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Bachelor of Arts in History

 Return to APUS Catalog | Bachelor's

The history major has recently been re-designed to better suit professional aspirations and interests. The new major ensures that students will learn about the "big picture" through exposure to four historical perspectives, while allowing them to tailor the major to individual needs during the junior and senior years.

Students in this program are exposed to the social impact, consequences, and changes of various pivotal historical events. They learn critical and analytical thinking, and effective writing and research methods.

Students graduating from this program apply their skills and abilities as curators and archivists or in professions involving research, writing, editing, advocacy, politics, and historical preservation.

Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Arts in History also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates. With reference to each of the respective areas of history, graduates in this degree program will be able to:

Historical Research and Analysis

  • Conduct historical research using the historical method
  • Formulate historical analysis in appropriate professional form

Historical Knowledge

  • Identify a broad knowledge of the historical literature that pertains to the topics of study included in the degree program
  • Describe and locate the linkage between historical studies and allied disciplines
  • Compare and contrast the historical experiences that go beyond a single time period and national or cultural experience
  • Interpret historical forces that have shaped social change and contemporary human problems
  • Analyze history from diverse perspectives of ancient and contemporary historical cultures, nations, and regions
  • Analyze history from in-depth study of one or more periods, cultures, nations, regions, or seminal events
  • Analyze historical material and make judgments, to establish causal relationships between facts, to find order and patterns, to answer why and how -- not just simply report; and
  • Demonstrate an understanding of history as a creative art, a subjective discipline and an imaginative interpretation of the past
Degree Program Requirements
Required Course - 3 semester hours

General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours

Science - 4 semester hours including the required 1 hour labs

Mathematics - 3 semester hours

History - 6 semester hours

Humanities - 3 semester hours

Literature - 3 semester hours

All literature courses require successful completion of EN101 / ENGL101 - Proficiency in Writing or EN102 / ENGL102 - Effectiveness in Writing


Political Science - 3 semester hours
Core Requirements (3 semester hours)
  • HS334 / HIST300 - Research Methods in History
Major Course Requirements (36 semester hours)

History majors will complete courses from the following categories:

American History
Choose four of the following:

  • HS402 / HIST402 - Colonial America
  • HS413 / HIST403 - The Early Republic
  • HS414 / HIST404 - Jacksonian America
  • HS415 / HIST405 - Antebellum United States
  • HS416 / HIST406 - Civil War &Reconstruction
  • HS417 / HIST407 - The Gilded Age
  • HS418 / HIST408 - The Unrited States: 1900 – World War II
  • HS419 / HIST409 - The United States: World War II to the Present

Ancient and Classical History
Choose three of the following:

  • HS301 / HIST301 - Ancient Greece
  • HS302 / HIST302 - Ancient Rome
  • HS313 / HIST303 - The Middle Age 
  • HS305 / HIST304 - The Renaissance
  • HS307 / HIST305 - France in the Age of Enlightenment
  • HS308 / HIST306 - The British Empire
  • HS306 / HIST307 - The Age of Dictators

Diplomatic History
Choose two of the following:

  • MH353 / MILH411 - Diplomacy and War I
  • MH354 / MILH412 - Diplomacy and War II
  • MH371 / MILH421 - History of Peacekeeping: 1945 – 1987
  • MH372 / MILH422 - History of Peacekeeping: 1988 – Present

Global Cultures and History
Choose three of the following:

  • HS295 / HIST290 - History of the Holocaust
  • IR376 / HIST310 - History of Modern Europe
  • HS320 / HIST320 - History of Russia
  • HS335 / HIST330 - History of the Pacific Rim
  • HS340 / HIST340 - History of Africa
  • HS350 / HIST350 - History of the Middle East
  • IR355 / HIST351 - History of Iraq
  • IR362 / HIST360 - History of Latin America
  • IR342 / HIST370 - Asia & the Modern World
  • HS480 / HIST480 - Special Topic - this course, when offered, may be applied to fulfill major course requirements or elective requirements with permission of the Department Chair.
  • HS490 / HIST490 - Independent Study – this course may be applied to fulfill major course requirements or elective requirements with permission of the Department Chair.
Capstone Course (3 semester hours)
  • HS498 / HIST498 - Senior Seminar in History
    Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all core and major courses prior to enrollment.
Electives (42 semester hours)

Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a
minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Total = 121 semester hours

 Return to APUS Catalog | Bachelor's

AMU is a member institution of the American Public University System (APUS), which is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association and nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission, Distance Education and Training Council.
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