Overview

The History Minor is designed for any major degree student at Cal State East Bay who has a special interest in the study of the past—whether for personal enrichment, critical skill-building, or as preparation for a range of career paths. Some students discover they’ve already taken multiple history courses and choose to have their interest formally recognized on their transcript.

History minor students come from across the university, including majors in science, business, education, the arts, and the humanities. They bring a wide range of perspectives to their study of global histories, social change, and cultural memory.

Requirements for the History Minor may be found here. Students pursuing the minor complete 19–23 units of coursework, including both lower-division surveys and upper-division courses from three thematic areas of concentration.

The Anthropology Minor is a valuable complement to any major for students who are curious about human diversity, past and present. Designed to build cultural competence and global awareness, the minor prepares students to navigate complex intercultural environments in professional, academic, and everyday settings.

Anthropology minor students come from a wide range of majors, including health sciences, business, education, liberal arts, and the natural and social sciences. They are united by a desire to understand how humans live, adapt, communicate, and construct meaning across cultures and through time.

Requirements for the Anthropology Minor may be found here. Students complete 18 units of coursework, including foundational training in anthropology's four subfields—sociocultural, biological, archaeological, and linguistic—and a selection of upper-division electives.

The Global Studies Minor is ideal for students who want to deepen their understanding of the interconnected world around them. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum, the minor explores global systems, cross-cultural dynamics, and international challenges such as migration, climate change, and economic inequality.

Students pursuing the Global Studies Minor come from across the university, including majors in international business, political science, environmental studies, communication, and the arts. They are drawn to the program’s emphasis on integrative thinking and global engagement.

Requirements for the Global Studies Minor may be found here. Students complete 17–28 units of coursework, which include a global studies core, an area of emphasis, and either international internship experience or approved study abroad coursework.

The Certificate in Public History is an excellent option for History majors and other Cal State East Bay students who are interested in applying historical knowledge and methods to real-world contexts. Public history includes a wide range of professions that bring the past to life in museums, archives, media, community organizations, and government agencies. You can see currently advertised positions in the field of public history here.

Students pursuing the certificate come from diverse academic backgrounds and share an interest in making history accessible and relevant to broad public audiences. The Bay Area’s rich historical landscape and strong culture of public engagement make it an ideal setting for students to explore public history as a career path.

Requirements for the Certificate in Public History may be found here. Students complete 22 units of coursework, including applied history training, and may tailor the certificate to their interests. The program enhances graduate school applications and opens doors to careers in museums, archives, cultural heritage, and public service.