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History

Bachelor of
Arts in
History

A college history student reading a book
Young female history student reading a book while smiling

History is the study of the distant and current past: its peoples, societies, cultures, events, challenges, and more.

History is a debate about how to interpret “facts” and the causes, consequences, and significance of past events. Since the past has shaped the present, history is essential to understanding today’s issues, dilemmas, and opportunities. As William Faulkner noted, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”  History—the study and interpretation of human experience over time—is central to the humanities and liberal arts. As the American Historical Association notes, “everything has a history, including people.”

A B.A. in History from GCU is an exceptionally versatile degree that prepares you for a job in government, politics, law, journalism, editing, business, banking, museums, libraries, nonprofits, tourism, and education, as well as graduate and professional studies. Our history program emphasizes practical skills that employers value and seek: the ability to read critically, think logically, communicate effectively, conduct research, conceptualize, and understand and embrace diverse cultures and peoples.

GCU also offers a minor in history and a minor in politics, law & history.

"To broaden horizons, perspectives, and cultural imagination, I’m a strong advocate of travel and the liberal arts and humanities. In classes, I emphasize the links between past and present. To encourage travel and experiential learning, I take students to historical and cultural sites in the region and overseas. For instance, themed trips to Europe and Asia have included “World Wars & Holocaust,” “Americans and the Spanish Civil War,” and “America and Vietnam."
Scott Bennett
Scott H. Bennett, Ph.D. in History
Professor

Why Study History at GCU?

A woman in a History museum taking an audio guided tour

What Students Might Be Interested in History?

If you’re fascinated by the past and the world and interested in how its cultures, peoples, and events shape us today, a history degree is a great choice for you. And, if you’re committed to social justice, you’ll be inspired by historians who expose social injustice and bolster social reform. You’ll be encouraged to consider the ethical dimension in historical analysis.

Lovely day in the park with amazing literature

What Can I do with a History Degree?

Graduates from GCU’s history program are teachers, lawyers, journalists, museum curators, archivists, and librarians, among other professions, and many have earned graduate and professional degrees. Others—including history majors—also expand their horizons by earning a minor in Law, Politics, and History. A sampling of careers and median annual salaries are shown below. Note jobs that require a double major, minor, and/or an advanced degree and additional certifications and licensures are marked with an asterisk. Salaries are dependent on experience.

  • Journalist - $48,370
  • Paralegal/Legal Assistant* - $56,230
  • High School Teacher* - $61,820
  • Historian - $63,940
  • Librarian* - $61,190
  • Writer/Author - $ 69,510
  • Public Policy Analyst* - $87,270
  • Lobbyist - $116,800
  • Lawyer* - $135,740
  • U.S. Senator - $174,000

B.A. in History Program Information

You’ll need to successfully complete at least 120 credits, including General Education requirements and 36 semester hours of coursework in history: A maximum of 12 credits in 100-level courses, a maximum of 6 credits in 200-level courses, and 18 credits in 300- and 400-level courses in the major. GCU’s history degree is one of the most flexible on campus.

To earn this degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including General Education requirements and the major requirements below.

Major Sequence

A maximum of four 100-level courses will be accepted in the major. A maximum of two 200-level courses will be accepted in the major. History majors will be required to take 36 semester hours in history to earn the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. Majors take:

HST110U.S. History Survey I 13.0
HST111U.S. History Survey II 13.0
HST120World History Survey I3.0
HST121World History Survey II3.0
300- and 400-level courses (excluding internships) 218.0
Additional courses above the 100-level6.0
Total Credits36.0
1

History majors can use HST150 African American History to satisfy either the HST110 U.S. History Survey I or the HST111 U.S. History Survey II requirement, but not both.  A transfer course on African American History 1619-Present will be accepted in place of either HST110 or HST 111, but not both.

2

Including HST300 Historian’s Craft and HST475 History Seminar.

History majors (but not others) must complete HST300 Historian’s Craft with a C- or higher, prior to or concurrent with enrollment in 200-/300-/ 400-level history courses.

To successfully exit the department, majors are required to earn a minimum grade of C- on the HST475 History Seminar research paper, a minimum grade of C- in HST475 History Seminar, and a minimum final grade point average of 2.5 in the major.

A maximum of 18 approved credits for the history major may be accepted in transfer, and 9 approved credits for the history minor.




For more information on program requirements, consult the Undergraduate Catalog.

If you’re interested in our history program, here are other programs at GCU you might be interested in exploring:

"The professors and staff within the history department are a wealth of knowledge and super enthusiastic about their specific areas of expertise. It’s fun to be in the classroom! There are opportunities for student-faculty research and presenting your papers at conferences. I’m a 100% better writer because of my history courses and that’s helped me a lot in my graduate studies."
Gabriel Rodriguez
Gabriel Rodriguez ’21,’22

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Georgian Court University has extended the deposit deadline to June 1 in response to the U.S. Department of Education announcement concerning delayed data availability from the revised Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additionally, deposits are also refundable up to June 1. Click here for more information about the deposit extension.