Department of History

Chairperson: Karen A.J. Miller

Professors emeriti: V. John Barnard, Leonardas V. Gerulaitis, James D. Graham, Roy A. Kotynek, Carl R. Osthaus, W. Patrick Strauss, S. Bernard Thomas, Richard P. Tucker

Professors: Linda Benson, Mary C. Karasch

Associate professors: Sara E. Chapman, Daniel J. Clark, De Witt S. Dykes, Jr., Todd A. Estes, Derek K. Hastings, Weldon C. (Don) Matthews, Karen A. J. Miller, Seán Farrell Moran

Assistant professors: Getnet Bekele, Luke Harlow, Craig Martin, George Milne

Chief adviser: Craig Martin

The study of history at the undergraduate level has traditionally been considered one of the major paths to informed and effective citizenship. Its emphasis on broad knowledge, critical reading, careful judgment and precise writing offers excellent pre-professional preparation for many careers in business, government service, law, teaching, the ministry, journalism and library and museum service.

The Department of History guides students toward these careers and provides an opportunity to support academic preparation with field experience in the community (e.g., a historical society, museum or private or public agency). Oakland University’s teacher preparation program draws on history in the elementary education major and minor concentrations in social studies and in the secondary teaching major and minor in history. Careers in college teaching and other forms of professional historical scholarship usually require post-graduate training, toward which solid work in the undergraduate major is extremely important. Students interested in achieving a Ph.D. in history should be aware that most graduate schools require demonstrated competence in one or two modern foreign languages.

The department’s undergraduate program leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. It also offers a Master of Arts program, which is described in the Oakland University Graduate Catalog. The department offers both undergraduate and graduate evening courses, and students can complete either the B.A. or M.A. entirely at night. All history students should plan their course of study in close consultation with a department adviser.

Departmental honors and scholarships

Department honors may be awarded to graduating majors for outstanding achievement in history as evidenced by faculty recommendations, high grades and a superior research paper. The original paper, along with the instructor’s comments and grade, should be submitted. There is no statutory grade point minimum for honors, but the award is not normally made to students with less than a 3.50 grade point average in history. Inquiries should be addressed to the Department of History, 372 O’Dowd Hall, (248) 370-3510.

Students are eligible for membership in Alpha Zeta Upsilon, Oakland University chapter of the international honor society in history, Phi Alpha Theta. Students are selected for membership on the basis of academic achievement. Inquiries should be addressed to the history department office. There is one scholarship, the George T. Matthews Scholarship, specifically for students majoring in history. Junior and senior history majors are eligible for a Holzbock Scholarship. There are five Holzbock scholarships of $2,500 each made annually to students in the humanities. Information about the Matthews and Holzbock scholarships is available in the department office.

Course Offerings

The department offers selected courses from this catalog as warranted by student needs and availability of faculty. Specific offerings for each term may be found in the Schedule of Classes.

Course prerequisites

Introductory and survey courses (HST 101-299) have no prerequisites. More advanced courses (HST 300-399) have a general prerequisite of writing proficiency (e.g., WRT 160) plus any special requirements listed within the course descriptions. The most advanced research courses at the undergraduate level (HST 400-499) have a general requirement of 20 credits in history plus any special requirements listed within the course descriptions.