This online program will further develop your skills in critical thinking, research, writing, argumentation, and documentation.
Credit Hours: 120 | Transfer: Up to 90 Credits | Tuition Cost
What is Historical Studies?
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Historical Studies hones the skills of critical thinking, analytical reading, effective writing, and information synthesis. The B.A. in Historical Studies provides a sound foundation for a variety of careers and generalizes well to a range of industries. The degree also provides the necessary background for further study for those seeking a graduate degree in history or historic preservation, education, or in a closely related field such as law or political science.
This program provides both breadth and depth of historical studies. Students receive a strong foundation in U.S. and World History, as well as options to focus on specific topics in upper level courses. Primary source interpretation and "going to the source," is central to their study of the past. Students have the freedom to choose a historical topic of their choice for their final capstone project or develop an internship which also requires a research component.
Why study Historical Studies at UNH College of Professional Studies?
This program will further develop your skills in critical thinking, research, writing, argumentation, and documentation. In your courses, you’ll gain a sound foundation for a variety of careers and generalizes well to a range of industries. Since knowledge of the past is so important in understanding who we are today, a student in this program develops skills in assessing the causes, consequences, and significance of historic events and the forces that shaped them. This is a flexible program that is completely online yet it also provides students the opportunity to complete a degree program that meets the requirements for a broad range of graduate and post-bacc programs, such as teacher's certification, Master's of Library Science, Archives and Collections, Project Management, and Research, or the Legal Field. While some degrees require additional education, the skills that students develop in a historical studies program provide a strong foundation for a variety of different careers. Please reach out to the Program Director or Director of Career Services to discuss your career goals or personal interests in greater depth.
Many well-known personalities were history majors, such as Edward Norton, Conan O'Brien, Steve Carell, Bill O'Reilly, Wolf Blitzer, Chris Hughes, Antonin Scalia, and Anthony Kennedy.
Potential Career Areas
- Historians
- Teachers
- Public Service
- Political Scientists
- Archivists
- Curators
- Museum Technicians and Conservators
- Non-Profit and Cultural Organizations
- Business & Consulting
Course Highlights
- Great Civilizations
- Historical Methods
- Topics in World History
- American Government and Politics
- U.S. History to 1865
- U.S. History: 1865 to Present
- European History: Renaissance through the Industrial Revolution
- Historical Methods
- Themes in World History
…and more!
Why UNH CPS?
- Regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE).
- Available fully online with select on-campus courses.
- Affordable tuition.
- Nationally ranked online programs.
- About 89% of our students are transfer students. Making the most of your transfer credits is our specialty.
- Career advising is available to all students and alumni. We also extend this service to those considering their college options.
- Faculty who are subject matter experts and share their real-world expertise, helping you apply what you learn to your personal goals and career.
- We’re experts at assessing credit toward your undergraduate degree – not only from previous college coursework, but also for other college-level knowledge demonstrated outside the traditional classroom.
Whether you completed your associate degree or took a few courses, we have experience working with community college students nationwide and we are experts at maximizing your transfer credits. We are proud of our formal partnerships to support community college graduates through our Transfer Pathways.
Students pursuing an associate degree at a New Hampshire community college are encouraged to explore our Transfer Pathway below.
- Completion of our free, online application for admission
- High school diploma, completion of a high school education in a homeschool setting under state law, or demonstrate high school equivalency.
- Successful completion of one of the following exams will be required for demonstrating high school equivalency: the GED, HiSET, or TASC
Curriculum & Requirements
This degree plan is a sample and does not reflect the impact of transfer credit or current course offerings. UNH CPS Online undergraduate students should develop individual academic plans with their academic advisor during their first year at UNH.
Sample Course Sequence
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENG 420 | The Writing Process | 4 |
| HIS 410 | United States History to 1865 | 4 |
| HIS 411 | United States History: 1865 to the Present | 4 |
| General Education or Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| COM 460 | Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics | 4 |
| CRIT 501 | Introduction to Critical Inquiry | 4 |
| HIS 402 | Great Civilizations | 4 |
| MTH 402 or MTH 504 or MTH 510 | Math for Our World or Statistics or Pre-Calculus | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COM 480 | Visual Communication | 4 |
| ART 550 or HUMN 502 or POL 450 or POL 554 | Art History: Western World or American Popular Culture or American Government and Politics or Law and Society | 4 |
| General Education or Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIS 512 | European History: Renaissance through the Industrial Revolution | 4 |
| HIS 590 | Historical Methods | 4 |
| General Education or Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CRIT 602 | Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking | 4 |
| HIS 611 | Themes in World History | 4 |
| CRIM 707 or HIS 602 or HIS 718 or HIS 727 or POL 690 | Constitutional Law or History of New England or History of World War II or Vietnam War: An Historical Perspective or The US in World Affairs | 4 |
| General Education or Language Requirement | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| COM 665 or COM 590 or ENG 590 | Media and Strategic Communication or Professional Communication or Expository Writing | 4 |
| HIS 602 or HIS 718 or HIS 727 or CRIM 707 or POL 690 | History of New England or History of World War II or Vietnam War: An Historical Perspective or Constitutional Law or The US in World Affairs | 4 |
| General Education or Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| HIS 718 or HIS 602 or HIS 727 or CRIM 707 or POL 690 | History of World War II or History of New England or Vietnam War: An Historical Perspective or Constitutional Law or The US in World Affairs | 4 |
| IDIS 601 | Interdisciplinary Seminar | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIS 797 or HIS 795 | Integrative: Project in History or Integrative Capstone: Internship in History | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
General Education Program Requirements
A minimum grade of D- is required in all General Education coursework. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor.
All General Education requirements, including CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar, must be taken prior to the capstone.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 420 | The Writing Process | 4 |
| COM 460 | Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics | 4 |
| COM 480 | Visual Communication | 4 |
| CRIT 501 | Introduction to Critical Inquiry | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
MTH 402 | Math for Our World | |
MTH 504 | Statistics | |
MTH 510 | Pre-Calculus | |
| Knowledge of Human Behavior & Social Systems | 4 | |
| Knowledge of the Physical & Natural World | 4 | |
| Knowledge of Human Thought & Expression | 4 | |
| CRIT 602 | Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking | 4 |
| IDIS 601 | Interdisciplinary Seminar | 4 |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Writing Program Requirements
All bachelor's degree candidates are required to complete four writing intensive courses as part of the University Writing Program Requirements as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
ENG 420 | The Writing Process | |
One Writing Intensive course in the Major | ||
One Writing Intensive course at the 600-level or above | ||
One Additional Writing Intensive Course | ||
Writing Intensive courses are identified with the label "Writing Intensive Course" in the "Attributes" section of the course description and/or a W following the course number.
Major Requirements
Prior to capstone enrollment, students are expected to complete the majority of their required major courses along with CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar. Students should consult with their advisor regarding specific major courses that may be completed with their capstone. Academic Advisor approval is required for registration to be processed.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major in Historical Studies | ||
| Foundational Courses | ||
| HIS 402 | Great Civilizations | 4 |
| HIS 410 | United States History to 1865 | 4 |
| HIS 411 | United States History: 1865 to the Present | 4 |
| HIS 512 | European History: Renaissance through the Industrial Revolution | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
ART 550 | Art History: Western World | |
or HUMN 502 | American Popular Culture | |
or POL 450 | American Government and Politics | |
or POL 554 | Law and Society | |
| Intermediate Courses | ||
| HIS 590 | Historical Methods | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
COM 590 | Professional Communication | |
or COM 665 | Media and Strategic Communication | |
or ENG 590 | Expository Writing | |
| Advanced Courses | ||
| HIS 611 | Themes in World History | 4 |
| Select three of the following: | 12 | |
CRIM 707 | Constitutional Law | |
or HIS 602 | History of New England | |
or HIS 718 | History of World War II | |
or HIS 727 | Vietnam War: An Historical Perspective | |
or POL 690 | The US in World Affairs | |
| Integrative Capstone | ||
| HIS 795 | Integrative Capstone: Internship in History | 4 |
| or HIS 797 | Integrative: Project in History | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Electives
Open electives are courses students will need to take in addition to their general education and major requirements in order to satisfy the remaining credit totals for their programs. Open electives are defined as any credit course offered by the College not already included in the student's general education, major, option or minor. Students will need 120 credits total to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the Online Division of the College of Professional Studies.
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The Bachelor of Arts degree requires proficiency in a foreign language. This requirement may be fulfilled by completing the equivalent of a full-year elementary-level course in a language not previously studied, or by completing the equivalent of a semester of a course in a foreign language at the intermediate or higher level, or by earning credit through an approved Advanced Placement or College Board foreign language achievement test (minimum scores vary). The proficiency in a foreign language requirement must be satisfied by the end of the sophomore year. No credit is awarded for elementary year college coursework if the student has had two or more years of that language in high school. It is strongly advised that students check with academic departments to identify department-advised specific foreign language proficiency options.
Note: A student with a documented disability who wishes accommodation on the basis that the disability will prevent them from successfully mastering a foreign language requirement, or whose foreign language requirement was waived in high school because of a documented disability, must contact Student Accessibility Services, Smith Hall, (603) 862-2607 (Voice/TDD).
- Appraise and contextualize information in order to convey both the particularity of past lives and the scale of human experience.
- Evaluate the multiple causes of complex events and phenomena using a multitude of sources and perspectives.
- Analyze U.S. history from the period of native peoples through the present.
- Explore world history, emphasizing major trends that influenced multiple nations and regions.
- Investigate the contributions and experiences of diverse peoples to national and world events.
- Craft well-supported historical narratives, arguments, and reports of research findings in a variety of media using discipline-specific writing and citation conventions.
Your Prior and Current Learning Counts
Many of our students can demonstrate college-level knowledge gained from military, workplace and volunteer-based training, and experiences. We are experts at helping students demonstrate learning and earning academic credit.
Career Outcomes
Talk with your advisor to discuss how your program, experience, and goals align.