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History, B.A.

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The History (BA) program develops a deep knowledge of the past and builds transferable skills that prepare students for careers in a wide variety of fields, including government and public service, business, journalism and the media, the military, education, non-profit organizations, and graduate school. By studying the past, students gain the context and tools to better understand our contemporary world and to adapt to a changing future.

All courses emphasize content knowledge and skills development. History students develop strong writing, research, communication, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. You will take a broad range of courses in areas such as American history, European history, non-Western history, and public history. Before you graduate, you will complete a capstone experience in which you develop a major research project applying the skills you have obtained. We emphasize students expanding their learning beyond the classroom through hands-on experiences, such as internships, independent research, and service-learning projects.

With a deep foundation in marketable skills, history majors are well prepared to pursue a career in a wide variety of professional fields. Our graduates use their degree to springboard to government and public service, media and journalism, business careers, education, and graduate school. Our department's focus on global history prepares students for careers with international organizations and government agencies that seek individuals with an understanding of other societies and cultures. Our department offers students continuous career advisement to introduce possible career paths. We invite our alumni back to campus for networking and encourage students to complete internships to develop work-place skills. 

Career paths for history majors include:

  • Museums and Historical Organization Director
  • Cultural Resources Management and Historic Preservation Specialist
  • Archivist and Librarian
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Foreign Service Officer
  • Lawyer
  • Lobbyist and Policy Advisor
  • Business Consultant
  • Marketing Associate
  • Non-Profit Director
  • Writer and editor
  • Journalist
  • Information Manager

Our students also pursue graduate studies in a wide variety of fields, such as law school, public history, public administration, and divinity school.

Our classes are small and students get to know and work with faculty both inside and outside the classroom. There are many great opportunities for experiential learning, including internships, studying abroad, research, campus talks and events, and volunteer opportunities. The surrounding area offers Ship students a rich variety of historic sites and institutions for internship and research opportunities, including:

  • Fashion Archives and Museum of Shippensburg University
  • Cumberland County Historical Society
  • Gettysburg National Military Park
  • Pennsylvania State Museum and Archives
  • United States Army Heritage and Education Center
  • United States Civil War Museum

The department also has an active History Club to take part in activities and field trips to historical sites, as well as Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. The student-run organization also connects with alumni, allowing you to learn about careers through lectures, workshops, and shared experiences. We also have an active chapter of Pi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society, for those who qualify.

Course work for History B.A.

In addition to general education requirements, this major requires a solid core in history courses with many opportunities to pursue personal interests through history electives. The history major provides great flexibility that allows you to pair your history degree with one or two minors to broaden your skills and get an edge when looking for employment or applying to graduate school. This degree includes 42-45 credits in free electives.

For full course descriptions, please visit the undergraduate catalog.

*All undergraduate degree programs require a minimum of 120 credits. Some courses meet multiple requirements, but are only counted once toward the 120 credit total required to graduate.

The Shippensburg University General Education Program is the university curriculum that is shared by all undergraduate students. Details for courses you will take can be found here.

General Education Requirements Specific for this major

  • Global Perspective (G): HIST 106

All students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree are required to attain proficiency in a foreign language. Proficiency may be satisfied by completing a language class at the 103 (intermediate) level or three years of any one foreign language in high school. Students may also meet this requirement through AP or CLEP testing.

Required (12 credits)

  • HIST 201 - Early History of the United States
  • HIST 202 - Recent History of the United States 
  • HIST 203 - Theory and Practice of History 
  • HIST 397 - Seminar in Comparative History

Restricted Electives (12 credits)

  • One level 300 or above American History Course
  • One level 300 or above European History Course
  • Two level 300 or above Non-Western History Courses

Free Electives in History (6 credits)

  • 6 credits and 2 courses in history at least level 300 or above

American History Concentration

American History Concentration allows you to pursue specialized coursework and develop expertise in United States history. The program develops a deep knowledge of the past and builds transferable skills that prepare students for careers in a wide variety of fields, including government and public service, business, journalism and the media, the military, education, non-profit organizations, and graduate school. By studying the past, students gain the context and tools to better understand our contemporary world and to adapt to a changing future. This degree includes 36-39 credits in free electives. For full course descriptions, please visit the undergraduate catalog.

The Shippensburg University General Education Program is the university curriculum that is shared by all undergraduate students. Details for courses you will take can be found here.

General Education Requirements Specific for this major

  • Global Perspective (G): HIST 106 

All students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree are required to attain proficiency in a foreign language. Proficiency may be satisfied by completing a language class at the 103 (intermediate) level or three years of any one foreign language in high school. Students may also meet this requirement through AP or CLEP testing.

  • HIST 201 - Early History of the United States 
  • HIST 202 - Recent History of the United States 
  • HIST 203 - Theory and Practice of History 
  • HIST 397 - Seminar in Comparative History 

  • One level 300 or above American History Course
  • One level 300 or above European History Course
  • Two level 300 or above Non-Western History Courses

Select 12 credits from the following courses:

  • HIST 301 - The West in American History
  • HIST 305 - The Civil War Era 
  • HIST 307 - America from War to Watergate, 1945-1974 
  • HIST 309 - History of the American Worker 
  • HIST 314 - History of Jacksonian America 
  • HIST 318 - History of U.S. Women 
  • HIST 319 - Introduction to Public History 
  • HIST 338 - Colonial America 
  • HIST 341 - African-American History 
  • HIST 342 - U.S. Immigration and Ethnicity 
  • HIST 345 - Military History of the United States 
  • HIST 352 - The US and Vietnam 
  • HIST 358 - American Environmental History 
  • HIST 374 - America Since Watergate, 1974-2008 
  • HIST 385 - Selected Topics in History (with advisement)
  • HIST 386 - History Research Seminar (with advisement)
  • HIST 387 - History Internship (with advisement)
  • HIST 388 - Selected Topics in History (with advisement)
  • HIST 389 - History Internship (with advisement)
  • HIST 391 - History Internship (with advisement)
  • HIST 394 - Selected Topics in History (with advisement)
  • HIST 402 - Revolutionary America
  • HIST 413 - Pennsylvania History
  • HIST 428 - Issues in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era
  • HIST 430 - U.S. Cultural History 
  • HIST 433 - Oral History 
  • HIST 490 - Selected Topics in History (with advisement)
  • HIST 496 - Select Topics in Public History (with advisement)

Asian & Middle Eastern Concentration

Asian & Middle Eastern History Concentration allows you to pursue specialized coursework and develop expertise in Asian and Middle Eastern history. The program develops a deep knowledge of the past and builds transferable skills that prepare students for careers in a wide variety of fields, including government and public service, international organizations, business, journalism and the media, the military, education, non-profit organizations, and graduate school. By studying the past, students gain the context and tools to better understand our contemporary world and to adapt to a changing future. This degree includes 36-39 credits in free electives. For full course descriptions, please visit the undergraduate catalog.

The Shippensburg University General Education Program is the university curriculum that is shared by all undergraduate students. Details for courses you will take can be found here.

General Education Requirements Specific for this major

  • Global Perspective (G): HIST 106 

All students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree are required to attain proficiency in a foreign language. Proficiency may be satisfied by completing a language class at the 103 (intermediate) level or three years of any one foreign language in high school. Students may also meet this requirement through AP or CLEP testing.

  • HIST 201 - Early History of the United States
  • HIST 202 - Recent History of the United States
  • HIST 203 - Theory and Practice of History
  • HIST 397 - Seminar in Comparative History

  • One level 300 or above American History Course
  • One level 300 or above European History Course
  • Two level 300 or above Non-Western History Courses

Select 12 credits from the following courses:

  • HIST 339 - The Central Islamic Lands, 500-1700
  • HIST 344 - History of the Modern Middle East 
  • HIST 350 - History of Modern Japan 
  • HIST 353 - Modern Southeast Asia 
  • HIST 354 - Traditional China 
  • HIST 355 - History of Modern China 
  • HIST 382 - Selected Topics in History (with advisement)
  • HIST 383 - Selected Topics in History (with advisement)
  • HIST 386 - History Research Seminar (with advisement)
  • HIST 387 - History Internship (with advisement)
  • HIST 389 - History Internship (with advisement)
  • HIST 391 - History Internship (with advisement)
  • HIST 394 - Selected Topics in History (with advisement)
  • HIST 445 - History of Saudi Arabia
  • HIST 454 - China and the Outside World
  • HIST 482 - Selected Topics in History (with advisement)
  • HIST 483 - Selected Topics in History (with advisement)
  • HIST 496 - Select Topics in Public History (with advisement)
  • PHIL 336 - Concepts in Buddhism

European History Concentration

European History Concentration allows you to pursue specialized coursework and develop expertise in European history. The program develops a deep knowledge of the past and builds transferable skills that prepare students for careers in a wide variety of fields, including government and public service, international organizations, business, journalism and the media, the military, education, non-profit organizations, and graduate school. By studying the past, students gain the context and tools to better understand our contemporary world and to adapt to a changing future. This degree includes 36-39 credits in free electives. For full course descriptions, please visit the undergraduate catalog.

The Shippensburg University General Education Program is the university curriculum that is shared by all undergraduate students. Details for courses you will take can be found here.

General Education Requirements Specific for this major

  • Global Perspective (G): HIST 106 

All students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree are required to attain proficiency in a foreign language. Proficiency may be satisfied by completing a language class at the 103 (intermediate) level or three years of any one foreign language in high school. Students may also meet this requirement through AP or CLEP testing.

  • HIST 201 - Early History of the United States
  • HIST 202 - Recent History of the United States
  • HIST 203 - Theory and Practice of History
  • HIST 397 - Seminar in Comparative History 

  • One level 300 or above American History Course
  • One level 300 or above European History Course
  • Two level 300 or above Non-Western History Courses

Select 12 credits from the following courses:

  • HIST 320 - Europe in the Early and High Middle Ages: 300 to 1270 
  • HIST 321 - Late Medieval Europe: 1270 to 1517
  • HIST 325 - History of the Tsarist Russia
  • HIST 326 - History of the U.S.S.R. 
  • HIST 330 - History of Modern Germany: 1919 to Present 
  • HIST 331 - History of Modern France: 1750 to Present 
  • HIST 332 - English History: 1066 to Present 
  • HIST 334 - Europe 1715-1815: The Era of the Industrial and French Revolutions 
  • HIST 337 - History of the Byzantine Empire 
  • HIST 348 - The History of Ancient Rome 
  • HIST 356 - History of 19th Century Europe 
  • HIST 357 - History of Holocaust 
  • HIST 359 - History of Western Political Thought, 1500-1800 
  • HIST 361 - History of 20th Century Europe
  • HIST 362 - Europe 1450-1715: The Era of the Renaissance and Reformation
  • HIST 386 - History Research Seminar (with advisement)
  • HIST 387 - History Internship (with advisement)
  • HIST 389 - History Internship (with advisement)
  • HIST 390 - Selected Topics in History (with advisement)
  • HIST 391 - History Internship (with advisement)
  • HIST 394 - Selected Topics in History (with advisement)
  • HIST 423 - Issues in 20th-Century Europe
  • HIST 492 - Selected Topics in History (with advisement)
  • HIST 496 - Select Topics in Public History (with advisement)

Public History Concentration

Public History Concentration provides the specialized training, mentorship, and hands-on experiences that prepare you for a career working with history in public settings, such as a museum, archive, government agency, or historic site. As one of the oldest undergraduate public history programs in the country, Shippensburg University offers a quality degree with a national reputation and an enthusiastic network of loyal alumni eager to help Ship students to make connections and launch their careers. This degree includes 36-39 credits in free electives. For full course descriptions, please visit the undergraduate catalog.

The Shippensburg University General Education Program is the university curriculum that is shared by all undergraduate students. Details for courses you will take can be found here.

General Education Requirements Specific for this major

  • Global Perspective (G): HIST 106 

All students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree are required to attain proficiency in a foreign language. Proficiency may be satisfied by completing a language class at the 103 (intermediate) level or three years of any one foreign language in high school. Students may also meet this requirement through AP or CLEP testing.

  • HIST 201 - Early History of the United States 
  • HIST 202 - Recent History of the United States 
  • HIST 203 - Theory and Practice of History 
  • HIST 397 - Seminar in Comparative History

  • One level 300 or above American History Course
  • One level 300 or above European History Course
  • Two level 300 or above Non-Western History Courses

Required:

  • HIST 319 - Introduction to Public History

Select one:

  • HIST 390 - Selected Topics in History
  • HIST 413 - Pennsylvania History
  • HIST 430 - U.S. Cultural History
  • HIST 433 - Oral History 
  • HIST 460 - Archives and Public History
  • HIST 490 - Selected Topics in History 

Required internship (6 credits):

  • HIST 387 - History Internship
  • HIST 389 - History Internship
  • HIST 391 - History Internship

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