Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Washington State University
History | Humanities

History Honor Society


International History Honor Society – Gamma Psi Chapter

phi-alpha-thetaIntroduction

Phi Alpha Theta is composed of chapters in properly accredited colleges and universities. All students in these institutions who have completed the required number of history courses while maintaining high standards in their college or university studies are eligible for membership (see below).

Phi Alpha Theta is a professional society whose purpose is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication, and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. It seeks to bring students, teachers, and writers of history together both intellectually and socially, and it encourages and assists historical research and publication by its members in a variety of ways.

Membership

The Gamma Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta at Washington State University, established December 7, 1950, is open to undergraduate and graduate students on the Pullman campus who meet the following criteria.

The requirements for undergraduates include:

  • Completion of at least two semesters at WSU.
  • Completion of 12 semester credits of history (6 of which must be from WSU).
  • WSU overall grade point average of at least 3.0.
  • History grade point average of at least 3.1.
  • Payment of a lifetime membership fee (currently $65; $55 for Phi Alpha Theta National and $10 for the WSU Gamma Psi Chapter).

The requirements for graduate students include:

  • Completion of 12 semester hours towards a graduate degree in history.
  • GPA of 3.5 or higher.
  • Completion of approximately 30% of the residence requirements for their degree.
  • Payment of a lifetime membership fee (currently $65; $55 for Phi Alpha Theta National and $10 for the WSU Gamma Psi Chapter).

Membership entitles you to:

  • Wear Phi Alpha Theta honor cords at commencement (purchased separately)
  • Participate in chapter activities
  • Apply to participate in Phi Alpha Theta regional and national conferences

Based on the eligibility requirements of the national organization, those students enrolled on campuses other than Pullman are not eligible for membership in the Gamma Psi (Pullman) chapter. Membership is not limited to history majors, and Global Campus students are eligible to join.

Those who are already members of Phi Alpha Theta are warmly welcomed to participate in Gamma Psi chapter activities. Membership in Phi Alpha Theta is for life, so you need not join (or pay) a second time.

Applications for membership are solicited near the beginning of fall and spring semesters, and announcements will be made in various history classes by instructors.

More Information

If you want to know more about Phi Alpha Theta, contact faculty advisor Nikolaus Overtoom at nikolaus.overtoom@wsu.edu

 

 

 

Phi Alpha Theta Initiates for 2024-2025:

  • Victoria Tompkins
  • Cole Harbour
  • Naomi Slavish

Phi Alpha Theta Initiates for 2023-2024:

  • Andersen Barry
  • Sarah Barraclough
  • Vance Martin

Phi Alpha Theta Initiates for 2022-2023:

  • Natalie Tuck
  • Kysa Jausoro
  • Austin Barnes
  • Asia Larocque
  • Christine Smith
  • Anna Turner
  • Jim Harvey

Phi Alpha Theta Initiates for 2021-2022:

  • Jesse Brazil
  • Jessica Edwards
  • Alec Bowder
  • Lydia Miller
  • Jack Maloy
  • Desaree Brower

Phi Alpha Theta Initiates for 2020-2021:

  • Timothy Treffery
  • Mark Calentino
  • Natalie Guinasso
  • Katie Hosking

Phi Alpha Theta Initiates for 2019-2020:

  • Shannon Hanson
  • Hunter Orcutt
  • Allyson Butzke

Phi Alpha Theta Initiates for 2018-2019:

  • Laurie Kay Heustis
  • Peter D. North
  • Gavin R. Pielow
  • Eleanor S. Albrecht
  • Lucy L. Wavra
  • Madison Marie Levesque
  • Olivia Simone Daiss-Scheibe
  • Henry J. Miller

Advising Assignments


History and Social Studies Advising

Lauri Sue Torkelson (Wilson-Short 301C) and Frank Hill (Wilson-Short 301B) conduct all advising for the Department of History. They are normally available 8:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m. Monday–Friday to assist with educational concerns and gladly accept walk-in students during those times. No appointment is necessary, except during pre-registration, which starts about the 8th week of each semester. If pre-registration advising is in session, students will need to sign up for an appointment online. Lauri Sue Torkelson can be reached at torkelson@wsu.edu or 509-335-4475 and Frank Hill can be reached at fhill002@wsu.edu or 509-335-5670 for assistance.

Academic Advising

Each semester students are required to meet with their advisor to plan for the next semester. Typically, advising is done in October for the following spring and in March for the following fall and summer.

Be sure to sign up for an appointment prior to your registration date and come to your advising appointment with a tentative schedule.

 

Senior Exit Survey

WSU’s History Department is collecting feedback from graduating seniors who majored in history about your experience in the program. Please take a few minutes to complete the History Department’s Senior Exit Survey using the link below.

You should complete the survey if you are one semester away from graduating (i.e., scheduling your last advising appointment with your academic advisor). The survey is expected to take only 10-15 minutes to complete.

Your thoughtful and honest answers will be considered carefully to help improve the undergraduate program and services offered by the History Department at WSU. Please note that your responses will not be associated with your personal identity. Rather, the data collected will be used to assess how well the History Department is achieving its program learning goals and outcomes.

Thank you for supporting the department’s goals and responsibilities.

Go to the Survey — https://wsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0vMipuYT7UvqUOV

 

Categories of Courses 2023

Categories of Courses

Various University Services

Academic Success and Career Center
Lighty 160
509-335-6000

Access Center
217 Washington Building
509-335-3417

Center for Community Standards
French Administration, Room 130
509-335-4532

Counseling Services
Cougar Health Services, Washington Building
509-335-4511
after hours 509-335-2159

College of Education
316 Education Addition
509-335-4853

Financial Aid
380 Lighty
509-335-9711

Junior Writing Portfolio
Smith CUE 305
509-335-7959

Multicultural Student Services
CUB 409
509-335-7852

Student Affairs
Lighty 360
509-335-4531

Student Health and Wellness Services
1125 NE Washington Street
509-335-3575

 

Minor Options


An undergraduate minor is a supplemental academic award that is awarded at the same time that a student’s primary major is completed and the undergraduate degree is conferred.  Once requirements for the minor are met and the student’s undergraduate degree has been conferred and posted to the transcript, the transcript will be updated to show these additional academic awards.

An undergraduate student who has completed 60 semester hours and is certified in a primary major may certify in a minor with the approval of the offering department.

A minor in history requires 18 hours, 9 of which must be in 300-400-level courses taken in residence at WSU or through WSU-approved education abroad or educational exchange courses.  A grade of C or better is required in all course work for the minor.

 

Students certified in ANY MAJOR, EXCEPT HISTORY, may certify a GENERAL HISTORY MINOR.

Students certified in ANY MAJOR, INCLUDING HISTORY, may certify a WAR AND SOCIETY MINOR.

Students certified in ANY MAJOR, INCLUDING HISTORY, may certify a MODERN ASIA MINOR.

Social Studies


Teaching history and social studies in today’s secondary education classrooms requires a broad basis of historical knowledge as well as a flexible and adaptive approach regarding teaching, given the changing nature of our world.

Graduates from our program develop content knowledge by taking classes in World, United States, European and Asian history and begin their development as professional teachers by taking our Social Studies Methods course which is required for entry into the Teacher Education program. Our graduates are well-prepared to teach in today’s ever-changing classrooms.

Certifying into Social Studies

Students who indicate an interest in History and have a 2.0 GPA or above may be admitted to the major. Those interested in a teaching option should consult with the College of Education concerning certification requirements for teaching. Students majoring in social studies should have a strong and broad high school background in humanities, social science, and languages, and are encouraged to get a second endorsement.

Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies (66 hours)

Required History Courses
Hist 101: Ancient, Medieval, and Early Modern Europe
Hist 102: Modern Europe
Hist 110: American History to 1877
Hist 111: American History Since 1877
Hist 120: World History I
Hist 121: World History II
Hist 300: Writing about History
Hist 308: North American Indian History
Hist 279: Introduction to Social Studies Methods
Hist 324: History of the Pacific Northwest
One (1) from Hist 230, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275
Three (3) upper-division history elective courses, including one (1) Global/non-Western, one (1) European course, one (1) U.S.
Hist 380: Methods of Teaching Social Studies
Pol S 101: American National Government
Soc 102: Social Problems
EconS 102: Fundamentals of Macroeconomics
Anth 101 or Anth 203: General Anthropology or Peoples of the World
One (1) Geography course from Hist 393, Hist 495, Anth 309
One (1) from Anth 307, 316, 320, 330, 331, 350; Pol S 300, 316, 427, 450, 455; Psych 310, 324, 361, 470; Soc 320, 346, 351, 384, 430

Courses used to complete the social studies degree and the College of Education requirements must be passed with a grade of C or better.

NOTE: Additional courses are necessary to complete the education requirements for the social studies education option. For a complete listing of requirements, see the College of Education’s Web site. The College of Education requires applicants for admission to the Teacher Education Preparation program to apply on-line.

Pre-Law


Certifying into History Pre-Law

A history pre-law option emphasizes the historical evolution of the law and the role of legal change in the formation of the social, political, and economic structure of the modern world. The student enrolled in this program will gain knowledge of legal institutions as they currently exist and of the ways in which they developed.

Students who indicate an interest in History and have a 2.5 GPA or above may be admitted to the major. Students majoring in history with an option in pre-law should have a strong and broad high school background in humanities, social science, and languages.

Bachelor of Arts in History with Option in Pre-Law (66 credits)

History Courses—36 credits which must include the following:

  • Hist 300: Writing about History
  • Hist 469: Seminar in History
  • U.S. history: 6 credits
  • European history: 6 credits
  • Global/non-Western history: 6 credits

At least 21 of the 36 credits in history courses must be at the 300 and 400 level.

 

Pre-Law Option: 30 credits – may double as UCORE

  • Business/Accounting – 6 credits: EconS 101, 102, 198 Acctg 220, or B Law 210
  • Communications—3 credits: (Com 102)​
  • English – 3 credits: English 201, 301, or 402
  • Philosophy – 3 credits: Phil 201, 360, 370, or 470
  • Political Science – 9 credits: (must include Pol S 300), Pol S 101, 102, or 206
  • Social Sciences/Humanities –6 credits: Psych 105 and Soc 101

History courses used to complete the degree must be passed with a grade of C or better.

History Education


Teaching history and social studies in today’s secondary education classrooms requires a broad basis of historical knowledge as well as a flexible and adaptive approach regarding teaching, given the changing nature of our world.

Graduates from our program develop content knowledge by taking classes in World, United States, European and Asian history and begin their development as professional teachers by taking our Social Studies Methods course which is required for entry into the Teacher Education program. Our graduates are well-prepared to teach in today’s ever-changing classrooms.

Certifying into History Education

Students who indicate an interest in History and have a 2.0 GPA or above may be admitted to the major. Those interested in a teaching option should consult with the College of Education concerning certification requirements for teaching. Students majoring in history should have a strong and broad high school background in humanities, social science, and languages, and are encouraged to get a second endorsement.

Bachelor of Arts in History with a Major in History Education (57 hours)

Required History Courses
Hist 101:  Ancient, Medieval, and Early Europe
Hist 102: Modern Europe
Hist 110: American History to 1877
Hist 111: American History Since 1877
Hist 120: World History I
Hist 121: World History II
Hist 300: Writing about History
Hist 308: North American Indian History
Hist 279: Introduction to Social Studies Methods
Hist 324: History of the Pacific Northwest
Hist 469: Seminar in History
Hist 380: Methods of Teaching Social Studies
One (1) from Hist 230, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275
U.S. Early: one (1) from Hist 311, 313, 314, 316, 415
U.S. Modern: one (1) from Hist 312, 318, 319, 417, 420
Global/non-Western upper-division: one (1) course
European upper-division: one (1) course
Pol S 101: American National Government
EconS 102: Fundamentals of Macroeconomics

Courses used to complete the history degree and the College of Education requirements must be passed with a grade of C or better.

NOTE: Additional courses are necessary to complete the education requirements for the history education option. For a complete listing of requirements, see the College of Education’s Web site. The College of Education requires applicants for admission to the Teacher Education Preparation program to apply on-line.

History (General)


Certifying into History (General)

Students who indicate an interest in History and have a 2.0 GPA or above may be admitted to the major. Those interested in a teaching option should consult with the College of Education concerning certification requirements for teaching. Students majoring in history should have a strong and broad high school background in humanities, social science, and languages.

Bachelor of Arts in History (36 hours)

Required History Courses

Hist 300: Writing about History
Hist 469: Seminar in History
6 hours of U.S. history
6 hours of European history
9 hours of Global/non-Western history

Plus an additional 12-hour concentration in history (at least 6 hours at the 300 and 400 level), or in a related discipline outside of history. All 12 hours must be taken in the same subject area.

History Concentrations

Africa & the Middle East: 272, 273, 274, 306, 371, 372, 396

*American West: 280, 285, 308, 324, 328, 398

Asia: 201, 270, 271, 272, 273, 275, 370, 373, 374, 377, 378, 379, 387, 474, 475, 476

*Atlantic: 230, 235, 308, 313, 331, 333, 334, 335, 435

Environmental History: 294, 309, 393, 409, 495

*Europe: 101, 102, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 347, 349, 350, 353, 354, 355, 356, 359, 365, 366, 367, 368, 381, 382, 385, 386, 435, 436, 444, 448, 462, 463, 465

History of Imperialism/Colonialism: 341, 343, 354, 359, 385, 386, 387, 435, 436, 462

Holocaust and Genocide: 364, 365, 368, 386, 465

*Gender and Sexuality: 298, 335, 336, 337, 350, 369, 398; 399

Latin America: 202, 230, 232, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335

Popular Culture, Science & the Arts: 216, 224, 232, 301, 320, 321, 322, 355, 381, 382, 384, 444, 448, 483, 492

Public History: 309, 410, 427, 438, 465, 498 (required)

Race & Ethnicity: 224, 230, 235, 280, 308, 315, 361

Social Movements: 202, 224, 319, 334, 360

*United States: 110, 111, 201, 216, 224, 235, 250, 280, 281, 285, 298, 301, 307, 308, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 324, 326, 328, 361, 388, 390, 393, 398, 409, 410, 415, 417, 420, 423, 426, 486

*War and Peace: 285, 316, 318, 319, 345, 349, 364, 366, 368, 386, 387, 388, 390, 391

*Offered via Global

At least 21 of the 36 hours in history courses must be at the 300 and 400 level.

History courses used to complete the degree must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Degree Options


Why History?

A formalized program of historical study—required of our majors—dramatically refines skills which you already possess, allowing their use in much more eloquent, challenging, and productive ways. You will learn to think broadly and historically, thereby gaining meaningful insights into human development over time.

Certifying into a Program of Study

Students who indicate an interest in History and have a 2.0 GPA or above may be admitted to the major.

Those interested in a teaching option should consult with the College of Education concerning certification requirements for teaching.

Applying for Your Degree

The Degree Application should be submitted after completing 90 semester hours. To apply, go to your myWSU homepage. For more information, go to http://graduations.wsu.edu/applying-for-graduation/.

 

If you have questions about any of our majors, please feel free to contact us. You are welcome to come by the History Office at Wilson-Short Hall 301 or visit our advising page here!

Degree Options

A major in history can be used in government service, the new specialty of public history teaching, several areas of business and industry, and many other fields. It can also be used in preparation for study of the law, the ministry, archival work, and librarianship. Double majors or complementary minors combining history with other fields are easily arranged.

The department offers courses leading to the degrees of History (General), History Online (General), History Education, Pre-Law, and Social Studies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAS News History headlines


CAS News History headlines

Read more history-related items from CAS News