Historical Studies (B.A.)

Historical Studies (B.A.)
Laughing teacher in a classroom with trees visible through bright windows
ÌýÌýÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Program

This online program will further develop your skills in critical thinking, research, writing, argumentation, and documentation.

ÌýCredit Hours:Ìý120Ìý |Ìý ÌýTransfer: Up to 90 CreditsÌý |ÌýÌýÌýTuition Cost


What is Historical Studies?

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Historical Studies hones the skills of critical thinking, analytical reading, effective writing, and information synthesis. The B.A. in Historical Studies provides a sound foundation for a variety of careers and generalizes well to a range of industries. The degree also provides the necessary background for further study for those seeking a graduate degree in history or historic preservation, education, or in a closely related field such as law or political science.

This program provides both breadth and depth of historical studies. Students receive a strong foundation in U.S. and World History, as well as options to focus on specific topics in upper level courses. Primary source interpretation and "going to the source," is central to their study of the past. Students have the freedom to choose a historical topic of their choice for their final capstone project or develop an internship which also requires a research component.

Why study Historical Studies at UNH College of Professional Studies?

This program will further develop your skills in critical thinking, research, writing, argumentation, and documentation. In your courses, you’ll gain aÌý sound foundation for a variety of careers and generalizes well to a range of industries. Since knowledge of the past is so important in understanding who we are today, a student in this program develops skills in assessing the causes, consequences, and significance of historic events and the forces that shaped them. This is a flexible program that is completely online yet it also provides students the opportunity to complete a degree program that meets the requirements for a broad range of graduate and post-bacc programs, such as teacher's certification, Master's of Library Science, Archives and Collections, Project Management, and Research, or the Legal Field. While some degrees require additional education, the skills that students develop in a historical studies program provide a strong foundation for a variety of different careers. Please reach out to the Program Director or Director of Career Services to discuss your career goals or personal interests in greater depth.

Many well-known personalities were history majors, such as Edward Norton, Conan O'Brien, Steve Carell, Bill O'Reilly, Wolf Blitzer, Chris Hughes, Antonin Scalia, and Anthony Kennedy.

Potential Career Areas

  • Historians
  • Teachers
  • Public Service
  • Political Scientists
  • Archivists
  • Curators
  • Museum Technicians and Conservators
  • Non-Profit and Cultural Organizations
  • Business & Consulting

Course Highlights


  • Great Civilizations
  • Historical Methods
  • Topics in World History
  • American Government and Politics
  • U.S. History to 1865
  • U.S. History: 1865 to Present
  • European History: Renaissance through the Industrial Revolution
  • Historical Methods
  • Themes in World History

…and more!

Why UNH CPS?


  • Regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE).
  • Available fully online with select on-campus courses.
  • Affordable tuition.
  • Nationally ranked online programs.
  • About 89% of our students are transfer students. Making the most of your transfer credits is our specialty.
  • Career advising is available to all students and alumni. We also extend this service to those considering their college options.
  • Faculty who are subject matter experts and share their real-world expertise, helping you apply what you learn to your personal goals and career.
  • We’re experts at assessing credit toward your undergraduate degree – not only from previous college coursework, but also for other college-level knowledge demonstrated outside the traditional classroom.

Whether you completed your associate degree or took a few courses, we have experience working with community college students nationwide and we are experts at maximizing your transfer credits. We are proud of our formal partnerships to support community college graduates through our Transfer Pathways.Ìý

Students pursuing an associate degree at a New Hampshire community college are encouraged to explore our Transfer Pathway below.

  • Completion of our free, online application for admission
  • High school diploma, completion of a high school education in a homeschool setting under state law, or demonstrate high school equivalency.
    • Successful completion of one of the following exams will be required for demonstrating high school equivalency: the GED, HiSET, or TASC

Curriculum & Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Historical Studies hones the skills of critical thinking, analytical reading, effective writing, and information synthesis. The B.A. in Historical Studies provides a sound foundation for a variety of careers and generalizes well to a range of industries. The degree also provides the necessary background for further study to those seeking a graduate degree in history or historic preservation, or in a closely related field such as law or political science.

This degree plan is a sample and does not reflect the impact of transfer credit or current course offerings. UNH CPS ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ undergraduate students should develop individual academic plans with their academic advisor during their first year at UNH.

Sample Course Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ENGÌý420 The Writing Process 4
HISÌý410 United States History to 1865 4
HISÌý411 United States History: 1865 to the Present 4
General Education or Foreign Language 4
ÌýCredits16
Spring
COMÌý460 Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics 4
CRITÌý501 Introduction to Critical Inquiry 4
HISÌý402 Great Civilizations 4
MTHÌý402
or MTHÌý504
or MTHÌý510
Math for Our World
or Statistics
or Pre-Calculus
4
ÌýCredits16
Second Year
Fall
COMÌý480 Visual Communication 4
ARTÌý550
or HUMNÌý502
or POLÌý450
or POLÌý554
Art History: Western World
or American Popular Culture
or American Government and Politics
or Law and Society
4
General Education or Foreign Language 4
Elective 4
ÌýCredits16
Spring
HISÌý512 European History: Renaissance through the Industrial Revolution 4
HISÌý590 Historical Methods 4
General Education or Foreign Language 4
Elective 4
ÌýCredits16
Third Year
Fall
CRITÌý602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking 4
HISÌý611 Themes in World History 4
CRIMÌý707
or HISÌý602
or HISÌý718
or HISÌý727
or POLÌý690
Constitutional Law
or History of New England
or History of World War II
or Vietnam War: An Historical Perspective
or The US in World Affairs
4
General Education or Language Requirement 4
ÌýCredits16
Spring
COMÌý665
or COMÌý590
or ENGÌý590
Media and Strategic Communication
or Professional Communication
or Expository Writing
4
HISÌý602
or HISÌý718
or HISÌý727
or CRIMÌý707
or POLÌý690
History of New England
or History of World War II
or Vietnam War: An Historical Perspective
or Constitutional Law
or The US in World Affairs
4
General Education or Foreign Language 4
Elective 4
ÌýCredits16
Fourth Year
Fall
HISÌý718
or HISÌý602
or HISÌý727
or CRIMÌý707
or POLÌý690
History of World War II
or History of New England
or Vietnam War: An Historical Perspective
or Constitutional Law
or The US in World Affairs
4
IDISÌý601 Interdisciplinary Seminar 4
Elective 4
ÌýCredits12
Spring
HISÌý797
or HISÌý795
Integrative: Project in History
or Integrative Capstone: Internship in History
4
Elective 4
Elective 4
ÌýCredits12
ÌýTotal Credits120

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 120 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 30 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0 is required for conferral
Core Curriculum Required: General Education Program
Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement*
Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
GPA: Major and any state certification GPA requirements may be higher and are indicated in program details.
Ìý
A minimum grade of C- is required in all Major coursework. Some programs may have higher grade requirements for Major coursework as noted in the Major requirements section below. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor, and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor. Please note that Option requirements are considered part of the Major. Students must complete 16 upper-level credits in majors within the College of Professional Studies, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ.

General Education Program Requirements

A minimum grade of D- is required in all General Education coursework. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor.

All General Education requirements, including CRITÌý602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDISÌý601 Interdisciplinary Seminar, must be taken prior to the capstone.

ENGÌý420The Writing Process4
COMÌý460Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics4
COMÌý480Visual Communication4
CRITÌý501Introduction to Critical Inquiry4
Select one of the following:4
MTHÌý402
Math for Our World
MTHÌý504
Statistics
MTHÌý510
Pre-Calculus
4
4
4
CRITÌý602Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking4
IDISÌý601Interdisciplinary Seminar4
Total Credits40

Writing Program Requirements

All bachelor's degree candidates are required to complete four writing intensive courses as part of the University as follows:

ENGÌý420
The Writing Process
One Writing Intensive course in the Major
One Writing Intensive course at the 600-level or above
One Additional Writing Intensive Course

Writing Intensive courses are identified with the label "Writing Intensive Course" in the "Attributes" section of the course description and/or a W following the course number.

Major Requirements

Prior to capstone enrollment, students are expected to complete the majority of their required major courses along with CRITÌý602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDISÌý601 Interdisciplinary Seminar. Students should consult with their advisor regarding specific major courses that may be completed with their capstone. Academic Advisor approval is required for registration to be processed.

Major in Historical Studies
Foundational Courses
HISÌý402Great Civilizations4
HISÌý410United States History to 18654
HISÌý411United States History: 1865 to the Present4
HISÌý512European History: Renaissance through the Industrial Revolution4
Select one of the following:4
ARTÌý550
Art History: Western World
orÌýHUMNÌý502
American Popular Culture
orÌýPOLÌý450
American Government and Politics
orÌýPOLÌý554
Law and Society
Intermediate Courses
HISÌý590Historical Methods4
Select one of the following:4
COMÌý590
Professional Communication
orÌýCOMÌý665
Media and Strategic Communication
orÌýENGÌý590
Expository Writing
Advanced Courses
HISÌý611Themes in World History4
Select three of the following:12
CRIMÌý707
Constitutional Law
orÌýHISÌý602
History of New England
orÌýHISÌý718
History of World War II
orÌýHISÌý727
Vietnam War: An Historical Perspective
orÌýPOLÌý690
The US in World Affairs
Integrative Capstone
HISÌý795Integrative Capstone: Internship in History4
orÌýHISÌý797 Integrative: Project in History
Total Credits48

Electives

Open electivesÌýare coursesÌýstudents will need to take in addition to their general education and major requirements in order toÌýsatisfy the remaining credit totalsÌýfor their programs. Open electivesÌýareÌýdefinedÌýas any creditÌýcourseÌýoffered by the College not already included in the student's general education, major, option or minor.ÌýStudents will need 120 credits total to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Division of the College of Professional Studies.

*

The Bachelor of Arts degree requires proficiency in a foreign language. This requirement may be fulfilled by completing the equivalent of a full-year elementary-level course in a language not previously studied, or by completing the equivalent of a semester of a course in a foreign language at the intermediate or higher level, or by earning credit through an approved Advanced Placement or College Board foreign language achievement test (minimum scores vary). The proficiency in a foreign language requirement must be satisfied by the end of the sophomore year. No credit is awarded for elementary year college coursework if the student has had two or more years of that language in high school. It is strongly advised that students check with academic departments to identify department-advised specific foreign language proficiency options.

Note: A student with a documented disability who wishes accommodation on the basis that the disability will prevent them from successfully mastering a foreign language requirement, or whose foreign language requirement was waived in high school because of a documented disability, must contactÌý , Smith Hall, (603) 862-2607 (Voice/TDD).

  • Appraise and contextualize information in order to convey both the particularity of past lives and the scale of human experience.
  • Evaluate the multiple causes of complex events and phenomena using a multitude of sources and perspectives.
  • Analyze U.S. history from the period of native peoples through the present.
  • Explore world history, emphasizing major trends that influenced multiple nations and regions.
  • Investigate the contributions and experiences of diverse peoples to national and world events.
  • Craft well-supported historical narratives, arguments, and reports of research findings in a variety of media using discipline-specific writing and citation conventions.

Your Prior and Current Learning Counts


Many of our students can demonstrate college-level knowledge gained from military, workplace and volunteer-based training, and experiences. We are experts at helping students demonstrate learning and earning academic credit.

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Career Outcomes

Talk with your advisor to discuss how your program, experience, and goals align.