Program Overview

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Bachelor of Arts in History

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in History program at Ottawa University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of historical events, cultural movements, and social transformations. The program explores the interrelationships between society and the environment, issues of war and peace, and movements for social and political change.

Why Earn a History Degree?

Historians research, analyze, and interpret the past. They use many sources of information in their research, including government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, and unpublished manuscripts such as personal diaries and letters. Historians usually specialize in a country or region, a particular period, or a particular field, such as social, intellectual, cultural, political, or diplomatic history. Other historians help study and preserve archival materials, artifacts, and historic buildings and sites. The study of history, like any effort that promotes critical thinking and careful judgment, prepares its practitioners for any number of careers, including government, law, teaching, politics, museum curator, park ranger, and journalism.

History Courses and Curriculum

The courses and curriculum for our accelerated, online bachelor in history program explore the interrelationships between society and the environment, issues of war and peace, and movements for social and political change. Your courses may include:

• American Government
• American Women's History
• Global Issues in Historical Perspective
• Religion in American Culture
• Seminar in American History and Government I
• Seminar in World History I
• The American Experience I & II
• Twentieth Century World History
• United States Constitution
• World Civilization I & II
• World Regional Geography

Education and Qualifications

Numerous local museums, historical societies, government agencies, non-profit, and other organizations offer internships or volunteer research opportunities. Archaeological field schools instruct future anthropologists, archaeologists, and historians in how to excavate, record, and interpret historical sites and typically require a bachelor degree or higher. Many of our history graduates continue their education with a Masters in Education.

Careers in History

With a major in history, you can apply solid critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to careers. You could even find yourself studying ancient civilizations across the globe!

Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for historians was $63,100 in May 2020. An online degree in history prepares students for a wide variety of career options where research, problem solving, analysis, and communication skills are valued. In fact, most graduates with a bachelor in history degree have the flexibility to work outside of traditional historian jobs and pursue careers in education, communications, law, business, publishing, or journalism.

Careers in History

• archivist
• historian
• information specialist
• intelligence agent
• lawyer
• museum curator
• researcher
• teacher
• writer

History Major Courses

World Regional Geography | HPS 10153 (3 credits)

Survey of the developed and developing regions of the world, emphasizing regional differentiation, as well as concepts of location, place, human environment interaction, and cultural diffusion.

The American Experience I | HPS 11053 (3 credits)

Introduces the study of American history and its cultural, intellectual, political, economic, religious, racial and diplomatic topics. Emphasis on development of the country from discovery through Reconstruction.

The American Experience II | HPS 13053 (3 credits)

Uses principle theme of the development of United States since reconstruction. Examines political, economic, social, and cultural development.

The Great Plains | HPS 20153 (3 credits)

From northern Texas to the Canadian prairie provinces. Examines the physical environment, resources, land use patterns and ethnic cultures of the region. The historical and political development of Kansas plays a central role in the course.

Practicum in History | HPS 24053 (3 credits)

Experience aspects of the discipline through a semester long practicum.

World Civilization I | HPS 25353 (3 credits)

Introduces historical study of the beginnings and development of human culture and institutions, western and non-western. Basic introduction to historical study.

World Civilization II | HPS 25453 (3 credits)

Examines development of civilization, western and non-western, in the modern era. Analysis of political, economic and cultural revolutions that have created contemporary culture and its tensions.

Seminar in Research Methods and Historiography | HPS 32053 (3 credits)

Introduce traditional and emerging methods of historical research. Construct an extensive annotated bibliography as a purposeful entry into the Senior Comprehensive project.

Senior Comprehensive | HPS 49053 (3 credits)

Involves written paper responses to examination questions with oral defense.

History Seminars

Seminar in American History and Government I | HPS 34354 (3 credits)

Examines a selection of readings and topics on American history and government. Common theme, assigned readings, and individual projects required. Inquire in advance for information on selected topics.

Seminar in World History I | HPS 35054 (3 credits)

Examines a selection of readings and topics in world history. Common theme, assigned readings, and individual projects required.

Required Supporting Courses

• Speech Preparation and Delivery | COM 11023 (3 credits)
• Intermediate Writing (3 credits) OR Advanced Expository Writing (3 credits)
• One 3 semester credit hour course in economics.
• One 3 semester credit hour course in sociology or psychology.

University Accreditation

Ottawa University, as a whole, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Specific degree programs within our institution have also been accredited by relevant bodies within the field:

• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC)
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)

We are proudly recognized for our commitment to student excellence by the following designations:

• Colleges of Distinction
• GOLD Military Friendly School

Why Choose Ottawa?

Almost all courses in Ottawa University’s programs are available online and accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. We make it easy for you to transfer credits in order to help keep tuition costs down. We also offer courses in accelerated 8-week terms in order to reduce your time to completion. These are just a few of the reasons why we are proud to be the best, fastest, and most affordable option locally in the Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Phoenix areas, as well as serving students nationally through our online degrees.