Program Review
Mission Statement
The Westmont College History department is committed to the study of the human past across the world and in many eras. We believe that an understanding of the complexities of history helps students to develop skills relevant for many professions, to grow in empathy and curiosity, and to understand better their own place and calling in the world.
Program Learning Outcomes
The links below lead to information about the department's most recent assessment of student learning relative to our program learning outcomes.
Note that our department revised all its outcomes for the current review cycle; assessment of previous outcomes may be found in the reports listed at the foot of this page.
As a result of what they have learned in their history program:
1. Students will be able to use primary sources effectively.
2. Students will be able to construct sound arguments.
3. Students will be able to explain how Christians should relate to the world.
4. Students will be able to discuss the relationship between their Christian liberal arts education and their vocational pursuits.
Alumni Stories
Benjamin Peterson ’18, works for State Senator Monique Limón as a district representative, advising and staffing the Senator on housing and higher education policy. While continuing to work full time for the Senator, he has just completed a Master of Public Administration at Cal State Northridge.
Cassidy Rea ’20, discovered her passion for advocacy while working in Veterans Treatment Court in Santa Barbara County. After earning her Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa, where she gained hands-on experience in the Federal Defense Clinic, she now serves as a public defender for San Diego County
Jayne Avendano ’20, after graduating from Westmont, she completed her master’s degree in international affairs at American University in Washington, D.C. and interned with the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM). She currently works as a foreign affairs officer in the U.S. Department of State with the OFM.
Career Opportunities
Education Marketing Archival Work Finance Non-Profits | Management Law Government Christian Ministry |
See Career Paths for Graduates Who Studied History at Westmont
Faculty and Staff
Opportunities Abroad
Westmont’s Europe Semester
Westmont’s England Semester
Westmont in Mexico
History Tracks and Requirements
Requirements for a History Major Standard Track:
40 units
Required Courses: 12 units
HIS 009 World Civilizations to 1750 (4)
HIS 099 Foundations of History (4)
HIS 198 Senior Research Seminar (4)
Required Upper-Division Courses: 20 units
One of the following:(4) Modern Europe
HIS 142 European Intellectual History, 1650-Present (4)
HIS 144 Revolutionary Europe (4)
HIS 145 The Making of Modern Europe (4)
One of the following: (4) United States
HIS 173 Civil War and Reconstruction America (4)
HIS 177 Transnational America (4)
One of the following:(4) Early Modern Europe
HIS 121 Medieval Mediterranean (4)
HIS 133 Renaissance Europe (4)
HIS 134 Reformation Spirituality (4)
Two of the following: (8) Non-Western/Non-U.S.
HIS 161 Latin America to Independence (4)
HIS 162 Modern and Contemporary Latin America (4)
HIS 180 The Age of Islamic Empires, 600-1800 (4)
HIS 181 The Modern Middle East, 1800-Present (4)
HIS 182 History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (4)
HIS 188 Women in the Middle East (4)
Additional HIS Electives: 8 units
Requirements for a History Major Graduate School Track: 48 units
Completion of the Standard Track (40).
Completion of 8 units of Intermediate Modern Foreign Language (8)
Recommended: completion of a major honors project supervised by the History Department.
Requirements for a History Major International Studies Track: 52 units
Requirements in history (36)
HIS 009 World Civilizations to 1750 (4)
HIS 099 Foundations of History (4)
HIS 198 Senior Research Seminar (4)
24 additional units of history, of which 20 units must be upper division. Students must complete at least 8 units of upper-division history in their region of emphasis, and at least 8 outside their region of emphasis.
Foreign language (8)
8 units of foreign language appropriate to the region of emphasis. If the language chosen is offered on campus, 4 of the 8 units must be upper-division.
Requirements in related fields (8)
8 units of upper-division related coursework in the region of emphasis (e.g. SP/FR 150 Cross-Cultural Studies) as approved by their major advisor. These units may be in history.
Off Campus requirement
Students will complete one semester in an overseas program in the region of emphasis as approved by their major advisor and in consultation with the off-campus program office.
Requirements for a History Major Secondary Education Teacher Track: 52 units
Required Lower-Division Courses: 28 units
HIS 007 United States to 1877 (4)
HIS 008 United States 1877-Present (4)
HIS 009 World Civilizations to 1750 (4)
HIS 099 Foundations of History (4)
POL 010 American Government (4)
EB 010 Principles of Microeconomics (4)
EB 011 Principles of Macroeconomics (4)
Required Upper-Division Courses: 24 units
HIS 178 California Experience (4)
HIS 198 Senior Research Seminar (4)
One of the following upper division courses in US history (4)
HIS 173 Civil War and Reconstruction America (4)
One upper-division course in European history (4)
One upper-division course in Non-Western history (4)
One upper-division elective in history (4)
Recommended Courses:
ENG 106 Language Acquisition (4)
ED 105 Perspectives on Cultural Diversity and Education (4)
ED 130 Special Education for the Classroom Teacher (2)
ED 161 Technology for the Classroom Teacher: Secondary (2)
KNS 156 Health Education for the Classroom Teacher (2)
Additional course work in American politics, international politics, the American economy, and the global economy.
Requirements for a History Minor: 20 units
Required Lower-Division Course: 4 units
HIS 099 Foundations of History (4)
Required Upper-Division Courses: 16 units
Students must complete 8 units of Western (United States, Europe) history and 8 units of non-Western (Latin America, Middle East, Asia) history.