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History ,BA

History, BA


Africa, America, Asia, Civilizations, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Native American, Rennaisance, United States, War, government, medieval, museum, politics

Only the stand-alone BA or the accelerated History BA/MA combination are available to ASU Online students at this time.


Learn about the past while preparing for your future. In one of the largest undergraduate history programs in the country, you can explore a variety of time periods and regions, like ancient Greece and modern Mexico, and topics such as sports, engineering, health, genocide, witchcraft and many more.

Program description

Students pursuing the BA in history study the growth and development of human society from political, social, economic and cultural perspectives. Students learn to craft stories from materials other people have left behind --- constitutions, land deeds, diaries, guns and bones. They learn to make decisions about what to investigate, whom to believe, what happened first, and why things fell apart or came together.

History is a discipline that constantly adopts new techniques of analysis and new ways of gathering and presenting information. Students of history learn to use and create digital media, work on public history projects, conduct oral history interviews, perform qualitative analysis and present their findings in compelling ways to all kinds of audiences.

In addition to reviewing the guidelines in the Concurrent Program Options section below, students interested in pursuing concurrent or second baccalaureate degrees in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are advised to visit The College's website for more information and requirements.

At a glance
  • Second language requirement: Yes
  • First required math course: MAT 142 - College Mathematics
  • Math intensity: Generalprogram math intensity general

Required courses (Major Map)
Concurrent program options
Students pursuing concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”) earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with their academic advisors, students can create their own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Accelerated program options
Admission requirements

General university admission requirements:

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Change of Major requirements

A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.

Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.

Attend online
ASU Online

ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.

ASU Local

It is now possible to earn an ASU degree with ASU Local, an integrated college experience in which students take advantage of in-person success coaching and programming experiences on site while completing one of 130+ undergraduate online degree programs, all of which come with online faculty interaction and tutoring support.

Transfer options

ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.

ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.

Program learning outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:

  • Discern and articulate matters of historical cause and effect and construct a well-reasoned argument accounting for the necessary and sufficient causes of historical events.
  • Analyze and discuss historical change and continuity in American institutions and cultures.
  • Explore historical evidence in order to understand and compare competing perspectives on events.
  • Analyze continuity and change in global contexts, and understand the reasons for and consequences of dividing history into eras.
  • Acquire information about one or more societies outside of the United States and be able to analyze the culture and institutions of that society.
Global opportunities
Global experience

Understanding the events that have led humanity to this point is a large aspect of being a history major. There is no better way to understand historical events than through study abroad, living in the nations where the events happened, among the people and surrounded by the language and culture. Students gain not only memories that last a lifetime, but also skills that can help them succeed in every aspect of their professional and personal lives.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recommends the following study abroad programs for students majoring in history.

Career opportunities

History majors are in demand. They know how to find and evaluate evidence, form arguments and present analysis --- skills essential to most careers, including law, business, education, medicine and government.

Three out of four employers surveyed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities say they want colleges to place more emphasis on helping students develop five key learning outcomes: critical thinking, complex problem-solving, written communication, oral communication and applied knowledge in real-world settings. These learning outcomes are integral elements of an undergraduate degree in history.

History majors seek jobs in:

  • business and industry
  • communications
  • education
  • foreign service
  • law enforcement
  • museums
  • public administration
  • social services

History is an excellent foundation for graduate and professional studies in:

  • business
  • history
  • justice studies
  • law
  • medicine
  • public administration
  • public history
  • theology

Career example titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience, geographical location, and required advanced degrees or certifications may affect pay scales.


Career *Growth *Median salary
8.2%
$58,640
-4.0%
$73,080
3.1%
$64,540
1.3%
$79,400
1.5%
$86,280
Lawyer   Bright Outlook
7.5%
$135,740
%
Not available
11.1%
$60,380
-3.3%
$55,960
3.4%
$48,090
* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

Bright OutlookBright Outlook

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)?
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program in which residents of western states (other than Arizona) may be eligible for reduced nonresident tuition. See more information and eligibility requirements on the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.

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