Institution: Fullerton College

Location: Fullerton, CA

Tuner: Josh Ashenmiller

Year: 2014

Degree Name: Associate of Arts in History - Transfer 

Purpose of the Degree

The History AA-T guarantees students priority admission to a local Cal State University. Students who pursue the History AA-T Degree interpret the past and study the complexity of the human experience in courses that follow guidelines set by the American Historical Association. Fullerton College students develop their ability to analyze the historical record, assess various ways of interpreting it, and communicate their conclusions effectively. After completing the History AA-T degree's 18 units, students are prepared to transfer to a four-year institution in pursuit of a BA degree.

Characteristics of the Program

The History AA-T Degree begins with a two-semester sequence in United States history, and a two-semester sequence in Western Civilization and/or World Civilizations. Students also take elective courses that focus on the history of specific regions or groups, for instance California, Great Britain, Women's History, the Middle East, Asia, Ancient Egypt and Latin America. The degree includes electives in Ethnic Studies.

Career Pathways for the Graduate

History students learn valuable career skills, such as researching and interpreting data, achieving clarity in verbal and written expression, and analyzing and developing persuasive arguments. Students who earn the History AA-T Degree and transfer to a four-year institution are well positioned for careers in education, government, the non-profit sector, human services, the law, international relations, journalism and literature, film and entertainment, museums and preservation, and business and finance.

Educational Style

Instructors lead large-group interactive lessons, small-group discussions and debates, honors seminars, and field trips. Instructors assess students with essays, quizzes, exams, research papers, and class presentations. Assignments can include the study of primary and secondary sources, historical monographs, novels, music, films, and works of art. Each year the History Department offers honors classes that require more writing, reading and research than do regular classes.

Program Competencies and Outcomes

The History Department routinely assesses student's ability to demonstrate the History AA-T Degree's learning outcomes, which are:

1. To identify the major chronology of people, places, and events of the course topics.
2. To identify and construct a thesis.
3. To evaluate primary sources and secondary sources.