Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Major in History (B.A.) | ||
HIS 290 | Introduction to History | 3 |
HIS/POS/PHI 491 | Applied Humanities Seminar | 4 |
Choose four from the following Core history courses: | 13-16 | |
History of Sexuality in the United States | ||
The Cold War | ||
Near Eastern and Greek Civilizations | ||
Roman Civilization | ||
History and the Human Environment | ||
Muslim Women in History | ||
Crime and Punishment in the United States | ||
Modern Europe | ||
Modern Middle East | ||
Electives from all history courses, including DIG 200A | 15 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Major | 35-38 | |
General Education | 49-50 | |
Electives | 35-37 | |
Total Credits | 122 |
Courses whose number is followed by a letter fulfill a General Education requirement.
Students majoring in history may choose a focus (at least 12 credits) in American, European, or global history.
Students may not declare a B.A. in History and a Minor in History.
All students planning to pursue graduate study in history should choose a focus. In addition, these students should complete one of the following independent study experiences: one semester or interim spent studying off-campus, HIS 400, or HIS 481. Students planning to pursue graduate-level study in history should also complete study of at least one modern or ancient language through the Intermediate II level and are encouraged to complete a minor in this language.
HIS 200L • American Civilization 3 Credits
An exploration of American history from early Native American communities to the present. Examination of major social, cultural, economic, political, and religious change over time in the American experience.
Prerequisites: GES 130 and GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Fall.
HIS 205U • History of China, Japan, and Korea 3 Credits
History and cultures of East Asia. Religion; economic development and trade; and family, social, and political organization. Primary focus on China, Korea, and Japan.
Prerequisites: GES 130 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Occasionally.
HIS 210U • Minorities in America 3 Credits
History of multicultural America from the colonial period to the present. Focuses on one of the following cultures: Native American, African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Jewish-American, or Muslim. Examines themes such as family, society, arts, education, work, slavery, discrimination, immigration-assimilation, democracy, social justice, religion, and women’s concerns.
Prerequisites: GES 130 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Occasionally.
HIS 212U • History of Islam 3 Credits
Islam from its inception and development to Islam as it is practiced today. Students interact with members of the Islamic community in Minnesota in an attempt to understand Islam from the personal experiences of Muslims. Contemporary issues and controversies are examined through the lens of the Muslim experience throughout history.
Prerequisites: GES 130 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Spring. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in religious studies.
HIS 216L • American Constitutional History 3 Credits
Examination of the origins and development of American constitutional ideas and institutions from the colonial period to the present. Particular attention paid to the historical connections between major constitutional cases and broader social, political, economic, and cultural trends.
Prerequisites: GES 130 and GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Interim or Spring. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in political science.
HIS 223L • History of the American West 3 Credits
Examines the history of the American West from 1492 to the present. Particular attention to the interaction and competition of different cultures; the construction of political, economic, and religious institutions; and the physical environment, its representations, and its symbolic importance in the broader context of American history.
Prerequisites: GES 130 and GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Interim, odd # years.
HIS 230L • World War I 3 Credits
An in-depth look at the shock that engulfed the Western world with World War I-from the turn of the century, through the initial welcome of "cleansing" annihilation in 1914, to bleak 20th century disillusionment. World War I songs, literature, and artwork are carefully examined as hands-on artifacts of this period.
Prerequisites: GES 130 and GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Occasionally.
HIS 231L • World War II 3 Credits
The causes, course, conclusion, and legacy of World War II, particularly as experienced by the people of China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Russia, and the United States. Key topics include collaboration and resistance, genocide, the war in film, remembrance and forgetting, and the social and economic impacts of the war.
Prerequisites: GES 130 and GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Spring, odd # years.
HIS 236UZ • Medieval Worlds: Cultures and Beliefs in North Africa and Europe 3 Credits
On-site investigation of medieval North Africa and Europe. Studies the impact and legacy of Islamic culture, politics, philosophy, and religious thinking, particularly how Christians, Jews, and Muslims interacted. Themes include the legacy of Islamic philosophical thought, the development of medieval Christianity, and the impact of religious ideology on political conflicts.
Prerequisites: GES 130 or GES 244. Offered: Interim, even # years. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit with philosophy.
HIS 241L • Revolution and Political Development 3 Credits
Theory and process of modernization, with special emphasis on the Anglo-American historical experience; examination of U.S. efforts to promote democracy internationally in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East since World War II.
Prerequisites: GES 130 and GES 160 (may be taken concurrently) or GES 244 (may be taken concurrently). Offered: Interim. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in political science.
HIS 252L • History and Politics of Sports 3 Credits
The history of sports in the modern era, with particular attention paid to sports' connections to international politics and public policy and to sports as a mirror for the history of race, gender, education, business, labor, and religion in the United States.
Prerequisites: GES 130 and GES 160 or GES 244. Offered: Spring, even # years. Special Notes: This course carries corss-credit in political science.
HIS 290 • Introduction to History 3 Credits
An introduction to the methodology and philosophy of history, with particular emphases on preparing students for historical research and writing, on the public uses of history, and on the discipline as a Christian vocation.
Offered: Spring.
HIS 302 • History of Sexuality in the United States 4 Credits
An examination of the history of sexuality from the colonial period to the present. Particular attention to the impact of religion, culture, government, science, and economics on the formation of sexual mores and identities, and the relationship between sexuality and gender, race, ethnicity, age, and class.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. Offered: Spring, even # years.
HIS 305G • The Cold War 3 Credits
The Cold War as an event in international history, studied from the perspective of the United States, the Soviet Union, China, Europe, and the Third World. Introduces students to ongoing historical debates and to the sources historians use in those debates.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course; World Cultures (U) course] or [GES 244; World Cultures (U) course]. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in political science. Offered: Fall, even # years.
HIS 310 • Near Eastern and Greek Civilizations 4 Credits
Roots of Western civilization in the Near East and Greece. World of the Mesopotamian Empire; Egypt of the pharaohs; and Greece of Homer, Socrates, and Alexander. Cultural and historical context for understanding biblical literature.
Prerequisites: GES 130 or GES 145; Sophomore standing. Offered: Fall, even # years.
HIS 311 • Roman Civilization 4 Credits
Development of the Romans from their origins through their achievement of a world empire to the conversion of the Emperor Constantine. politics, government, literature, art, philosophy, and religion as well as the emergence and growth of the Christian church. Continuing heritage of Rome in our contemporary world.
Prerequisites: GES 130 or GES 145; Sophomore standing. Offered: Spring.
HIS 312 • Medieval Europe 4 Credits
Historical developments in Western Europe from the reign of Constantine to the era of Petrarch (A.D. 325-1350). Broad cultural, economic, political, social, and religious patterns, with emphasis on the development of the church in its social context.
Prerequisites: GES 130 or GES 145; Sophomore standing. Offered: Occasionally.
HIS 320K • History and the Human Environment 3 Credits
Environmental and geographical background of human history. Agriculture, climate, energy resources, transportation, and diseases, especially as they have influenced the historical development of Western Europe and North America. Implications for current and future environmental concerns.
Prerequisites: Laboratory Science (D) course and Mathematics (M) course. Offered: Spring. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in geography.
HIS 324G • Human Rights in International History 3 Credits
International and comparative exploration of how human rights have been defined, violated, and protected. Historical topics (e.g., abolition of the slave trade, social reform and Christian missions, genocides of the 20th century) as well as contemporary issues. Includes a service-learning project.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course; World Cultures (U) course] or [GES 244; World Cultures (U) course]. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in political science. Offered: Fall, odd # years.
HIS 328G • Muslim Women in History 3 Credits
Global survey of the lives of Muslim women from the 7th century to the present. Examination of how Muslim women’s lives have historically been shaped by their social context, with particular attention to religious interpretation and expression, culture, ethnicity, and geographic location.
Prerequisites: [GES 130; GES 160; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course; World Cultures (U) course] or [GES 244; World Cultures (U) course]. Offered: Interim. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in religious studies.
HIS 329 • African Politics 3 Credits
Consideration of political development in Africa from the pre-colonial era through the present, focusing on changes in political regimes through time, the nature of economic struggles, and sources of violent conflict.
Prerequisites: POS 202U or POS 205 recommended. Offered: Spring, even # years. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in political science.
HIS 330 • U.S. Business History 4 Credits
An examination of the role commercial enterprise has played in shaping American politics, society, and culture since the country's founding. Provides an overview of the emergence of an integrated, national marketplace, the modern corporation, and changing governmental policy along with intersections of race, ethnicity, class, and gender in working America.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. Offered: Spring, odd # years.
HIS 333 • Crime and Punishment in the United States 4 Credits
An examination of the historical study of crime in the United States. Particular attention to historical patterns of violence, the role and organization of the police, and the evolution of punishment in theory and practice as well as the differences in crime and punishment by race, gender, and age.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. Offered: Spring, odd # years.
HIS 345 • Modern Political Thought 3 Credits
In-depth examination of selected poilitical thinkers such as Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Nietzsche, Kuyper, Rawls, and Taylor. Concentrates on primary sources.
Prerequisites: One course in political science, philosophy, Western history, or Consent of instructor. Offered: Fall, even # years. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in political science and philosophy.
HIS 354 • Modern Europe 4 Credits
The social, political, diplomatic, intellectual, and religious history of Europe since 1750. Key themes include political reforms and revolutions, gender roles, industrialization, migration, nationalism, imperialism, total war, totalitarianism, genocide, decolonization, and secularization.
Prerequisites: GES 130 or GES 246; Sophomore standing. Offered: Fall, odd # years.
HIS 356 • Modern Middle East 4 Credits
Political, social, religious, economic, and cultural history of the Middle East since 1800. Particular attention is paid to colonialism, globalization, war, gender roles, revolution, and reform. Controversies such as the Arab/Israeli conflict, the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, and the U.S. war on terror are discussed.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. Offered: Fall. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in political science.
HIS 360 • Classical Political Thought 3 Credits
In-depth examination of selected political thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Marcus Aurelius, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, and Hobbes. Concentrates on primary sources.
Prerequisites: One course in political science, philosophy, or history. Offered: Fall, odd # years. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in philosophy and political science.
HIS 370 • Topics in American History 3-4 Credits
Selected topics in American history. Specific topic to be announced in advance of registration.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing, Consent of instructor. Repeatable course: The course may be repeated when a different topic is emphasized. Offered: Occasionally.
HIS 400 • Research in History 3 Credits
An opportunity to work with a member of the history faculty on a major research project.
Prerequisites: Major in history; Coursework appropriate to the area of research; Invitation of supervising faculty member; Consent of department. Offered: Occasionally. Special Notes: No student may take more than six credits in HIS 400 and/or directed study.
HIS 481 • Internship in History 1-4 Credits
A practical experience in applying academic skills in an off-campus setting under the dual supervision of a history faculty member and a practicing historian or related professional. Designed by student in consultation with history department faculty.
Prerequisites: Major in history. Offered: Occasionally.
HIS 491 • Applied Humanities Seminar 4 Credits
An interdisciplinary, experiential capstone course in which students draw on their studies in history, philosophy, political science, or the digital humanities in order to study a major challenge in contemporary society, analyzing causes, effects, and exisiting responses, and then work together to propose new responses to it.
Prerequisites: Senior standing and Major in one of the following programs: history, philosophy, political science, digital humanities, international relations, business and political science, or social studies education 5-12. Offered: Fall, Spring.
Overview
The Ministry Scholars program is Bethel University's bachelors to master's degree program that reduces cost and time-to-completion by streamlining undergraduate and graduate education. Graduates receive a bachelor's degree from Bethel University's College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and a master's from Bethel Seminary. This program is well suited for a variety of majors who want to become equipped to lead churches, parachurch organizations, and other ministries. It is also a good fit for ministry-minded students who want to pursue bi-vocational ministry or work outside of professional ministry. Students learn from successful ministry leaders and experts in Biblical and Theological Studies, Spiritual and Personal Formation, and Transformational Leadership. This program offers supplemental training resources, developmental activities, and discipleship opportunities to prepare ministry-minded students for effective ministry leadership. Students also gain valuable field experience in local churches and ministry settings.
The objectives of the program are that graduates will demonstrate age-appropriate growth and ultimately ministry leadership preparedness in the following domains:
- Spiritual life: Students will grow spiritually, deepening their love for, commitment to, and dependence on God, and develop an instinct to trust in God and to connect intimately with God.
- Discernment of call: They will clarify and reaffirm their sense of calling to vocational ministry and what that looks like in a changing world.
- Emotional maturity: They will become emotionally mature adults, possessing the ability to sense and manage emotions, to see others’ perspectives, to sympathize and empathize, to follow and lead as appropriate and to foster healthy relationships.
- Cultural competence: They will become culturally aware, gaining a perspective that all cultures possess strengths and vulnerabilities, an ability to work across cultural lines and an appreciation that diverse teams are stronger teams.
- Bible knowledge: They will gain a clear understanding of the Bible’s content and a deep and abiding passion for the truth of the Gospel.
- Spiritual wisdom: They will grow in wisdom, possessing a capacity to apply the Bible so that others are inspired by their teaching and preaching to live out biblical truth and experience human flourishing.
- Intellectual virtues: They will develop virtues such as critical thinking, respect for data, intellectual humility, and thirst for learning, combined with the skill to interpret and teach the Bible accurately.
- Leadership capacity: They will learn to follow leaders and to lead followers—enlisting people, building teams, leading change and achieving results.
- Godly character: They will become virtuous people—individuals who love others, speak truth, live humbly, sacrifice their own interests, live justly, express joy and show compassion.
What is Bethel looking for in a Ministry Scholar?
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Ability to maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA (cumulative college grade point average or unweighted high school GPA if the student has less than one year of college experience) throughout the duration of the Ministry Scholars program while enrolled at CAS and Seminary.
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Ability to provide a pastoral and ministry leader reference that speaks to the student’s character and call to ministry.
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Commitment to prioritizing activities, discipleship opportunities, and retreats offered to Ministry Scholars, designed to enable the individual to develop a strong sense of community.