history student giving speech in class

History Degree

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Explore the events of the past, so you can understand the present and become an engaged citizen of the world.

In an increasingly global world, the study of history is more relevant than ever. As a History major at UND, you’ll examine the past from diverse perspectives and prepare to contribute to the global conversation.

Program type:
Major
Format:
On Campus or Online
Est. time to complete:
4 years
Credit hours:
120

Why earn a History degree?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 15
Spring:
Dec. 15
Summer:
May 1

 

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

Studying history provides crucial insights into questions such as who we are and where we came from. With a B.A. in History from UND, you'll be prepared to explore big questions and explain the past in ways that are meaningful to the present. You will develop the critical thinking, research, and communication skills that employers in diverse fields are looking for.

UND History majors explore:

  • Diverse communities, nations and empires
  • Rights, sovereignty, equity and activism
  • Science, technology and the military
  • Gender, race, ethnicity, class and sexuality

History students work closely with faculty members to complete independent research projects on topics of your choosing. Beyond traditional lectures, you'll learn through:

  • Analyzing both texts and 3-D objects
  • Discussion and debate
  • Peer teaching and teamwork
  • Critiquing video games
  • Role-playing game or video games
  • Hands-on digital history projects

UND also offers a minor in History and a certificate in Public History. Whichever program you choose, you'll graduate with high-demand skills like the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.

History Degree at UND

  • Interact with renowned historians through UND's history-related speaker series.

  • Gain real-world experience through public history internships or publish opportunities with the Medora Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, the Holocaust Museum, the U.S. House of Representatives, Clio historic walking tours, and more.

  • Join Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society or the History Club.

  • Work closely with faculty members to complete independent research projects on topics of your choosing.

  • Ranked by Bachelors Degree Center as a best on campus History degree among Stanford, Yale and Berkley.

  • Let our team of academic advisors help you plan your major. You'll also have access to personalized software to keep you on track to graduate in four years.

What can you do with a History degree?

73k

Median annual salary for historians, 2023

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

10%

Projected job outlook for archivists, curators, and museum workers through 2032

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

A degree in History opens the door to a world of opportunities in the field of history and beyond. Many graduates pursue careers as professional historians, documenting and interpreting the past in venues such as:

  • Historic sites
  • Museums
  • Libraries and archives
  • Federal, state and local government

Others go on to graduate study in history, law, the ministry and other disciplines, or launch careers in related fields, including:

  • Publishing
  • Research
  • Teaching
  • Business
  • Journalism
  • Advertising
  • Nonprofit management
  • Foreign service
  • Military services

History Degree Jobs

History alumni have gone on to a variety of successful careers with:

  • United States Department of the Army
  • Franchise Concepts Unlimited
  • Public and Private Schools
  • Noel Levitz, Inc.

History Degree Courses

HIST 305. Revolution, Protest, and Freedom. 3 Credits.

This course explores how ordinary people have used protest and revolution to promote ideas about freedom in the 20th century. It focuses on non-elites inside and outside of Europe's borders by examining the actions of women, colonial peoples, and the working classes. While it focuses on Europe the course incorporates a global view of how to understand protest and revolutionary social change. S, odd years.

HIST 140. Historical Detectives. 3 Credits.

This course serves as a laboratory in which students can work through historical problems related to a variable course topic chosen to highlight the connections between past and present. Some combination of traditional research, case studies, discussions, games or re-enactment will challenge students to engage their topic in depth, while providing the skills in reading, thinking, and communicating upon which all forms of historical analysis depend. Repeatable to 6.00 credits. F, even years.

HIST 310. Monuments, Museums and Memory. 3 Credits.

How should we remember our history? How do museums and public monuments influence our understanding of the past? Explore these questions through case studies and extended role-playing games. On demand.

HIST 301. The Medieval World. 3 Credits.

A survey of the people, cultures, and history of the European middle ages, from the late Roman Empire to the Renaissance. The course will focus on the lives and thoughts of medieval women and men from all social classes and on the foundations of European culture, society, politics, and worldview. Specific topics will include the Crusades, the Black Death, crime and punishment, daily life, war and violence, and religious life. On demand.

HIST 351. Kings, Criminals, and Capitalists: Europe 1648-1815. 3 Credits.

The class explores Europe's development from the end of the Thirty Years War to the end of the Napoleonic wars. Through a survey of Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the course explores the fascinating contradictions of the age as the early modern world gave way to the modern world and explains the birth of modern political, social, military and economic systems personified by the Industrial and French Revolutions. F, odd years.

HIST 181. Athletes as Activists. 3 Credits.

In spotlighting how amateur and professional athletes use their platforms to champion non-sports causes, this course offers insights about the nature of all social movements-it illuminates activists' strategic goals, tactical options, and their opponents' counter-tactics. Along the way, students consider the ways in which race, gender, religion, the law, and other factors influence athlete advocacy and responses to it. SS.

Why earn an online History degree?

#1

best online college in North Dakota

Forbes

160+

online programs

Our bachelor's in History is available 100% online. You'll pay the same affordable online tuition rate regardless of your legal residency. Flexibility is critically important to our online students. That’s why we’ve designed the online History degree to never require a campus visit. Plus, all online classes can be taken on your schedule.

You will be fully prepared with a successful career with a History degree. Courses are taught by faculty who bring years of experience. 

History Online Student Resources

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on-campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey, and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs.

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

  • Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
  • Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)

Flexible Online History Classes

With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance work, family and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere at any time.

Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:

  • Lesson modules
  • Streaming video content
  • Virtual libraries
  • Posted lectures
  • Online simulations

There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through online discussion boards, polls and chat rooms.

Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure and deadlines.

UND History BA

Best History Degree

UND's bachelor in History consistently ranks among the best for educational quality, affordability, and career outcomes.

UND Best Bachelor's in History 2021
UND Best Bachelor's in History 2021

Leaders that Do

Students at UND take chances, seek challenges and become leaders in the community.

 

Explore More Options

Looking to connect with the college or find a similar degree?

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.

By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies, Privacy Information.