The University Senate of Michigan
Technological University
Proposal 2-13
(Voting Units: Academic)
Change of Name of an Established Academic
Program from
“Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with a
Concentration in History”
to “Bachelor
of Arts in History”
Introduction:
This is a proposal to change
the name of the current degree program “Bachelor
of Arts in Liberal Arts with a Concentration in History” to “Bachelor of Arts in History.”
Background and
Description:
There is no intention of changing the curriculum with the adoption of the
new name. The current name originated in
the late 1960s when Humanities and Social Sciences were in a combined
department. The Bachelor of Arts in
Liberal Arts was the first degree awarded by the then new department of
Humanities & Social Sciences, and quite naturally that degree was given two
options: English and History. When the
departments separated in the 1970s the concentration in English stayed with the
Humanities department; the concentration in History migrated with the Social
Sciences department. Both departments
awarded their respective degree concentrations to dozens of graduates in the
intervening three or more decades.
Whatever commonalities may have existed have long since vanished, as
both academic units independently and without consultation modified their
respective concentrations to better reflect the focus of each
concentration. The Social Sciences
department modeled its Liberal Arts-History curriculum to reflect, as far as
possible, the curriculums of History departments at other colleges and
universities.
The existing BA Liberal Arts
with a Concentration in History has served its purpose well. It has provided the necessary background for
students going on the graduate school or pursuing a career in law, policy,
planning, education, and business among others.
But it is now time that the obsolete name be
changed.
Rationale
The change in the name of the
degree from “Liberal Arts with a Concentration in History” to simply “History”
will serve thee purposes. First, it will
reflect more accurately the curriculum and education offered to
undergraduates. Second, it will cause
less confusion in attracting students to the major and in student
advising. For several decades students
have never really understood the current name of the program. Third, and most important, the new name will
cause less confusion when students from the program seek employment or seek to
enter graduate programs elsewhere.
Generally, within the academic field of History a B.A. degree in History
carries significantly more weight than a B.A. degree in Liberal Arts with a
concentration in History. The change
will thus lend more credibility to our curriculum and better serve the
interests of our students.
Timeline
If this proposal is approved
the name change will be implemented in the following semester. Students currently in the Liberal Arts
program will be given the option to finish their work under the current name or
change to the new degree name.
Introduced to Senate: 10 October 2012
Approved by Senate: 24 October 2012
Approved by Administration: 01 November 2012
Approved by BOC: 14 December 2012
Approved by State: 18 January 2013