Liberal Arts - History

Catalog 2023-2024

Associate in Arts Degree

The program in History at Middlesex explores ideas, institutions, and patterns of behavior that develop over time. We believe an understanding of the historical context of human existence is central to a liberal arts education. Studying history requires the ability to interpret texts and documents of great variety, and to develop critical evaluation skills.

Many Middlesex History majors pursue further study in related fields such as law and international relations. Double majors among historians are common, as history provides an excellent complement for training in many fields.

Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the Program will be able to:

  • Articulate their place in human culture and the global society from a multidisciplinary perspective acquired through the study of the social sciences, humanities, history, natural sciences, mathematics, arts, and languages.
  • Recognize cultural, religious, artistic, economic, political, and social forces that have shaped society up to present times.
  • Analyze change over time as it relates to key events, ideologies, or themes (cultural, religious, economic, political, and social) in various geographic areas.
  • Apply basic historical research skills to locate primary and secondary sources, including (as appropriate) the effective use of libraries.
  • Evaluate the reliability of primary and secondary sources using the historian’s methods.
  • Create an historical argument using both primary and secondary sources.

Recommended Course Sequence

Below are required courses and recommended courses groupings and sequences for program completion.   Courses may have prerequsite or corequisite requirements.  Check course descriptions for details.

SEMESTER I

ENG-121

English Composition I
3

__ __

History Elective
3

Select one of the following History sequences:

HIS-121 and HIS-122 OR HIS-131 and HIS-132 OR HIS-221 and HIS-222

MAT-123

Statistics I
3

PHI-121

Introduction to Philosophy
3

OR

PHI-122

Logic and Critical Thinking
3

OR

PHI-232

Social and Political Philosophy
3

Select SPE-121 or SPE-123.  SPE-123 - Discussion and Debate is recommended.

SPE-121

Fundamentals of Public Speaking
3

OR

SPE-123

Discussion and Debate
3

SEMESTER 2

ENG-122

English Composition II
3

__ __

History Elective
3

Select one of the following History sequences:

HIS-121 and HIS-122 OR HIS-131 and HIS-132 OR HIS-221 and HIS-222

__ __

GE Mathematics or Science Elective
3

Choose one 3-credit GE Mathematics or Science course designated in the course descriptions as General Education MST (GE MST).  Students may elect to take a 4-credit GE Mathematics or Science Elective in consultation with an academic advisor.

__ __

GE Social Science Elective
3

Take one of the following GE Sociology Courses - SOC-121, SOC-122, SOC-123 or SOC-131.

ART-123

Art History: Ancient to Renaissance
3

OR

ART-124

Art History: Renaissance to Modern
3

SEMESTER 3

__ __

History Elective
3

Select a 200-Level History Course.

__ __

GE Humanities - Language Elective
3

Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Humanities (GE HUM). Choose two modern language courses in sequence from either: CHN, FRE, GER, HIN, ITA or SPA. For students who completed at least two years of high school study in one modern language, their level of language will be determined by a placement test (excluding SPA-242).

__ __

History Elective
3

Select a 200-Level History Course.

AFS-123

Introduction to African Civilizations
3

OR

AFS-231

African-American History
3

OR

HIS-258

History of Women
3

__ __

GE Laboratory Science Elective
3

Choose one 3-credit GE Lab Science course designated in the course descriptions as General Education MST (GE MST).  Students may elect to take a 4-credit GE Lab Science Elective in consultation with an academic advisor.

SEMESTER 4

__ __

GE Humanities - Language Elective
3

Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Humanities (GE HUM). Choose two modern language courses in sequence from either: CHN, FRE, GER, HIN, ITA or SPA. For students who completed at least two years of high school study in one modern language, their level of language will be determined by a placement test (excluding SPA-242).

__ __

History Elective
3

__ __

GE Social Science Elective
3

Choose one course designated in the course descriptions as General Education Social Science (GE SS).

__ __

GE Technology Elective
3

Take CSC-105 or CSC-106.

__ __

Exploratory Elective
3

Choose one course from the following areas: AFS, ART, ASL, BIO, CHM, CHN, CJU, COM, COR, DAN, EDU, ENG, FRE, GER, GLS, HCS, HES, HED, HIN, HIS, ITA, JOU, LNC, MAD, MAT, MUS, PED, PHI, PHY, POL, POS, PSY, SCI, SOC, SPA, SPE, SSD and THE.

Total Credits 60

Contact Information
History and Social Sciences

Contact Name: Timothy Hack, department chair 
Contact Phone: 732.906.2590
Contact Email: HSS@middlesexcc.edu 
Department Web: https://www.middlesexcc.edu/history-social-science/


Frequently Asked Questions