Online History Degree Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Study the evolution of the United States in the online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History with a concentration in American History at Southern New Hampshire University. From the struggles for freedom during the American Revolution to the rise of the United States as a world leader in the 20th century, tracing the expansion and growth of the U.S. provides a compelling perspective on how our nation now fits into the dynamic global environment.

Courses in the program have been arranged both chronologically and thematically, covering topics such as African-American and environmental history.

Throughout your online history degree program, you'll assess the significance of historical periods and themes through an analysis of key events and figures and their connections to historical contexts. You'll also take courses in historical methods, culminating in a senior colloquium and research project.

Career outlook:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals with a bachelor's degree in history may qualify for entry-level historian positions at museums, historical associations or other similar organizations.

However, most bachelor's degree holders usually apply their wide-ranging skillsets to work outside of traditional history jobs, finding positions in business, communications, education, journalism, law or publishing.¹

Courses may include:

• American Environmental History
• Civil War and Reconstruction
• Colonial New England
• United States History Since 1945

Gain an in-depth knowledge of Europe's past with an online Bachelor of Arts in History (BA) with a concentration in European History. From ancient Greece and Rome to Europe's involvement in World War I and World War II, the European history degree online explores the multifaceted changes during that continent's long history. You'll examine history through the prism of religion, politics, warfare and the arts.

In this concentration, you'll come away with a strong knowledge of 20th-century European history, providing you with the ability to understand events both chronologically and thematically.

In addition, you'll take courses in historical methods and complete your program with a research project.

Career outlook:

Those with a bachelor's degree in history may qualify for entry-level historian positions at museums, historical associations or other similar organizations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Roles that history majors are attracted to include communications specialist, editor, journalist or researcher.¹

Courses may include:

• The Ancient World of Greece and Rome
• European Conquest of the New World
• Modern European History: 1890 – Present
• World War I and World War II

From the rise of Islam through the Middle East's involvement in a range of regional and international conflicts, this region has long been the subject of attention on the world stage. The online Bachelor of Arts in History (BA) with a concentration in Middle Eastern Studies at SNHU explores the religious, political and economic realities of this region throughout history. You'll also examine the Arab-Israeli conflict that emerged after World War II and continues to this day.

Learn how to frame, develop and present ideas and arguments that help you convince, persuade and educate. You can also use your Middle Eastern History course of studies to support your ideas and opinions with sophisticated research skills that employ proven techniques for pinpointing, analyzing and organizing information.

Career outlook:

Graduates of history programs may qualify for entry-level historian positions at museums, historical associations or other similar organizations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Outside of history jobs, graduates often look at careers¹ like:

• Communication specialist
• Editor
• Journalist
• Researcher

Courses may include:

• History of the Middle East I & II
• Arab-Israeli Conflict

Examine how warfare has influenced the development of civilization and culture through our online Bachelor of Arts in History with a concentration in Military History degree program.

Learn how warfare evolved through history by studying:

• The Civil War and its Reconstruction period
• The industrial era of World War I
• Military advances during World War II
• America's rise as a global power and the Cold War
• The impact modern warfare has had on non-Western societies

The online military history degree explores events leading up to each of these wars, as well as the social, economic and political aspects of their aftermath.

In this military history degree concentration, you'll acquire a valuable understanding of military history by reading, evaluating and discussing events that have significantly influenced society.

If you're in the military, a military history degree can help prepare you for career paths within the armed forces. Over 60% of the students in our military history program are military affiliated. Since frequent moves and deployments can be difficult for service members pursuing higher education, SNHU's flexible programs are the ideal option for many students.

The BA in History degree structure provides the flexibility that service members and veterans may need to finish the degree they started elsewhere. With regular access to the internet, you're able to continue your education, even if you're thousands of miles away from a classroom.

What's more, active-duty military service members and their spouses receive significant discounts from SNHU, along with the dedicated support of advisors with military experience.

Career outlook:

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics cites that history majors are often qualified for positions at local museums, historical societies, government agencies, or nonprofit and other organizations. They may specialize their skill set to work in a field like collections, fundraising or exhibit design.¹

Courses may include:

• Civil War and Reconstruction
• Modern War & Society
• World War I, World War II
• United States History Since 1945

Flexible

With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.

Affordable

As part of our mission to make higher education more accessible, we’re committed to keeping our tuition rates low. In fact, we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

Prior coursework could also help you save time and money. SNHU’s transfer policy allows you to transfer up to 90 credits toward your bachelor's degree and 45 credits for an associate degree from your previous institutions—that means you could save up to 75% off the cost of tuition. You could also save time and money by getting college credit for previous work experience, or by taking advantage of military discounts and employer tuition assistance if available to you.

Respected

Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 160,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a regional accreditor, which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality. 

Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:

• U.S. News & World Report named SNHU the 2021 Most Innovative University in the North and one of the nation's "Best Regional Universities"
• Awarded the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology by The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
• A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth

Network

At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 300,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.

93.6% of online students would recommend SNHU (according to a 2022 survey with 17,000+ respondents). Discover why SNHU may be right for you.

Expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials:

• Completed free undergraduate application
• Prior transcripts, which we can retrieve at no cost to you
• Test scores are not required as part of your application

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.

If you’re ready to apply, follow these simple steps to get the process going:

• Complete a free undergraduate application
• Submit any additional documents required
• Work with an admission counselor to explore financial options and walk through the application process

If you have questions or need help filling out your application, call 1.888.387.0861 or email enroll@snhu.edu.

Notes: 

• Laptop or desktop?  Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. 

• Note:  Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10. 

• Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government. 

• Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. 

Traditionally, a 120-credit bachelor's degree in history takes a student about 4 years to complete.

However, at SNHU, that isn't always the case. Because so many students here begin their program with varying amounts of transfer credits, it could take you a shorter amount of time to go from start to completion.

SNHU accepts up to 90 credits toward your bachelor's in history, meaning you could have as few as 10 courses – and as few as 5 terms – to get your degree. And with six 8-week terms per year at SNHU, reaching that goal may be sooner than you think.

According to the American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, history graduates are employed across a variety of industries.

While some of these career paths may require more education or training beyond a bachelor's degree, the most popular roles, in order, are ³:

• Education, training and library
• Management: business, science and arts
• Legal occupations
• Sales
• Office and administrative support
• Business operations
• Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media
• Community and social services

A study released by Emsi in 2019 comparing career outcomes of different college degrees concluded that social science graduates – which included history graduates in this survey – go into a broad array of jobs, including sales, nonprofits, education, marketing and business analysis. These are areas where "human skills like creativity, mental flexibility, ethics, and compassion are both in high demand and are remarkably resistant to automation." ³

Graduates of history programs come away with sought-after soft skills needed across the workforce, like:

• Communication: The ability to write clearly and speak to others effectively is valuable in any situation.
• Critical thinking: Approach, analyze and evaluate problems logically.
• Research: Locate, assemble and analyze information to drive decisions.

Many people who earn a Bachelor of Arts in History go on to graduate school, which may open up more doors in your career.

Our career services team is also on hand to help you connect with companies interested in hiring someone with your skill set. We partner with organizations nationwide specifically to get your foot in the door. You can work with a career advisor as soon as you become a student at SNHU, which can help you get ahead once you complete your degree.

If you love history – learning about what has happened in the past and how it can influence the future – you may want to consider studying it at the university level.

By immersing yourself in history, you can better understand why the world is the way it is. Develop a fuller understanding of disagreements that led to war, cultural and religious differences that have both divided and united populations, and movements that have fought for the rights of minorities, women and other underrepresented communities all over the world.

That particular insight can help you become a leader who's capable of making decisions that take all factors into account. When you're more aware of what's happening around you and can absorb the information in a thoughtful manner, you become a creative problem solver that others can rely on.

Glassdoor lists some of the most common entry-level jobs for history majors as⁴:

• Archivist
• Assistant curator
• Assistant prospect researcher
• Editor
• Entry-level grant writer
• Fund development assistant
• History teacher
• Paralegal
• Social media marketing coordinator
• Writer

While some of these positions, such as history teacher, may require additional education or training, earning your history degree at SNHU gives you the opportunity to develop a strong set of diverse skills, valuable across all industries.

History is important because it helps us better understand what it means to be human. History is the biography of the world: It informs us about decisions that have been made, and it helps us have a better idea about what's to come.

"History is the story of change over time. It also demonstrates that human nature has remained fairly constant," said Dr. Robert Denning, associate dean of history at SNHU. "History demonstrates that circumstances and technologies change, but humans still want the same things that they wanted in previous civilizations: wealth, security, happiness, power, spiritual and social fulfillment, etc." Read more about why history is important.

Absolutely.

Online courses can be extremely beneficial for a busy student. They can often be more cost-effective than traditional campus classes and they offer flexibility, allowing you to complete them at a pace that works for your schedule.

SNHU has been offering courses online for more than 25 years, which means we offer the kind of high quality learning experiences and support you need to succeed. SNHU’s online programs, like the BA in history degree, use a platform with 24/7 login access and no live lectures, so you have the ability to decide for yourself when it is the ideal time to learn the material. Online students are also given a dedicated academic advisor as their go-to person and main point of contact from start to finish. This way, you can rest assured that you can be a student online without ever feeling alone.

Despite the history degree being taught online, there are still plenty of chances for real-world, hands-on experience through internships and experiential learning opportunities.

"My breakthrough moment was when SNHU Career Services told me to go for an internship,” says graduate John Roos ’18. “Within about 2 weeks I was volunteering and getting ready to give tours."

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics describes a historian’s role as research, analysis, interpretation and writing about the past by studying historical documents and sources. Although most historian positions require a master’s degree, candidates with a bachelor’s degree may qualify for some entry-level positions.¹

Additionally, historians typically do the following¹:

• Gather historical data from various sources, including archives, books and artifacts
• Analyze and interpret historical information to determine its authenticity and significance
• Trace historical developments in a particular field
• Engage with the public through educational programs and presentations
• Archive or preserve materials and artifacts in museums, visitor centers and historic sites
• Provide advice or guidance on historical topics and preservation issues
• Write reports, articles and books on findings and theories

Some of the typical work environments for historians are museums, archives, historical societies and research organizations. Some work as consultants for these organizations while being employed by consulting firms, and some work as independent consultants.¹

Again, it is important to note that most historian roles do require advanced education beyond a bachelor's. SNHU does offer a Master of Arts in History for those interested in advancing their careers to this level.

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet at:

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/historians.htm#tab-1 (viewed Oct. 24, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/market-research-analysts.htm#tab-6 (viewed Oct. 24, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm#tab-6 (viewed Oct. 24, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/editors.htm (viewed Nov. 17, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/reporters-correspondents-and-broadcast-news-analysts.htm (viewed Nov. 17, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2008/summer/art01.pdf (viewed Nov. 17, 2022)

Cited projections may not reflect local or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

² Perspectives on History, History is Not a Useless Major: Fighting Myths with Data, on the internet, at https://www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/april-2017/history-is-not-a-useless-major-fighting-myths-with-data (viewed April 21, 2021).

³ Emsi, Degrees at Work, on the internet, at https://www.economicmodeling.com/2019/07/30/degrees-at-work/ (viewed April 21, 2021).

⁴ Glassdoor, The Best Jobs and Career Advice for History Majors, on the internet, at https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/guide/jobs-history-majors/ (visited April 21, 2021)