Overview  | Concentrations | Advising

BA Degree Program Overview

Our History BA graduates possess advanced research, analytical, and communication skills. Cal State East Bay History majors are also careful thinkers who work successfully in collaboration with others and with a powerful sense of ethics, derived from historical study. History majors at CSUEB enjoy many opportunities to manage and complete unique project-based work in publishing, exhibit curation, oral history, and research for career preparation in many fields, including: 

  • Education
  • Historic preservation
  • Library science
  • Law and public service
  • Business
  • Media and communication

A detailed guide, , offers insight into diverse career fields our graduates can pursue. The guide also shares recent salary data and connects the academic study of history to skills and dispositions sought by employers. 

The History major concentrations at Cal State East Bay are thematic, so that students study the historical roots of urgent questions comparatively. Students select one of these themes at the time that they apply to Cal State East Bay. It is easy to switch your concentration if you wish to, or depending on the classes you take. All concentrations may be completed online or in person, or a mix of both. 

We explain each of our three concentrations here:

Concentrations

Migration & Globalization

Migration & Globalization

Migration and Globalization are among the most important forces for historical change, fostering the exchange of people, goods, and ideas between regions, countries, and cultures. The transformation process of migration and globalization has promoted diversity, encouraged collaboration, and generated gains, but an increasingly complex and global world has also resulted in new social, economic, and political challenges. This concentration examines the causes and consequences of migration and globalization for the past, present, and future.


Sustainability & Modernization

Sustainability & Modernization

Sustainability means more than just recycling. A society is deemed sustainable when environmental, economic, and ethical considerations are equally addressed.

Modernization efforts, whether in the ancient or modern worlds, can often alter a society’s sustainability by privileging economic growth at the expense of environmental or social justice considerations. Courses in this concentration will focus on the history of sustainability and the impacts of modernization on cultures--past and present.


Social Justice and Citizenships

Social Justice & Citizenships

Concentrating in Social Justice & Citizenships enables you to understand how citizenship in the United States, in the ancient past, and throughout the world has had different meanings. What does citizenship involve, what rights and privileges does it give to individuals? Citizenship is also directly related to social justice, as groups who have been denied citizenship have fought to be a part of their communities. The effort to achieve rights--social, economic, sexual, and political--is a critical part of the historical experience.


HISTORY PROGRAM ADVISING

Our History Faculty Advisors for 2024-2025 include: Dr. Anna Alexander, Dr. Jason Daniels, Dr. Bridget Ford, Dr. Vahid Fozdar, Dr. Elizabeth McGuire, Dr. Michael Schulze-Oechtering, and Dr. Jessica Weiss.

Who is my History faculty advisor?
Faculty advisors are assigned to History majors based upon interests and connections that students develop through their courses, or depending upon their standing (whether first-year students, sophomores, juniors, or graduating seniors). Students can see their assigned faculty advisor within MyCompass. Students can also connect with assigned advisors through Bay Advisor.

New and prospective History majors and minors should contact Dr. Bridget Ford to establish a customized degree roadmap or to learn more about how our programs can support your goals.

What can I expect from History major advising?

Our most important History major advising goal is to support your efficient and timely graduation--in four years for freshmen, and in four semesters for transfer students. Your advisors make sure you only take the classes you need for graduation. We also cohort History majors, so that you take classes according to the design and intention of the degree, building to our History Research Capstone course, where you will complete an original research project of their own choosing and design. We use a digital degree planner that is available to you 24/7, so that you can easily see your path to graduation, in sequence.

We also provide expert guidance in the following areas:

  • Advanced degree planning for MA or Ph.D. programs;
  • Career planning, along with connecting you to internships and career services in our Career Empowerment Center.
  • Strategies for success and support, including the high-quality professional advice for academic tutoring, mental health, and Accessibility Services.

How can I meet with my advisor?

The History Department provides individualized advising for its majors. Our advising reports and roadmaps are available to students 24/7, and faculty advisors reach out to students every semester for check-ins and future planning. We are also eager to address any advising questions you may have through flexible formats, including:

  • In-person meetings at department offices in the SF building
  • Video-conference (e.g., Zoom) meetings
  • Phone call or text (via Bay Advisor)
  • Email

Why are there several people listed as my advisor in Bay Advisor?

Many History majors have additional advisors for specific programs they may be participating in. All students also have designated General Education/Breadth advisors to guide students. In 2024-2025, the General Education/Breadth Advisor for History majors is Dr. Sharla Blank. Her email address is sharla.blank@csueastbay.edu. 

 

Contact Us

Department of History
  • 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd
  • Student and Faculty Support (SF)
  • 4th Floor, Office 442
  • Hayward, CA