Department of History and Religion

Faculty

Edward N. Snyder, Chair and History Coordinator
Jill A. Awuni
David E. Ballew, Social Studies Education Coordinator
Paul R. Gilliam III, Religion Program Director
Danny B. Moore
Gregory S. Taylor

History Mission Statement

The History Program provides effective instruction and challenging educational experiences in order to engage students in a critcal enquiry about the past. To this end, the program equips students with the knowledge and skills that promote quality instruction, a variety of courses, and challenging educational experiences to diverse student learners. The program equips students with the knowledge and skills that promote academic success and establish a foundation for lifelong study. As a key part of the liberal arts curriculum, historical studies shape citizens who can think broadly and critically about themselves and the world.

History Educational Outcomes

Students will demonstrate the ability to identify, explain, and assess the impact of major historical events.
Students will demonstrate the ability to read, comprehend, and interpret the primary and secondary sources, and to evaluate diverse historiographical viewpoints.
Students will demonstrate the ability to perform historical research, draw conclusions, and communicate their discoveries in writing.
Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate historical knowledge in well-developed essays, in-class dialogue, and formal presentations.
Students will demonstrate the academic skills required for success in graduate school or in a career.

The History Honors Project

Each year the department invites meritorious junior history majors to participate in a two-year honors project. During their junior year, students choose a faculty member with whom they want to work on a research project. The project may involve a major paper based on primary source materials or an extensive review and evaluation of the secondary literature in a particular subject area. Students present the project to the history faculty during their senior year. Following an oral examination, the history faculty determines whether to grant honors.

Religion Mission Statement

The Religion program provides a high quality educational experience in the area of religion, embracing our Christian and Baptist Heritage and pursuing truth with academic integrity, academic freedom, and open dialogue, in order to prepare students for a wide range of careers.

Religion Educational Outcomes

Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of religion as an academic endeavor.
Students will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the Christian tradition and other religious traditions such as Islam and Buddhism.
Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate their ideas logically, coherently, concisely, and clearly, both orally and in writing.
Students will develop a plan for their professional goals through preparation for professional success or through continued education in graduate school, divinity school, or seminary.

Students who have a definite idea of educational or professional goals have the freedom to develop their own concentration within the religion major. In developing the concentration, the student may choose courses from throughout Chowan University. The concentration will replace the Thematic Course in the B.A. in Religion degree program. The following regulations apply to all concentrations:

A student who wishes to develop a concentration must notify his or her advisor at least 45 credit hours prior to graduation.
Concentrations will be developed with the assistance of the academic advisor and will be filed with the Office of the Registrar. Once the concentration plan is filed, alterations to the plan may not be made.
Each concentration will be composed of a minimum of 24 credit hours. Of these 24 credit hours, at least 15 hours must be completed within the Department of Religion and Philosophy and at least 15 of the 24 hours must be at the 300 or 400 level.
The graduate’s final transcript will indicate both the major and concentration.

Programs

Major

Minor

Other Programs

Secondary Education, Social Studies, M.A.T.

Courses

Geography

GEOG 151 - Introduction to Geography

History

Political Science

PS 101 - Introduction to American Politics

Religion

Social Studies Education

SSED 471 - Methods of Teaching High School Social Studies