Undergraduate Programs

The Bachelor of Arts degree in History is designed to provide an understanding of societal development in all aspects of experience and environment, and of the relevance of the past to the present. The program permits pursuit of a wide range of interests within the purview of historical methodology. Students should confer in advance with a history advisor to select the courses and program appropriate to their goals.

Download a checklist of the program requirements.

Program Requirements

Lower Division Courses (12 units)

• HIST 1010 World History to 1500 CE (3)
• HIST 1020 World History since 1500 CE (3)
• HIST 2010 Early American History (3)
• HIST 2020 Recent U.S. History (3)

Skills Courses (12 units)

• HIST 3050 Digital and Public History (3)
• HIST 3080 Historiography (3)
• HIST 3090 (pre-req. HIST 3080) Historical Research and Writing (3)
• HIST 4900 (pre-req. HIST 3090) Research Capstone: Special Studies in History (3)

Upper-Division Area Distribution Requirement (15 units)

• GROUP A: EUROPE (3 units). Select one of the following: HIST 3110, 4110, 4120, 4130, 4140, 4150, 4210, 4220, 4225, 4230, 4240, 4250, 4260, 4280, 4310, 4340, 4350, 4360, 4370.
• GROUP B: AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST, or ASIA (3 units). Select one of the following: HIST 4190, 4410, 4420, 4450, 4460, 4500, 4510, 4520, 4540.
• GROUP C: LATIN AMERICA (3 units). Select one of the following: HIST 4090, 4610, 4620, 4640, 4650, 4660, 4665, 4670, 4690.
• GROUP D: UNITED STATES (6 units). Select two of the following: HIST 3400, 3405, 3450, 3480, 4090, 4600, 4690, 4700, 4710, 4750, 4760, 4770, 4775, 4780, 4790, 4800, 4810, 4820, 4830, 4840, 4850, 4860, 4870, 4890.

Elective Courses (9 units)

Three upper-division History courses, with the HIST prefix, at the 4000 level.

History Courses

See a complete list of the History Department's courses.

The Teacher Preparation Option is designed for students who want to teach History and Social Science in high school or middle school. Our degree -  the Bachelor of Arts in History: Teacher Preparation Option - has been approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) as a Subject Matter Preparation Program for students. 

Because of our status as a CCTC-approved program, students who graduate with the History Teacher Preparation Option BA can claim automatic subject matter certification in Social Sciences. This is known as a "CSET Waiver" and it fulfills a key part of the teacher credential process. Students who complete the BA will then pursue a Single Subject History-Social Science Teaching Credential to become a fully credentialed teacher. Students can pursue the Teaching Credential at Cal State LA's College of Education or elsewhere.

Teacher Prep students who plan their BA coursework carefully can also begin to take teaching credential classes while still working on their BA degree. Please meet with History Department advisors for assistance with this overlap strategy. 

The History Teacher Prep option consists of courses in history and other social science disciplines. Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all courses that satisfy the major requirements.

Checklist of the program requirements for the Teacher Preparation Option

Early consultation with the program director is strongly recommended for all students interested in becoming middle-school or high school history-social science teachers. See above for instructions on how to schedule and prepare for an appointment.

Program Requirements: 66 units

Lower Division Courses (24 units)

• HIST 1010 World History to 1500 CE (3)
• HIST 1020 World History since 1500 CE (3)
• HIST 2010 Early American History (3)
• HIST 2020 Recent U.S. History (3)
• HIST 2080 California History (3)
• ECON 1500 Economics for the Citizen or ECON 3650 Economics of the Latino Community (3)
• GEOG 1550 Cultural Geography  (3)
• POLS 1000 Power, Politics and Engagement in US Government (3)

Skills Courses (9 units)

• HIST 3080 Historiography (3)
• HIST 3090 (pre-req. HIST 3080) Historical Research and Writing (3)
• HIST 4900 (pre-req. HIST 3090) Research Capstone: Special Studies in History (3)

Upper Division Required Subject Areas (12 units)

• ECON 3600 or ECON/POLS 4260 or HIST 4010 Developing Countries & New Global Economy or International Political Economy or History of Globalization (3)
• GEOG 3700 World Regional Geography (3)
• GEOG 4510 or 4310 Historical Geography of North America or California (3)
• POLS 3730 (pre-req. POLS 1000) Foundations of Comparative Politics (3)

Required Courses in Pedagogy (6 units)

• HIST 3085 Early Field Experience in History-Social Science Education (3)
• HIST 4960 (pre-reqs HIST 3080 and HIST 3090 and HIST 3085) Issues in Teaching History-Social Science (3)

Upper Division Area Distribution Requirement (15 units)

• GROUP A: EUROPE (3 units). Select one of the following: HIST 3110, 4110, 4120, 4130, 4140, 4150, 4210, 4220, 4225, 4230, 4240, 4250, 4260, 4280, 4310, 4340, 4350, 4360, 4370.
• GROUP B: AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST, or ASIA (3 units). Select one of the following: HIST 4190, 4410, 4420, 4450, 4460, 4500, 4510, 4520, 4540.
• GROUP C: LATIN AMERICA (3 units). Select one of the following: HIST 4090, 4610, 4620, 4640, 4650, 4660, 4665, 4670, 4690.
• GROUP D: UNITED STATES (6 units). Select two of the following: HIST 3400, 3405, 3450, 3480, 4090, 4600, 4690, 4700, 4710, 4750, 4760, 4770, 4775, 4780, 4790, 4800, 4810, 4820, 4830, 4840, 4850, 4860, 4870, 4890.

History Courses

See a complete list of the History Department's courses.

The Undergraduate Minor in History is open to any Cal State L.A. undergraduate who is not majoring in History. It provides an excellent opportunity to learn how historical understanding can enhance your your own career choices. A history minor can, for instance, help doctors and nurses understand the health priorities of the communities they serve. It can help business majors think about the needs of potential customers. It can provide a grounding for anyone interested in community empowerment. And it's a lot of fun for its own sake! History minors can choose areas of focus (see Departmental Specialization) that meet their interests.  

Download a checklist of the program requirements for the History minor.

Requirements for the History Minor: 18 units

Lower-Division Required Courses (6 semester units)

Select two courses from the following list:

• HIST 1010: World History to 1500 (3)
• HIST 1020: World History, 1500 to Present (3)
• HIST 1200: Global Environmental History (3)
• HIST 1300: History of Language
• HIST 1500: Asian-American History (3)
• HIST 1600: History of Asia (3)
• HIST 2010: Early American History (3)
• HIST 2020: Recent U.S. History (3)
• HIST 2050: Race and Ethnicity in U.S. History (3)

Upper-Division Required Courses (6 semester units)

• Select any two 4000-level courses in History (with the HIST prefix).

Upper-Division Elective Courses (6 semester units)

• Select any two courses in History (with the HIST prefix) at the 3000- or 4000-level.

History Courses

See a complete list of the History Department's courses.

The Labor Studies minor provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to the study of labor issues in an increasingly globalized economy. By drawing on the expertise of faculty from across the campus, this minor will enable students to approach the subject from a variety of intellectual and methodological traditions, offering students opportunities for working on community projects and developing independent research projects.

The undergraduate minor in Labor Studies is open to Cal State L.A. undergraduate students from all majors and disciplines. The minor is administered by the History Department; interested students should contact the History Department for advisement.

Download a checklist of the program requirements for the Labor Studies Minor.

Requirements for the Labor Studies Minor: 18 units

Required Courses (6 units)

• HIST 3700: Labor History (3)

And one of the following courses

• HIST 4870: History of U.S. Work and Working People (3)
• LAS 4700: Labor and Social Movements in the Americas (3)
• PAS 4090: Black Labor (3)

Electives (12 units)

Four courses (12 units) related to labor studies from the following list; no more than 6 units from one department, and at least 6 units of 4000-level courses.

• CHS 4600 The Chicano Movement (3)
• CHS 4680 US-Mexican Borderlands (3)
• ECON 3500 Economics of Poverty and Inequality in the US (3)
• ECON 4300 Labor Economics (3)
• ECON 4720 Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining (3)
• HIST 4010 History of Globalization (3)
• HIST 4800 Ethnicity and Immigration in American History (3)
• HIST 4830 Poverty and Anti-Poverty in American History (3)
• HIST 3600 Revolution in History (3)
• LAS 4250 Latin American Responses to Imperialism and Globalization (3)
• LAS 4700 Labor and Social Movements in the Americas (3)
• LAS 3600 (PAS, POLS) Dynamics of Change in the Developing World (3)
• MGMT 3070 Management and Organizational Behavior (3)
• MGMT 4710 Employment Relations (3)
• MGMT 4730 Strategic Human Resource Management (3)
• MGMT 4740 Compensation Management (3)
• MGMT 4750 Current Topics and Cases in Human Resource Management (3)
• MGMT 4810 International Human Resource Management (3)
• PAS 4020 Black Political Economy (3)
• PAS 4090 Black Labor (3)
• POLS 4040 Urban Politics and Government (3)
• SOC 4230 Political Sociology of Globalization and Resistance (3)
• SOC 4480 Social Class and Inequality (3)

UPDATE (2026): The Religious Studies Minor is currently on hold and is not accepting new students. 

The Religious Studies program at Cal State L.A. was established in the early 1980s. The minor introduces students to the many dimensions of religion as it exists today and in the past. Its courses have a strong interdisciplinary focus, emphasizing anthropological, historical, literary, philosophical, political, and sociological approaches to the study of religion.

In addition to Religious Studies (RELS) classes, students can take courses offered by the departments of Anthropology, Art, Chicano Studies, English, History, Latin American Studies, Modern Languages and Literatures, Pan African Studies, Philosophy, Physics, the School of Nurising, and Sociology, including several interdepartmental courses. Religious Studies is also well-integrated into the General Education program at Cal State L.A., with regular course offerings on such topics as Emotion in Religion and Gender and Sex in the Diversity of World Religions attracting large numbers of students from a wide range of majors.

Download a checklist of the program requirements for the Religious Studies Minor. 

Why Pursue a Minor in Religious Studies?

• personal interest and enrichment
• professional opportunities in journalism, social work, public service, etc.
• desire to research and better understand the multiple traditions and issues shaping the world's religious diversity and complexity
• interest in pursuing a graduate degree whether in religious studies or in any humanities or social science field
• an opportunity to include an additional diverse and inter-disciplinary minor into your Cal State L.A. undergraduate degree.

Why Pursue a Minor in Religious Studies?

personal interest and enrichment
professional opportunities in journalism, social work, public service, etc.
desire to research and better understand the multiple traditions and issues shaping the world's religious diversity and complexity
interest in pursuing a graduate degree whether in religious studies or in any humanities or social science field
an opportunity to include an additional diverse and inter-disciplinary minor into your Cal State L.A. undergraduate degree.

Program Requirements: 18 units

Required Courses (9 units)

• RELS/PHIL 2000: Introduction to Comparative Religions (3)

And two of the following courses

• RELS 3110: Seeking the Holy: Ancient Traditions, Modern Practices (3)
• RELS 3250: Spiritual Paths in Life (3)
• RELS 3350: Gender and Sex in the Diversity of World Religions (3)
• RELS 3400: Religion, Secularism, and Civic Identity (3)
• RELS 3500: Religion, Spirituality, and Ethnic Identity (3)
• RELS 3650: Science and Religion (3)
• RELS 3800: Emotion in Religion (3)
• RELS/NURS 3850: Spiritual Assessment and Care of the Older Adult (3)

Electives (9 units)

Students must select nine additional units (three 3-unit courses) from the following list; at least 6 units (two courses) must be at the 4000-level.

• ANTH 4370 Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion (3)
• ANTH 4450 Myth and Folklore (3)
• ART 4470 The Art of Mesoamerica and the Southwest (3)
• ART 4500 The Colonial Art of Mexico and Guatemala (3)
• ART 4530 Aztec Art and Culture (3)
• ART 4760 Early Christian and Byzantine Art (3)
• ART 4910 Art Since 1945 (3)
• ASTR 3600 Ancient and Modern Views of the Universe (3)
• CLS/RELS 4280 Migration, Identity, and Religion (3)
• ENGL 2310 Gods, Monsters, and Heroes in World Mythology (3)
• ENGL 4303 The Bible as Literature: Old and New Testaments (3)
• ENGL 4401 Medieval English Literature (3)
• ENGL 4404 Seventeenth-Century Literature (3)
• ENGL 4425 Milton (3)
• FREN 3729 Islam in the Francophone World (3)
• HIST/RELS 4150 History of Ancient Greek and Roman Religions (3)
• HIST 4210 Post-Roman Europe (3)
• HIST 4220 The Middle Ages (3)
• HIST/RELS 4225 Religion and Society in Medieval Europe (3)
• HIST 4230 Renaissance and Reformation (3)
• HIST 4240 Science, Enlightenment, and Empire (3)
• HIST 4450 Islamic Empires in World History (3)
• HIST 4500 Traditional China (3)
• HIST/RELS 4775 American Religious History (3)
• JAPN 3100 Japanese Civilization to 1600 (3)
• JAPN 4080 Classical Japanese Literature (3)
• NURS/RELS 3850 Spiritual Assessment and Care of the Older Adult (3)
• PAS 2020 Black Religious Traditions (3)
• PAS 4010 African Spirituality in Theory and Practice (3)
• PAS 4100 Islam in Black America (3)
• PHIL 4150 Philosophy of Religion (3)
• PHIL 4360 South Asian Philosophy (3)
• PHIL 4470 Hermeneutics (3)
• RELS 3110 Seeking the Holy: Ancient Traditions, Modern Practices (3)
• RELS 3250 Human Maturity and Aging in the World's Religions (3)
• RELS 3350 Gender and Sex in the Diversity of World Religions (3)
• RELS 3400 Religion, Secularism, and Civic Identity (3)
• RELS 3500 Religion, Spirituality, and Ethnic Identity (3)
• RELS 3650 Science and Religion (3)
• RELS 3800 Emotion in Religion (3)
• RELS 4540 Special Topics in Religious Studies (3)
• RELS 4705 Religion and Spirituality in American Indian Communities (3)
• SOC 4450 Sociology of Religion (3)
• SPAN 2420 Hispanic Societies through Literature (3)

For further information, including program advisement, contact:

Religious Studies Program
History Department, KH C4066
Cal State L.A.
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032

E-mail: [email protected]