your language skills assessed. If the language that you know is not one of those for which an online test is available, see the Modern Languages Department for information about alternative forms of assessment.
How will Studying Abroad affect my ability to graduate on time?
If you plan carefully, studying abroad should not prevent a student from graduating in four years. But it is advisable to begin researching programs early in order to make the best decisions. See the Study Abroad website at http://studioabroad.is.depaul.edu/.
How do I apply for credit gained in non-DePaul Study Abroad programs?
DePaul students are eligible to participate in non-DePaul Study Abroad programs, but this will require arranging for the credit earned abroad to be transferred in from the sponsoring institution. See the “Transfer Credit” section of the Study Abroad website (http://studioabroad.is.depaul.edu/) for details.
What are the requirements of a history major?
There are three concentrations within the history (HST) major: standard, pre-law, and public history. Each of the three concentrations requires students to take a total of 15 courses (or 60 credit hours), as follows:
three core HST courses (HST 298, HST 299, and HST 397);
five additional HST courses at the 100- or 200-level (HON 102 can count as one of these; this is also where AP credit applies, if earned); and
seven additional courses at the 300-level, including one pair of courses that includes a topical 300-level HST course (often called the "gateway course") linked to a HST 390 research practicum on the same topic taken the following quarter. (see below for more on the research practicum sequence)
The major difference between the standard concentration and the pre-law and public history concentrations is that the latter are more specific about some of the courses that students take within the major.
How do I declare a history major?
Please see the link to the declaration form on our homepage: http://las.depaul.edu/history.
What is HST 390: Practicum in Historical Research and Writing
Students in each of the HST major concentrations are required to take a pair of linked courses that includes a topical 300-level HST course in one quarter (called the “gateway course”) and the linked HST 390 research practicum on the same topic and taught by the same instructor the following quarter. Students are strongly encouraged to take this sequence in their junior year and to keep the following considerations in mind as they plan their schedules.
Not all 300-level HST courses are gateways to HST 390 practicum, so make sure that you take the right classes. The History Department posts the linked sets on our website and on bulletin boards in SAC 420.
As a history major, can I take history courses as open electives?
Yes.
Can I use 300-level history courses to satisfy the history major’s 200-level requirements?
No.
I am a transfer student. I have never taken HST 298 or 299 at DePaul but I did take similar courses at another institution. Can the HST 298 and/or 299 requirement be waived?
In cases such as this, the chair may (at his or her discretion) approve the substitution of a similar transfer course for HST 298, but all students should plan to take HST 299 at DePaul. (In order to enroll in HST 299, the chair will need to have previously approved the transfer course substitution for HST 298.)
What is an Independent Study course? How do I arrange to take one?
The College of Liberal Arts and Social Science defines an Independent Study course as one “taken with faculty supervision for knowledge enhancement beyond the courses offered in a particular area of interest. In rare cases, when scheduling or other conflicts exist, a regular course may be taken as an Independent Study.” Students may approach a faculty member about doing an Independent Study. If the instructor agrees, the student must next submit an Independent Study application: http://las.depaul.edu/CurrentStudents/UgradAcademicAdvising/UgradForms/IndependentStudy.asp. Only upon College approval will the Independent Study go forward.
How do I transfer to/from a major in a different college?
Changing majors across colleges (i.e., from a history major in LAS to a finance major in the College of Commerce, or vice versa) first requires an Inter-College Transfer (ICT). You can get more information on and/or request an ICT through Campus Connection. From Campus Connection, go to "For Students," then "Records and Registration," then "Inter-college Transfer."
What do I need to do or take for a minor in history?
The requirements for a history minor (declared in summer 2008 or later) are six courses, distributed as follows:
How do I declare a history minor?
Information on declaring or changing majors can be found at the LAS Undergraduate Academic Advising site.
What is the Newberry Library Undergraduate Seminar?
The Newberry Library Undergraduate Seminar (NLUS) is an intensive, 15-week (semester-long) course that runs from January through mid-May, spanning winter and spring quarters. It is an opportunity for undergraduate students from DePaul, UIC, Loyola, and Roosevelt Universities to conduct original research at one of the nation=s leading rare materials libraries under the guidance of an interdisciplinary faculty team. (The instructors may be professors at any of the participating universities.) NLUS is an especially valuable opportunity for strong undergraduate students who are considering graduate study in the humanities or social sciences. The course meets at the Newberry Library in downtown Chicago (near CTA Red line Clark/Division stop) and is capped at 20 students. The seminar topic changes every year and is usually announced by the beginning of fall quarter. Interested students must submit an application, which is usually available through the history department’s website; participants are selected through a competitive process.
As a history major, how could I apply the Newberry Library Undergraduate Seminar toward graduation requirements?
DePaul students who successfully complete NLUS earn 9 credits, 4.5 credits in each of two related disciplines, generally history and another field related to the course topic that year (such as English or art history). A history major’s faculty advisor can authorize the credit earned in NLUS to count as two 300-level HST courses. History majors also are also eligible to use NLUS as a substitute for the required two-course gateway HST 3xx-390 sequence, and/or to use 4.5 of the credits earned in NLUS to satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement in the Liberal Studies program. The student should discuss the application of NLUS credit with his or her advisor.
Public history is a field of history that requires its practitioners to use the skills and methods of academic history with an eye toward connecting the public with that history. As such, public historians are trained to work with a diverse range of primary sources (archival documents, artifacts, art, oral histories, film, photographs), and find employment in a range of locales (archives, historical societies, historic sites, libraries, museums, documentary films, government agencies, universities, the world wide web, etc.).
What should I expect from a Public History Concentration?
First and foremost, the Public History Concentration will give you a strong training in History. While the History Major Core Courses will introduce you to a host of research methodologies, basic historiography, and theory, your Lower Division Coursework and Upper Division History Electives will allow you to explore a range of content areas. The required courses that are specifically part of the Public History Concentration will introduce you to the range of careers that are possible for public historians, and will give you the opportunity to hone your research, writing, and presentation skills. If you take courses in the Public History Concentration, expect experiential learning opportunities that will connect you and your work with an audience beyond the classroom. Courses in Public History stress field-based research projects, and the Concentration requires that you participate in a Public History Internship.
I see that an internship is required as part of the Public History Concentration. How do I arrange an internship?
Public History Internship opportunities will be regularly posted in the History Department. These positions are sometimes competitive, so you will need to be open to a range of locales and should start planning at least two quarters in advance. The Public History Concentration Director would be happy to discuss possible internship opportunities with you, and to assist in matching your interests to public history venues. Please note, however, that you are in charge of arranging your internship.
What do I need to do after I arrange an internship?
All Public History Internships will need to be approved by the Public History Concentration Director. Once it is approved, you will need to enroll in HST 392, Public History Internship. Because you will need the Director’s approval prior to enrolling in the Course, you should consult with the Director well in advance to ensure that the Internship opportunity is appropriate for the Public History Concentration.
Who is the Public History Concentration Director?
The Director is currently Prof. Amy M. Tyson. She can be reached by email at prof.tyson@gmail.com, or by phone at ext. 54983.
What is the Pre-Law Concentration?
There is no “pre-law” major at DePaul. The pre-law concentration is a program focused on Legal History and is suitable for anyone with an interest in that subject. The flexible curriculum of this concentration is designed to allow students to shape a plan of study building on two specific and two student-selected legal history courses. DePaul’s pre-law concentration in History is intended to help students understand the law as a part of history, subject to change over time and a part of the social, cultural, and political processes. Students may focus on specific areas of interest within the broad parameters of the program, but this concentration does not require students to focus on the United States or a particular geographical region.
Will a concentration in Pre-Law help me gain admission to law school or prepare me for law school better than a Standard concentration within History?
No. Law school admission is based on (in order of importance): 1) LSAT scores, 2) GPA in a rigorous course of study (e.g., History), 3) letters of reference, 4) personal statement, and 5) other activities. By doing well in History or another rigorous program that requires copious reading, writing, and critical analysis of sources, regardless of concentration, you increase your chances of gaining admission. For those who are admitted to law school, the study of History equips students with the most important skills for success in law school—close reading of sources, critical analysis, and clear writing—at least as well as any course of study and better than many.
Why should I choose a Pre-Law Concentration?
You should pursue a History major with a pre-law concentration if you are interested in understanding the role of the law in shaping U.S. and world history and in understanding how the law has been shaped by society. You will take classes with other students who are interested in a career in law. You will develop relationships with instructors who may be able to advise you on admissions to law school and/or write letters of reference.
What can I do now to improve my chances for admission to Law School?
Go to the Law School Admissions Council Website (http://www.lsac.org/). This is not just a suggestion; you probably cannot gain admission to law school without going to this site. There you will find specific information about dates for administration of the LSAT and the procedure for applying to specific schools including forms you need to download.
E-mail Prof. David Barnum in Political Science and ask to be added to his pre-law information list. Prof. Barnum provides information about scholarships, internships, and regular meetings on how to get into law school.
Beyond the above sources, be wary. Admission to law school is a bewildering, veiled process. Rumors and dubious, often contradictory, advice fill the place of hard information. Even some law schools publish misleading information, especially regarding financial aid and scholarships. You should maintain healthy skepticism whether looking on the Internet, talking to your peers, or someone who went to law school more than two years ago.
You can plan now to study for the LSAT. DePaul does not endorse any of the study courses, but several are offered on DePaul campus through unaffiliated organizations. Additionally, several books are available to help you with the examination.
How do I complete a minor or a second major in another field?
Students wishing to obtain a minor or a second major in another program or department are required to meet the guidelines set by that program or department. Courses for a minor or second majors can be drawn from a student's open electives, Liberal Studies requirements, or their primary major. Note that in some cases, a double major may require more credit hours to complete than the ordinary minimum number needed for graduation. A C- grade or better is required in all courses taken for any major or minor. Students may declare their minor or second major fields using the online declaration form: http://las.depaul.edu/CurrentStudents/UgradAcademicAdvising/UgradForms/DeclarationOfMajor.asp.
Can any of my History courses count toward both my History major and my major/minor in Latin American and Latino Studies if they are listed as approved Latin American and Latino studies courses? [Ditto for Catholic Studies, American Studies, Women’s Studies, Japanese Studies, Islamic World Studies, etc.]
Yes, minor and second major courses can be drawn from anywhere, but no more than half of your History courses can count toward a second major.
Can I double major across colleges?
Yes, in many cases, though please note that the College of Education does not allow any cross-college double majors (i.e., students cannot double-major in both history and education). See the LAS College Office OR e-mail lasadvising@depaul.edu to request additional information and/or to set up an appointment to discuss cross-college double-majors.
As a double-major, do I have to complete senior capstone courses in both majors?
All history majors must take HST 397 to meet departmental major requirements, regardless of whether they also take a capstone course in another department.
As a history major, can I complete my B.A. and get certified to teach in Illinois public schools at the same time? Can I do this in four years?
Experience has shown that it is difficult to complete this in four years. In order to take some of the courses required for certification, a student must matriculate in the College of Education. With planning and forethought, students may reduce the time required to achieve this goal by the wise use of their open electives and allied field course slots. You may, however, be interested in pursuing the 5 Year History B.A./M.Ed., detailed below.
Note: A transfer student is defined as someone having between 30 and 132 hours of transfer credit applied to their DePaul record.
What is the total number of credits that I can transfer to DePaul?
The maximum is 132 hours of transfer credit from a four-year institution or a two-year/four-year combination. Only 99 hours may be transferred from a two-year institution. Please note that all course work in the senior year, including the final 60.0 quarter hours, must be completed at DePaul. Students reach senior status when they have earned 132.0 quarter hours. This is the "Senior Residency Requirement." Under rare and extenuating circumstances, this requirement may be waived using the LAS Exception to Policy request form: http://las.depaul.edu/CurrentStudents/UgradAcademicAdvising/UgradForms/ExceptionToPolicy.asp.
What is the "Senior Residency Requirement"?
Please refer to the previous answer.
I am currently enrolled at DePaul. Can I still take courses at other institutions and have them apply toward the History major and/or Liberal Studies requirements as transfer credit?
Yes, with permission. Note that one-half of major and/or minor field courses must be taken at DePaul University. Transfer credit approval request forms, as well as other academic administrative forms are available through the LAS administrative forms library.
How do I find out the DePaul course equivalent of a course that I might take (or have already taken) at another college or university?
You can often get this information from the DePaul Admission and Aid's Transfer Articulation Center. See in particular the link for “Transfer Course Links.”
Please remember, however, that there are limits to the number of courses that you can transfer, and all courses taken by DePaul students at other institutions must be approved for application toward DePaul degree requirements. See the other questions and answers about transfer credit in this FAQ.
I am a transfer student and had some of my Liberal Studies courses waived, but the LAS office told me that I still had to take Liberal Studies learning domain electives. What courses can I take to satisfy this requirement?
Domain electives can be any approved Liberal Studies learning domain courses outside your major field, except those for which you have already received equivalent credit.
I am transferring to DePaul as a junior. What Liberal Studies courses do I have to take?
This varies widely from student to student.
Transfer allocation is done by the LAS College Office. They accept the Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curriculum (IAI GECC) as a general education core if a student successfully completes the IAI curriculum before transferring and this is indicated on the student's official transcript. In addition to the IAI “package,” however, these students must also complete the junior year experiential learning requirement and the fourth-year Senior Capstone seminar, as well as four upper-level domain electives chosen in consultation with a DePaul University academic advisor. Students who have not completed at least two Religion and two Philosophy courses must incorporate these courses into the four required domain electives.
Appeals of transfer credit allocation may be filed with the LAS College Office. Confer with your faculty advisor in the History Department about this.
Please note that students cannot earn credit for the same class through both transfer credit and a DePaul course. Thus, students should be careful NOT to enroll in any courses for which they have already been granted (or expect to receive) transfer credit.
Why are some courses in areas like sociology and art history that I took at another institution listed as “not applicable to degree,” while other classes in the same fields do satisfy Liberal Studies and elective requirements?
Courses are placed this way by the College Office according to guidelines set by the University Articulation Coordinator. These decisions are made in the College office, which has guidelines in place for substituting transfer credit on the student transcript. In these cases, the courses are not equivalent to DePaul courses. Sometimes, the college will request a syllabus of the course taken at another university to determine its eligibility for DePaul credit (particularly Liberal Studies credit). You may begin the appeal of a placement by emailing TrAC@depaul.edu.
What about AP credit in History?
DePaul University accepts AP credit according to the following schedule:
|
Test Area |
Score | Credit | Courses Earned |
|
European History |
3 |
4 |
One from HST 171, 172, or 173 |
|
4 or 5 |
8 |
Two from HST 171, 172, or 173 | |
| World History |
3 |
4 |
One from HST 111, 112, or 113 |
|
4 or 5 |
8 |
Two from HST 111, 112, or 113 | |
| U.S. History |
3 |
4 |
One from HST 181, 182, or 183 |
|
4 or 5 |
8 |
Two from HST 181, 182, or 183 |
Note: 8 credits maximum for 2 or more AP History exams with scores of 3;
12 credits maximum for 2 or more AP History exams with scores of 4 or 5.
Please note that students cannot get credit for the same class through both a DePaul course and AP test scores. Thus, students should be careful NOT to enroll in courses for which they have already earned credit through AP tests.
In this program, students will earn a bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s degree in Education in Social Science: History in just five years. In addition to the degrees, students who complete the program will earn a State of Illinois secondary education teaching certification and receive credentials to teach at both the secondary and middle-school levels. It would normally take six years to complete these degrees if you were to pursue them separately.
When should I apply? Am I eligible for the program?
To be eligible for the program, you must:
1. be a declared History major at DePaul University;
2. have reached junior status with at least 88 completed quarter hours or at least 16 completed quarter hours at DePaul if a transfer student;
3. have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher;
4. be enrolled in or finished with the prerequisite Junior Year Experiential Learning course, TCH 320: Exploring Teaching in an Urban High School.
As a history major, what social science courses should I take during my freshman and sophomore years if I’m interested in applying?
You will need to take at least one class in Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Sociology, and Psychology in this program. We strongly suggest that you complete as many of these courses as possible during your first two years. Here is a list of recommended social science classes:
ANT 102 (SSMW domain course)
ECO 101 or 106 (SSMW domain course)
GEO 101 (SI course)
PSC 120 (SSMW domain course)
SOC 101 (SSMW domain course)
PSY 105 (SSMW domain course)
Note that all of these classes fulfill either a Self, Society, and the Modern World or a Scientific Inquiry requirement. If you’ve already completed these requirements, please e-mail to the TEACH advisor to see what additional social science classes you should take.
What history classes should I take in order to complete the TEACH program?
As part of your history major, you will need to complete the following:
1. Four US history courses (preferably including HST 181-182-183)
2. Four non-US history courses (World, European, Asian, African or Latin American)
3. Of these eight classes, at least two need to be upper division (i.e. 300 level courses)
4. HST 298 and HST 299, both prerequisites for your upper division history classes.
How do I apply?
Students must submit the following items to The Office of Graduate Admission:
1. Completed application
2. Completed School of Education supplemental application form
3. $40 application fee
4. One official transcript from each college and/or university you have attended
5. Two letters of recommendation from professors (at least one from a faculty member in your disciplinary area)
6. Statement of purpose indicating professional development goals and related experience (750 words)
When do I apply?
The application deadline is June 15 of the applicant's junior year (spring quarter).
FAQ last updated 10 October 2011. Please email history@depaul.edu for more information.