B.A. in History
The History Program at LAU aims to instill in students an in-depth appreciation of the past by exposing them to a global focus on both Eastern and Western civilizations through a consideration of the complex interactions across cultures over designated spans of time—interactions that collectively constitute the sum total of the human experience. Learning about the past has the dual purpose of helping students to acquaint themselves with the accumulated wisdom of the ages, while at the same time allowing them to discern the errors of eras gone by in order to avoid repeating them. A proper and systematic grounding in history therefore becomes the surest way to form character, cultivate perspective, illuminate context, and refine an understanding of what it means to belong to the human family.
Curriculum
Students must complete 42 credits in core requirements distributed among 14 courses of three credits each. Some courses are themselves required, but in most cases, the student will have considerable choice within designated areas, as can be seen in the course list provided below. This is designed to maximize even distribution, and increase both breadth and depth, among the different fields within history. In addition, all majors must complete a 40-page Senior Study. The topic will be selected and formulated by the student in consultation with a history advisor of the student’s choosing, and it must demonstrate serious scholarship and original thinking.
The history program features nine distinct components. Within each component there are required courses for those majoring in history as well as other courses that can be taken either as electives or as part of the Liberal Arts Core.
Liberal Arts Curriculum requirements (34 credits)
Core requirements (42 credits)
Three-credit required course:
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| HST205 | Historical Tools | 3 |
Choose 3 credits from Ancient World History:
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| HST220 | Pre-History to Pericles | 3 |
| HST221 | Greece and Rome | 3 |
Choose 3 credits from History of Lebanon (HST231 required):
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| HST230 | From Antelias Man to the Ottoman Conquest (1516) | 3 |
| HST231 | From the Imarah to the 1975-1990 War | 3 |
Choose 6 credits from History of the Middle East including either HST240 or HST241:
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| HST240 | History of the Arab Peoples | 3 |
| HST241 | History of Islam in the Middle East | 3 |
| HST242 | Europe and the Middle East (1798-1956) | 3 |
| HST243 | Economic History of the Middle East | 3 |
| HST244 | History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict | 3 |
Choose 6 credits from History of Europe:
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| HST301 | Europe in Late Antiquity 410-1066 | 3 |
| HST302 | Medieval Europe 1066-1453 | 3 |
| HST303 | Early Modern Europe 1450-1750 | 3 |
| HST304 | Modern Europe 1750-1945 | 3 |
| HST305 | Contemporary Europe 1945-1989 | 3 |
Choose 9 credits from World History:
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| HST330 | History of Byzantium | 3 |
| HST331 | History of Russia | 3 |
| HST332 | History of China | 3 |
| HST333 | History of South Asia | 3 |
| HST334 | History of North America | 3 |
| HST335 | History of Central and South America | 3 |
| HST336 | History of Africa | 3 |
Choose 6 credits from Thematic History Courses:
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| HST340 | Topics in the History of Ideas | 3 |
| HST341 | Topics in the History of Science | 3 |
| HST342 | Topics in the History of Religion | 3 |
| HST343 | Topics in Economic History | 3 |
Choose 3 credits from Special Topics:
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| HST401 | Special Topics in History | 3 |
Three-credit required course:
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| HST499 | Senior Study | 3 |
Free electives (16 credits)
Duration
This program requires 85 credits, which can be completed in three years by those entering as sophomores.
Location
This program is offered in Beirut and Byblos.