History, BA
Learn about the past while preparing for your future. You build versatile skills that carry into countless careers and strengthen the kind of informed citizenship a healthy democracy depends on. This degree helps you sharpen abilities that will serve you at work and in shaping the world around you.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Accelerated MGM program options are not available to ASU Online students at this time.
Degree description
History degree description
In the Bachelor of Arts in history, you study the growth and development of human society from political, social, economic and cultural perspectives. You learn to craft stories from materials that other people have left behind --- constitutions, land deeds, diaries, guns and bones. You 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. You learn to use and create digital media, work on public history projects, conduct oral history interviews, perform qualitative analysis and present your findings in compelling ways to all kinds of audiences.
In addition to reviewing the guidelines in the Concurrent Program Options section below, if you're interested in pursuing concurrent or second baccalaureate degrees in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, you can visit The College's website for more information and requirements.
Why study history at ASU?
You gain and develop valuable skills such as critical thinking, decision making, empathy, communication and argument formation as well as the skills to assess evidence, sort out conflicting interpretations, and draw informed conclusions about the ever-changing world in which we live.
You can also apply for Undergraduate Research Experiences, spending a semester as a research assistant working alongside an individual faculty member on their research project. This gives you a chance to develop invaluable relationships with faculty while gaining first-hand experience with professional research --- all while earning up to 9 hours of elective credits.
Additional details
Want to go further, faster? An accelerated master's option, available on the Tempe campus and online, lets you earn both your bachelor's and master's degrees in as little as five years.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| HST 130 The Historian's Craft |
| HST 495 Methods of Historical Inquiry |
| HST 303 Studies in Asian History |
| HST 304 Studies in European History |
| HST 306 Studies in United States History |
| HST 100 Global History to 1500 |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- 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.
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. Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
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.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archivist | 3.4% | $64,550 | Learn more |
| Editor | -1.1% | $77,920 | Learn more |
| Historian | 3.0% | $76,750 | Learn more |
| History Professor | 0.0% | $83,820 | Learn more |
| Intelligence Officer | 0.2% | $93,790 | Learn more |
| Lawyer | 4.7% | $159,670 | Learn more |
| Military Officer | Not available | Not available | Learn more |
| Museum Curator | 4.9% | $63,420 | Learn more |
| News Reporter | -5.9% | $62,200 | Learn more |
| Politician | Not available | Not available | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Careers this history degree prepares you for
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
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch
|
COOR 4591
SHPRSadvising@asu.edu
480-965-8364
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
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. 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.
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.
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.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
