Modern History, BA

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the BA degree programs in the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences is to establish an integrated, multidisciplinary foundation for more focused study in one of the Major Areas offered by the department. Together, a departmental Major and Minor Area or the Interdisciplinary Social Science Major are intended to prepare students for entry into graduate or professional programs.

Graduate Outcomes

MODERN HISTORY MAJOR

• Graduates learn to think historically, meaning: understanding the importance of chronology in determining cause and effect relationships between events; developing an ability to effectively compare the effects of similar events in different contexts (recognizing how the past and present are connected); and developing the ability to effectively compare and evaluate varied interpretations of the same events or issues.
• Graduates possess written and oral communication skills necessary to demonstrate problem-solving and technological skills consistent with the objectives of the Modern History Major.
• Graduates can demonstrate the ability to carry out independent, original scholarly work, which includes the ability to: identify and formulate problem statements appropriate to the academic discipline; select matching investigation methods; and collect, analyze, and interpret information.

Assessment

The graduate outcomes for the BA degree programs in the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences are assessed through the graduation/exit survey, alumni survey, feedback from internship supervisors, review of collected student- generated exhibits over time, and program self-study and/or reports from external reviews. The assessment plans for the BA degrees in the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences are available through the department.