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History Major

The Morehouse history major allows students to investigate humanity’s past to better predict its future. As a Morehouse history major, you’ll sharpen your critical thinking and research skills while examining the forces that shaped civilizations.

This program challenges students to explore untold narratives and global movements, preparing you to become a leader who understands how history informs justice, policy, and cultural change.

Majors and Minors

The History Program at a glance

See and understand diverse people in a variety of historical contexts. The Morehouse history major gives you a chance to study real people and real events—stories of power, survival, and change. Instead of memorizing names and dates, you ask better questions: Who made these choices? What were the consequences? Why does it still matter today?

You’ll explore revolutions, empires, resistance, and everyday lives. You’ll read letters, examine original records, and study the forces that shaped nations. African and African American histories take center stage here, but the Morehouse history program covers global stories too—ones that connect struggles across continents and generations.

Through close reading and research, you build skills that last far beyond college. You learn how to find the truth in a story, how to write with purpose, and how to speak with clarity. Professors support you every step of the way, offering direct feedback and helping you sharpen your ideas.

The Morehouse history major prepares you for the world. It sets you up for success in law, public service, media, or teaching. More important than any job title, though, is what you carry forward: the ability to understand people, to question easy answers, and to make decisions grounded in real knowledge.

Morehouse History Department

The Morehouse history major and department equip students to develop a broad base of world knowledge with a particular emphasis on the history of Black people.

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Earn the History Major

To earn a Morehouse history major, a student must successfully complete 63 semester hours. This decision gives you the depth and range you need to take on complex questions with confidence.

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Earn the Minor

To minor in history, students must successfully complete 18 credit hours above the general education requirements at Morehouse College.

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About The Morehouse
History Major & Program

Overview

Overview

THE MOREHOUSE HISTORY PROGRAM EQUIPS STUDENTS TO DEVELOP A BROAD BASE OF WORLD KNOWLEDGE WITH A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE HISTORY OF BLACK PEOPLE.

Our history major provides instruction, research, internships, counseling, and extracurricular activities that offer students a greater understanding of the world.

The Morehouse history major prepares students to investigate the human past and hone their skills in analysis and argumentation through the study of primary sources and critical reading of the theoretical debates among historians.

History majors have the opportunity to conduct research with faculty as well as independent projects informed by diverse and culturally sensitive theories and methodologies. The program pushes students to refine their written and verbal communication skills and develop their technological expertise to create digital humanities tools and products. The Morehouse emphasis on character development and leadership is aided by courses on the history of the civil rights and human rights movements.

The history major and minor prepare students for graduate study and law school as well as for careers in public history, historic preservation, government, the ministry, business, teaching, public advocacy, media commentary, and social analysis.
Outcomes
Outcomes

At the time of graduation, history major students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate knowledge of historical methods, critical analysis, and historiographical debates
- Explain historical change by looking at global forces and cross-cultural encounters
- Demonstrate core knowledge of historical biography, chronology, and geography
- Write and speak clearly
- Demonstrate knowledge of the experience of African Americans and the African diaspora
Major
Morehouse History Major Curriculum

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY

HISTORY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Students who complete the requirements for the history major will earn a Bachelor of Arts. To major in history, a student must successfully complete 63 semester hours, including HHIS 111-112, HHIS 215-216, HHIS 221-222, HHIS 231-232, HHIS 257-258, HHIS 261 or HHIS 262, HHIS 360, HHIS 373, HHIS 461, and HCOM 253, 350, 351, 352, 354 or 355.

The remaining 18 hours should be taken from among departmentally approved electives. History majors may use these elective hours for a minor concentration.

General Education (Core) — 33-48 hours

Refer to the general education requirements for more information.

History Major — 45 hours
- HHIS 111— World History Topical Approaches I
- HHIS 112— World History Topical Approaches II
- HHIS 215— History of the United States to 1876
- HHIS 216— History of the United States Since 1876
- HHIS 221— History of African Americans
- HHIS 222— History of African Americans
- HHIS 231— History of the Ancient World
- HHIS 232— History of Modern Europe
- HHIS 257— History of Africa I
- HHIS 258— History of Africa II
- HHIS 360— History of the Civil Rights and Human Rights Movement
- HHIS 373— Revolution and Modernization
Choose one course from the list below:
- HHIS 261— History of Latin America: The Colonial Period
- HHIS 262— History of Latin America: The National Period
Choose one course from the list below:
- HCOM 253— Public Speaking
- HCOM 350— Principles of Speech Communication
- HCOM— 351 Professional Communication
- HCOM— 352 Communication in Small Groups and Teams
- HCOM— 354 Intercultural Communication
- HCOM— 355 Argumentation and Debate
History Electives – 18 hours
- HHIS 361— History of the African American Church
- HHIS 451— American Social and Intellectual History
- HHIS 452— Modern American Social and Intellectual History
- HHIS 467— History of the African Diaspora in America
- HHIS 451— Early American Social and Intellectual History
- HHIS 452— Modern American Social and Intellectual
- HHIS 478— The South and the African American
- HHIS 487— Readings in History
- HHIS 489— Readings in History
- HHIS 490— Special Projects
Minor

Morehouse History Minor Curriculum

MINOR IN HISTORY

The minor in history is a great complement to all other majors. To minor in history, students must successfully complete 18 credit hours above the general education requirements. They must take HHIS 215 or HHIS 216, HHIS 221 or HHIS 222, two related courses in global history, at least one 300- or 400-level history course, and one elective history course.

The precise sequence of courses will be mapped out by the student in consultation with their minor field advisor or the chair of the department.

Overview

THE MOREHOUSE HISTORY PROGRAM EQUIPS STUDENTS TO DEVELOP A BROAD BASE OF WORLD KNOWLEDGE WITH A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE HISTORY OF BLACK PEOPLE.

Our history major provides instruction, research, internships, counseling, and extracurricular activities that offer students a greater understanding of the world.

The Morehouse history major prepares students to investigate the human past and hone their skills in analysis and argumentation through the study of primary sources and critical reading of the theoretical debates among historians.

History majors have the opportunity to conduct research with faculty as well as independent projects informed by diverse and culturally sensitive theories and methodologies. The program pushes students to refine their written and verbal communication skills and develop their technological expertise to create digital humanities tools and products. The Morehouse emphasis on character development and leadership is aided by courses on the history of the civil rights and human rights movements.

The history major and minor prepare students for graduate study and law school as well as for careers in public history, historic preservation, government, the ministry, business, teaching, public advocacy, media commentary, and social analysis.

Outcomes

At the time of graduation, history major students will meet the following learning outcomes:

Demonstrate knowledge of historical methods, critical analysis, and historiographical debates
Explain historical change by looking at global forces and cross-cultural encounters
Demonstrate core knowledge of historical biography, chronology, and geography
Write and speak clearly
Demonstrate knowledge of the experience of African Americans and the African diaspora

Morehouse History Major Curriculum

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY

HISTORY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Students who complete the requirements for the history major will earn a Bachelor of Arts. To major in history, a student must successfully complete 63 semester hours, including HHIS 111-112, HHIS 215-216, HHIS 221-222, HHIS 231-232, HHIS 257-258, HHIS 261 or HHIS 262, HHIS 360, HHIS 373, HHIS 461, and HCOM 253, 350, 351, 352, 354 or 355.

The remaining 18 hours should be taken from among departmentally approved electives. History majors may use these elective hours for a minor concentration.

General Education (Core) — 33-48 hours

Refer to the general education requirements for more information.

History Major — 45 hours

HHIS 111— World History Topical Approaches I
HHIS 112— World History Topical Approaches II
HHIS 215— History of the United States to 1876
HHIS 216— History of the United States Since 1876
HHIS 221— History of African Americans
HHIS 222— History of African Americans
HHIS 231— History of the Ancient World
HHIS 232— History of Modern Europe
HHIS 257— History of Africa I
HHIS 258— History of Africa II
HHIS 360— History of the Civil Rights and Human Rights Movement
HHIS 373— Revolution and Modernization

Choose one course from the list below:

HHIS 261— History of Latin America: The Colonial Period
HHIS 262— History of Latin America: The National Period

Choose one course from the list below:

HCOM 253— Public Speaking
HCOM 350— Principles of Speech Communication
HCOM— 351 Professional Communication
HCOM— 352 Communication in Small Groups and Teams
HCOM— 354 Intercultural Communication
HCOM— 355 Argumentation and Debate

History Electives – 18 hours

HHIS 361— History of the African American Church
HHIS 451— American Social and Intellectual History
HHIS 452— Modern American Social and Intellectual History
HHIS 467— History of the African Diaspora in America
HHIS 451— Early American Social and Intellectual History
HHIS 452— Modern American Social and Intellectual
HHIS 478— The South and the African American
HHIS 487— Readings in History
HHIS 489— Readings in History
HHIS 490— Special Projects

Morehouse History Minor Curriculum

MINOR IN HISTORY

The minor in history is a great complement to all other majors. To minor in history, students must successfully complete 18 credit hours above the general education requirements. They must take HHIS 215 or HHIS 216, HHIS 221 or HHIS 222, two related courses in global history, at least one 300- or 400-level history course, and one elective history course.

The precise sequence of courses will be mapped out by the student in consultation with their minor field advisor or the chair of the department.