Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Arts in History

The Bachelor of Arts in History, offered by the Department of History at Temple University, enables students to develop skills useful for any career that requires high-level critical thinking, wide-ranging analytical skills, and great writing. Historians tell meaningful stories about the past using rigorous standards of evidence, giving students important tools for understanding contemporary issues affecting their own lives as well as local, national, and global events.

Overview of the Program

The History major requires twelve courses (36 credits). Students must take two introductory level courses selected from American and World history surveys. The three-course sequence in research methods and writing should be taken in the following order: HIST 2001 The Historian's Craft, then HIST 3096 Intermediate Writing Seminar, culminating in the senior level course, HIST 4096 Capstone Seminar in History. Students must select two "American" and two "non-American" History courses, which can be fulfilled with a combination of the required survey courses and the upper-level electives.

Academic Requirements

• University Requirements:
  • MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
  • All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major.
  • Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program.
• College of Liberal Arts Requirements:
  • Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including 90 credits in CLA/CST courses and 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000+).
  • A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
  • Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
• Major Requirements (36 credits/12 courses in history):
  • Select a minimum of 12 courses in History, distributed as follows:
    • Select two Introductory Level courses from: HIST 1101 U.S. History to 1877, HIST 1102 U.S. History since 1877, HIST 1701 World History Ancient, HIST 1702 World History Modern.
    • Select 7 electives in History numbered 2000+, including HIST 2001 The Historian's Craft, HIST 3096 Intermediate Writing Seminar, and HIST 4096 Capstone Seminar in History.
  • From the introductory and elective courses, two courses must be taken in American History and two courses in non-American history.

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan for the Bachelor of Arts in History is outlined over four years, including:

• Year 1: ENG 0802 Analytical Reading and Writing, GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course, Foreign Language 1001, GenEd Breadth Course, and two introductory history courses.
• Year 2: IH 0851 Intellectual Heritage I, Foreign Language 1002, GenEd Breadth Course, HIST 2001 The Historian's Craft, and a Professional Development course.
• Year 3: GenEd Breadth Course, History Electives numbered 2000+, CLA/CST 2000+ Humanities/CST Course, and HIST 3096 Intermediate Writing Seminar.
• Year 4: History Elective 2000+, CLA/CST 2000+ Course, HIST 4096 Capstone Seminar in History, and Electives in Any School or College.

Accelerated Programs

Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route. The College of Education and Human Development offers a Secondary Education MEd with Social Studies Education.

Career Potential

Graduates of the History BA program have gone on to successful careers, including educator, lawyer, filmmaker, military officer, database administrator, public health professional, diplomat, public policy expert, museum curator, and historian. The program's emphasis on critical thinking, analytical skills, and writing prepares students for a wide range of professional paths.

Associated Research Centers

The university is home to several research centers relevant to the field of history, including the Center for Public History, the Center for the Study of Force and Diplomacy, and the Feinstein Center for American Jewish History. These centers provide opportunities for students to engage in research and academic activities beyond the classroom.