History professor having a discussion with students in the UAlbany azalea garden.

Bachelor of Arts in
History
Online or On Campus

Develop a New Frame of Mind Through an Education in History

Are you fascinated with the events, people and cultures that shaped the modern world? Learning the history of your environment and far-away regions can give you a unique perspective of current events. At UAlbany, you'll get a hands-on educational experience through research, internships, lessons in documentary making and storytelling, and more.


Note: This program is also offered fully online.

Program of Study

programofstudy

Your education in history will give you the skills to think critically and communicate effectively. Courses explore diverse topics including the histories of world regions and the experiences of cultures across time and geography, such as that of Jews, American Indians and women in America.

Lessons in oral history will show you how important individual voices are to the stories of major events. You'll learn how to extract those stories through effective interviewing techniques, ethical editing practices and the presentation of gathered stories.


Foundational Coursework

  • Three 100- or 200-level courses, including one in U.S., one in European and one in World History
  • One 200-level course in any region

Methods Course

The Historian’s Craft: Methods


Advanced Coursework

  • Three 300- or 400-level courses, including one in U.S., one in European and one in World History
  • Three 300- or 400-level courses in any region or topic


Senior Research Seminar

Internships

You'll have access to internships at museums, national park sites, libraries, local history centers, law offices, government agencies, genealogical societies and more. History majors commonly intern at places including the Institute for Applied Learning, the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.

You can earn up to six credits through your internship, as long as you're a junior or senior, have at least a 2.5 GPA and a history faculty supervisor approves of the internship. To earn the credits, enroll in HIS 499: Special Projects in History prior to beginning the internship.

Honors Program

Content

The Department of History's honors program is a two-semester experience designed to provide well-qualified students with closer contact with faculty and more intensive training in historical research and writing than is normally possible.

Admitted students must complete the following honors courses:

  • Independent Research and Writing in History
  • Senior Honors Thesis Seminar

Learn more about the History Honors Program.

internships

Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Options


You can save time and money by beginning your graduate degree coursework while still enrolled as an undergraduate student. Up to 12 academic credits, billed at the undergraduate rate, will count towards both degrees – so you’ll complete your combined program in only 5 years and spend less than you would if you completed each program separately. Choose to combine your History undergraduate degree with the following graduate programs:

combined

MA in History
This master’s program deepens your exploration of history from U.S. and European history to cultural and gender history, with focus tracks in geographic, thematic and public history.

You may apply for admission to the combined BA/MA degree program in History at the beginning of your junior year or after the successful completion of 56 credits. A GPA of 3.2 or higher is required, along with three letters of recommendation from faculty.  For information, contact your advisor or the Office of Graduate Education.


MS in Information Science 
This ALA-accredited master's program covers a broad range of interdisciplinary topics related to library science, information processing, information management and data analysis.
 

MS in Secondary Education
This New York State-approved teacher preparation program provides you with initial certification to teach a specific subject to students in grades 7-12 in New York State public schools.

 

UAlbany graduate at Commencement

Career Paths

An education in history can prepare you for work in fields like law, public administration, education, journalism and more.

Potential job titles for history graduates include:

  • Congressional aide
  • Journalist
  • Public relations staffer
  • Researcher or research assistant
  • Documentary editor
  • Contract historian
  • Lobbyist

 

Group of young professionals having a discussion.
career

"My coursework in history is the reason I went on to pursue an MA in Public Administration. In the history department, I encountered professors who believed in me. They taught me how to express my ideas with good research, and they listened as I found my voice."

- Laura Kemeh, 2016

Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Arts
  • Recall and understand the importance of the key events, people, and ideas in a particular place, region, or time period.

  • Analyze primary source materials to recognize the position of the author/creator of these works, identify the significance of the audience and genre, and interpret their historical significance.

  • Articulate the central argument in a secondary source of historical authorship, evaluate the evidence used to support it, and compare and contrast that argument with arguments in other secondary sources.

  • Write an academic product in which she/he develops an argument about primary and/or secondary source materials and supports that argument with relevant evidence.
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What Makes The University at Albany Great

Student move-in day.

Living-Learning Communities

Live and take classes with other incoming freshmen who share your personal interests, passions or intended academic major.

A student abroad visiting a monument.

Study Abroad

Become a global citizen: international experience is crucial to success in business, education, research, and public policy.

A student conducting undergraduate research.

Undergraduate Research

Research, scholarship, and creative activities at the University at Albany is an option for all students, across all academic disciplines. You will be able to learn more about a specific academic field or career path all while building a long-lasting mentoring relationship with a faculty member or principal investigator.

Explore Minors

Build competency in a passion or strengthen your resume.

A minor consists of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level. Most undergraduate degrees require completing a minor and it has to have a different title from your major.

Full List of Minors
  • Acting
  • Africana Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Bioethics
  • Biology
  • Broadcast Meteorology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Studies
  • Cognitive Science
  • Communication (Fully Online Option)
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice Studies (Fully Online Option)
  • Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • Documentary Studies
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics
  • Educational Studies
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Film Studies
  • Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • English
  • Forensic Science
  • French
  • Game Design and Development
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Geography
  • Globalization Studies
  • Hebrew
  • History (Fully Online Option)
  • Informatics (Fully Online Option)
  • Instrumental Performance
  • International Studies
  • Italian
  • Japanese Studies
  • Journalism (Fully Online Option)
  • Judaic Studies
  • Korean Studies
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Law and Philosophy
  • Leadership
  • Legal Studies
  • LGBTQ Studies
  • Library and Information Science
  • Linguistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Music
  • Musical Performance
  • Musical Theatre
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Portuguese
  • Pre-Education
  • Psychology (Fully Online Option)
  • Public Health
  • Public Policy
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Russian and Eastern European Studies
  • Social Welfare Studies
  • Sociology (Fully Online Option)
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Sustainability
  • Theatre
  • Theatrical Design/Technology
  • Urban Studies and Planning
  • U.S. Latino Studies
  • Vocal Performance
  • Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

On-Campus or Online Bachelor of Arts in History Degree FAQs
 

What can you do with a history degree?

Completing a BA in History program prepares students to work in any of a wide range of fields, including education, journalism, libraries and museums, research or consulting.

Earning your BA in History also helps you establish a solid foundation for pursuing graduate work in history or in another field such as public administration, law or business.

Is the history program accredited?

UAlbany is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How long is the on-campus history program? How long is the online history program?

Full-time students attending on campus or online can complete a BA in History program in four years. Part-time students will take longer to complete their degree programs.

How do the combined master’s programs work?

The combined master’s programs are five-year programs through which students earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. They are accelerated programs that allow students to apply a maximum of 12 credits to both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The cost and time savings of these programs are beneficial to undergraduate students who already know they want to pursue graduate education.

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