What is possible when studying history helps you shape your future? Anything.
Understanding history is key to preparing for the future.
As a history major at 51, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the ancient, medieval and modern world through primary sources and in-depth seminars.
Visit the Holocaust Museum as part of your Nazi Germany studies and dive into your family history in your American Ethnicity class. This flexible major allows you to emphasize in the historical areas that interest you most.
۴dz’l learn beyond the classroom by participating in field studies at local and regional museums and events, and you’ll have the opportunity to study abroad in places like Italy, Turkey, Vietnam or Israel.
Program Highlights
Learn from faculty with experience spanning service in the armed forces to teaching abroad
Study religion in history and culture, exploring how they shape each other
Participate in sponsored events and conferences
Engage in off-campus summer and study abroad programs
Work closely with faculty in other disciplines based on your interest to enrich your research
The history major gives students a broad familiarity with human history, both Western and world, as a means of developing critical understanding and insight into how they might live now and in the future. The program engages students in deliberately rigorous intellectual development, and particularly focuses on the influence of religion in history. The exploration and discovery of lived human experience in the past (of church and world) is informed by a Christian/Anabaptist worldview. Upon completion of the major, students will be prepared to pursue advanced study in the disciplines of history, theology and philosophy, and in fields such as secondary teaching, law, library science, archival management and public history.
Students interested in majoring in history should complete their prerequisite courses during their freshman and sophomore years. Courses in their major should be selected in consultation with their major advisor. Personalized majors in specialized areas of history may be presented to the history faculty for consideration and approval.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Identify and explicate significant ideas, persons, and events in a variety of historical epochs throughout human history and in a global context.
Formulate, carry out, and critically evaluate a focused research project involving the use of various forms of primary historical evidence, and showing an understanding of relevant theoretical approaches to the problem, as well as the most significant secondary research on it.
Communicate effectively and appropriate in both and oral and written forms, especially through the use of critical analysis in articulation and support of historical theses.
Synthesize important historical phenomena, based on the understanding of primary material, across millennia, cultures and interpretive modes.
Interpret and effectively describe the contribution of Christianity, particularly the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition, and the Judeo-Christian legacy, in the development of human history.
Locations Offered
Main Campus 51
Degree Pathways
History, B.A. Four Year Pathway
History, B.A. ADT Pathway
Lower Division Major Prerequisites (16 units)
HIST 120 - Ancient Civilizations Credits 4
HIST 130 - Medieval and Early Modern Civilizations Credits 4
HIST 140 - Modern Civilizations Credits 4
HIST 150 - American Civilization Credits 4
Required Courses (32 Units Minimum)
At least one upper-division course in five of the following areas:
Ancient history
Medieval, Renaissance or Reformation history
Modern European history
World history
American history
Religious or topical history
Sufficient additional courses to complete the number of units required for the major.
Capstone Courses
HIST 462 - Historiography Credits 3
HIST 483 - Projects in History Credits 1 - 3
Must complete 4 units total; usually 2 units completed in two consecutive semesters*
Note:
*Both parts focus attention on the various ways of interpreting historical subjects, the role of Christian faith and religious experience in history and historical interpretation, the philosophical and theological implications of historical work and the development of a historical habit and practice in the student.
It is recommended that history majors complete a minor in another field of study or a deliberately chosen set of courses to prepare for anticipated work in a particular area.
Possibilities Await
With an FPU Education
Whether you're a high school student, transfer student or parent, you'll find all the resources you need including application steps, tuition & financial aid, transfer and orientation information.
First Steps to Admission
Submit an application for admission (online or printable mail-in) * Admission applications are free, no discount codes required.
Send official copies of your transcripts to FPU.
Complete the FAFSA. It can be completed starting October 1st. (FAFSA Code: 001253)
Recommended High School Courses for Admission
4 years of college preparatory English
3 years of college preparatory mathematics
2 years of social studies
1 year of laboratory science
1 year of performing art
3 years of the same foreign language with a C- or better
Things to Keep in Mind
51’s accepted students have average GPAs of 3.2-3.6. Please speak with an admission counselor to discuss your eligibility.
All application materials should be submitted online or mailed to:
Office of Undergraduate Admission
51
1717 S. Chestnut Ave. #2005
51, CA 93702 ugadmis@fresno.edu
All lower-division General Education requirements fulfilled
BA co-requisites and major courses fulfilled through ADT:
HIST 120 - Ancient Civilizations (4)
HIST 140 - Modern Civilizations (4)
HIST 150 American Civilization (4)
This program is offered as daytime traditional
ADT Guarantee is the completion of BA/BS degree in 68 units.
Non-traditional Admission
Steps for Re-application
For those students who have applied to FPU’s traditional undergraduate program within the past 2 years and did not attend. Students who applied more than 2 years ago will need to resubmit a full application for admission:
Submit any missing documents or updated transcripts
Steps for Re-admission
Former FPU students who have not been enrolled in and/or have not submitted a leave of absence form for the previous semester are required to re-apply for admission to FPU:
Submit official transcripts from other educational institutions attended during absence from FPU
Steps for Non-matriculated Admission
Students interested in taking classes, usually for personal or professional development, or to transfer to another institution, and is not interested in a degree from FPU. Non-degree students are not eligible for federal, state or institutional aid. Other requirements, class limits and pre-requisites may apply. See the academic catalog for more information:
Submit proof of high school graduation or equivalent
Some classes may require a pre-requisite course. If required, a college transcript will need to be provided
Personal essays are not required
Auditing a class
Students wishing to audit a class at FPU may apply for audit status. Audit classes are not eligible for financial aid and students will not receive course credit.
Earning a degree in four years allows you to get a head start on achieving your goals of entering the work force or starting graduate school. FPU guarantees graduation within four years in the traditional undergraduate areas of study. We commit to providing the courses, advising, instruction and preparation. If you fulfill your responsibilities and are unable to graduate in four years, you will receive the needed courses the following semester at no cost in tuition or fees.
Incoming requirements
This guarantee is limited to basic graduation requirements of 120 minimum units including general education, upper-level and elective courses sufficient for a single major with no minor.
Where options between courses are available, students are not guaranteed their first choice.
This guarantee does not apply to “fifth-year” programs (teacher education credential requirements) or minimum units beyond graduation requirements (CPA qualifications, etc.) beyond the basic four-year bachelor’s degree.
The guarantee does not apply to transfer students or to FPU's degree completion programs.
Students not able to register for the courses needed within four years must complete the free course(s) within two terms of the end of four years (e.g. a summer and fall for those completing four years in the spring; or spring and summer for those completing four years in the fall).
The four-year period may be extended for students required to leave the university for up to one year (see the Leave of Absence section) for medical, military or personal reasons.
Student responsibilities
To qualify for the guarantee students must:
Meet with your mentor during the fall semester of the freshman year.
Finalize a major and begin prerequisite or lower-division major courses by the second semester of the freshman year and keep that major until graduation.
Complete at least 32 units per year (average 16 per semester) with passing grades in each course.
Maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA and remain in good standing behaviorally with the university.
Meet with the mentor each semester for advising before registration opens and take the courses approved by the adviser/mentor that complete general-education and major requirements, in the appropriate sequence and as they become available.
Register within the first week of registration every semester to gain a spot in the classes needed.
Notify mentor if unable to register for an approved course so that an alternative plan can be made.
Apply for financial aid and submit required documents by appropriate deadlines.
Keep student account up-to-date. (Accounts not up-to-date may be placed on hold, preventing registration for courses.)
Complete required courses successfully (see Academic Policies section for minimum acceptable grades) without dropping required or approved courses during a semester.
Apartment - 140 Block Meal Plan (included in cost)
$3,902
$3,902
Apartment - Full Access Meal Plan (included in cost)
$5,026
$5,026
Willow Gardens & Jost Hall Apartments: 3 Person
Fall
Spring
Apartments - Room only
$3,306
$3,306
Apartments - 70 Block Meal Plan (included in cost)
$3,958
$3,958
Apartments - 140 Block Meal Plan (included in cost)
$4,514
$4,514
Apartments - Full Access Meal Plan (included in cost)
$5,639
$5,639
Stand-Alone Meal Plans
Fall
Spring
70 Block
$651
$651
140 Block
$1,208
$1,208
Full Access Meal Plan
$2,332
$2,332
* Residents living in the Houses or Willow Gardens Apartments may stay over Christmas break at no extra charge providing they are returning for spring semester. Otherwise, residents must check out at the regular fall check-out dates.
Notes about housing
For housing placement purposes only, class standing for the fall semester will carry throughout the entire year (both fall and spring semesters).
Residents living in the houses or Willow Gardens Apartments may stay over Christmas break at no extra charge providing they are returning for spring semester. Otherwise, residents must check out at the regular fall check-out dates.
Meal plan contract dates will follow the traditional semester.
If you have questions that pertain specifically to housing or what housing you qualify for, please contact Residence Life at (559) 453-5696. Or visit our website at studentlife.fresno.edu/living-campus.
Financial Aid
Freshman Scholarships
Based on a student’s academic GPA. Academic GPA’s are calculated by FPU on a weighted, 4.0 scaled and based on core academic classes in grades 10-12. Renewable if a minimum GPA is maintained.
Name
GPA
Amount
Paragon
Full Tuition
President's
4.00 GPA and above
$18,000
Dean's
3.75-3.99 GPA
$15,000
Heritage
3.50-3.75 GPA
$14,000
Faculty
3.25-3.49 GPA
$12,000
Founder's
Below a 3.0 GPA
$8,000
Transfer Scholarships
To be considered for a Transfer Academic Scholarship, you must have 12 or more transferable, post-high school units. GPA’s are based on transferable units and calculated by FPU.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
$1,000
Federal Loans and Work Study
Name
Amount
Federal Direct
$3,500 to $7,500
PLUS Loan
Up to remaining cost
Workstudy
Contingent on employment
Private Scholarships
Alumni, parents, friends, businesses and foundations have generously provided a special set of scholarships available to students attending 51 Pacific.
Alexandra Green
Mathematics
The grants, the academic awards, the transfer scholarship – all of it makes it so much more affordable to attend FPU. I know that school isn’t cheap for anyone, but FPU helped me realize that I could actually come to this school because they were going to help me so much financially.
Net Price Calculator
Now that you’ve seen the financial aid opportunities available to FPU students, we can estimate what your true cost may be to attend 51 Pacific. Please keep in mind that this is just a computer generated, general estimate and may not capture all aid available, please work with your FPU Student Financial Services advisor to discover your true net price.
Graduates are prepared to pursue advanced study in the disciplines of history, theology, classics, philosophy and education, as well as professional fields such as law, library science, journalism, archival management and public history. Many students elect to pursue teaching and 51 Pacific has an excellent reputation among local high schools for producing single-subject credential graduates.
The staff in our Career Development and Experiential Learning Center are here to help you prepare to enter the working world. Whether your a freshman or an FPU alum, there are a number of resources and trainings offered to help you find the internship and job you’re looking for.