Challenge Exams
The state code requirement in world or U.S. history may be satisfied by passing the department's challenge examinations. You must be a currently enrolled student at SSU to take the exam. To obtain three units of credit, you must enroll in HIST 150 by census date and successfully pass the exam. (Please note, you may not use this exam to obtain credit, if you have already fulfilled the CSU requirement.)
It it not necessary to enroll in HIST 150 to take the examination merely to fulfill the statutory requirement (with no unit credit). No advance notice is required for taking the examination if you do not register for HIST 150.
You must contact Professor Steve Estes (steve.estes@sonoma.edu) for permission to register for HIST 150 prior to enrollment.
To pass the examinations you need to receive a grade of 70%. The exams may be repeated one time if the first attempt is not successful.
You will need to bring a 100 answer scantron, a blue book, a pen, a pencil and your ID to each exam.
These exams are for non-history majors only.
Challenge Exams for World History and Civilization
- HIST 201: (Ancient) The Foundations of World Civilization
- HIST 202: (Modern) The Development of the Modern World
These examinations are designed for students who seek to fulfill the Statutory/General Education (D2) requirement in World History and Civilization. If the exam is passed, the student can also receive three (3) units of credit by enrolling in HIST 150 prior to Census Date. HIST 150 is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
To find out more about the exam, and to set up an exam time, please contact the following professors:
- For Hist 201: Professors Samuel Cohen
- For Hist 202: Professor Kathleen Noonan
To improve their overall grasp of ancient world history and prepare for the examination, students should choose from among the following volumes:
- Kevin Reilly, The West and the World: A History of Civilization, 2nd ed., Vol. 1
- Kevin Reilly, Readings in World Civilization, Vol. 1: The Great Traditions
- W.M. Medreile, History of the Human Community, Vol. 1
- L. Stavrianos, The World to 1500.
To improve their overall grasp of modern world history and prepare for the examination, students should choose from among the following volumes:
- R. Goff, et al. The Twentieth Century World.
- Stanley Chodorow, et al. A History of the World, Vol. II
- Alfred J. Andrea & James H. Overfield, The Human Record, Vol. II
- W.M. McNeih, A History of the Human Community, Vol. 2
- L. Stavrianos, The World Since 1500.
Challenge Exams for United States History
- HIST 251: History of the United States to 1877
- HIST 252: History of the United States since 1865
These examinations are designed for students who seek to fulfill the Statutory/General Education (D3) requirement in United States History. If the exam is passed, the student can also receive three (3) units of credit by enrolling in HIST 150 prior to Census Date. HIST 150 is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis only.
To find out more about the exam, and to set up an exam time, please contact the following professors:
- For Hist 251: Professor Amy Kittelstrom
- For Hist 252: Professor Steve Estes
To prepare for the examinations, students should choose from among the following volumes that will improve their overall grasp of American History:
- John Mack Faragher, et. al., Out of Many
- Robert Divine, et. al., America: Past and Present
Or a U.S. history survey text currently used (check bookstore)
To improve their understanding of American historiography, students should read:
- Eric Foner, ed., The New American History (2nd ed., if available)
To find suggested objective and essay questions, students should consult any one of the number of good outline histories of the United States.