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See Courses & Program Info
View a complete list of history degree courses, program-specific and degree-level requirements, graduate-level credit opportunities, and more.
This program requires a total of 120 credits.
- 33 Required Major Credits: Review the required major core courses outlined below or view the recommended course sequence to progress through this program.
- 41 General Education Credits: Review the options available to fulfill the 41 credits of general education coursework for bachelor's degrees.
- 46 Minor & Elective Credits: Review a list of available academic minors or see the course catalog or Schedule of Classes to help you select elective courses.
Required Major Courses
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Vertical Pathway
Through a vertical pathway, students who complete this program may be eligible to reduce their total coursework for a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Develop Skills in Historical Analysis
Understanding historical contexts, developments, and the forces that shape our current environment is crucial so that we can inspire positive change. This online program is designed to give you the well-rounded knowledge and skills to interpret and evaluate past events to improve the future. The program aims to cultivate key competencies in areas such as historical methods; historical writing; critical thinking and analysis; cultural and temporal comparison; cause and effect understanding; communication of historical insights; ethics in historical interpretation; and more. Program directors regularly review and update the curriculum with an emphasis on helping students achieve the following:
10%
Job Growth
Overall employment of archivists, curators, and museum workers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | “Occupational Outlook Handbook” | Last Reviewed: April 15, 2024
119K
Job Openings
About 118,800 openings for postsecondary teachers are projected each year, on average, over the next decade.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | “Occupational Outlook Handbook” | Last Reviewed: April 15, 2024
109K
Job Openings
About 109,000 openings for kindergarten and elementary school teachers are projected each year, on average, over the next decade.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | “Occupational Outlook Handbook” | Last Reviewed: April 15, 2024
Apply What You Learn in Your Courses
Throughout the curriculum, your instructors will assign in-depth coursework that may help you prioritize real-world skills and hands-on experiences. In past courses, students have been able to complete the following projects:
- Apply historical thinking and research skills to a contemporary public policy issue to illuminate potential consequences and suggest possible interventions.
- Prepare written and oral testimony on a proposed legislative bill to create a new license plate honoring enslaved African Americans in Maryland.
- Develop a critical book review of a topic in European history that identifies each part of a monograph and develops abilities to present historical information for multiple audiences.
- Conduct a secondary nation study of a country before, during, and after World War II including political, economic, cultural, and military factors.
Explore History Insights
Gain insights from our faculty and staff and dive deeper into a range of topics, including black history, women’s history, our graduate teaching program, and more.
FAQs
Get answers to questions that current and prospective students are asking about program admission, credibility, certifications, and more.
UMGC's history degree is a 120-credit BA program that covers topics like U.S. and world histories, historical writings, historical records, and more. The program helps students prepare to work in a wide range of settings once they graduate, from museums to governments to the education sector. At UMGC, you may also be able to apply credits from your online history degree to the Master of Arts in Teaching graduate program, saving you time and money and giving you a head start if that is your chosen career path.
UMGC's online history degree is a 120-credit BA program with courses offered year-round. The time it will take you to complete your degree will depend on several factors, including your goals, how many transfer credits you have, your course load each semester, how soon you'd like to graduate, and whether you are able to benefit from one or more of our fast paths to credit, including credit for prior learning and credit for military education and training.
Tuition rates for history majors are very competitive and appear at the top of this page. We offer a low in-state rate for Maryland residents and a reduced tuition rate for military service members and their spouses and dependent children. We also offer scholarships for those who qualify, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make your online history degree more affordable and to help you graduate sooner.
You do not need any history-related background or experience to enroll in our undergraduate history degree program. As long as you meet our undergraduate admission requirements, you can enroll in this program.
You do not need any prior certifications to enroll in or complete this undergraduate history degree.
We recommend history majors explore the following student organizations while completing their degree program:
History Student Society
The History Student Society brings together students, alumni, faculty, and staff who have a shared interest in history and provides them with a space to exchange ideas, plan and host activities, and help fellow members advance in the field. It is available to students, alumni, faculty, and staff members. Students and alumni can join the History Student Society group on CareerQuest.
Phi Alpha Theta (History)
Phi Alpha Theta brings together students and faculty who are interested in the field of history. It is available to undergraduate students. You must have a GPA of 3.1 or higher in at least 12 credits of UMGC history courses and have an overall UMGC GPA of 3.0. It is open to all students in any major. For more information, please email pat@umgc.edu.
Pi Gamma Mu (Social Science Disciplines)
Pi Gamma Mu recognizes outstanding scholarship in the social sciences. UMGC's Maryland Theta chapter was recently added to the society’s Roll of Distinction and was also the winner of the 2020 UMGC Student Organization Awards Best in Show Activities and Events Award. It is available to undergraduate students. Membership is by invitation only. You must have completed at least 45 credits toward your degree to be eligible. If you have earned at least 20 credits in social science coursework (including at least 9 credits at UMGC) and have a GPA in the top 35 percent, you may be invited to join. For more information, please email marylandtheta@umgc.edu.