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.
History students develop strong writing, research, communication, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. By studying the past, students gain the context and tools to better understand our contemporary and ever-changing world.
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 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 closely with faculty. There are many great opportunities for experiential learning, including internships, studying abroad, research, campus talks and events, and service-learning 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.
4+1 Program Available
With careful planning, you may be able to complete a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in Applied History with only one additional year of study through a 4+1 program. For more information, contact the History Department.
Course work for History BA
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.
Public History Concentration
The 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, historical society, 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.
In addition to gaining the same core skills as all history majors, public history students receive specialized training in areas such as historical interpretation, archival methods, oral history interviewing, digital humanities, historic preservation, and museum studies. Students will also have the opportunity to put those skills to use in real-world, field-based projects.
Our campus offers unique opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in the field. The Shippensburg University Fashion Archives and Museum provides public history students with access to our student-friendly professional museum and its world-class collection of over 20,000 artifacts. Under the direction of the museum’s director, you can gain practical experience in collections management, artifact care and handling, material culture research, and exhibits as you work with one-of-a-kind pieces of historical clothing. At the University Archives, students learn about the preservation and collection management of university archival materials.
. For full course descriptions, please visit the undergraduate catalog.
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.
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.
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.