Bachelor of Arts in History
Understand the relationship between people, events, cultures, places, and time.
“You don’t need to know a formula to study history, all you need is a love for the past and a slight hope for predicting the future.”
Jorja Carter
B.A. History
About this Program
The Department of History in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.A. in History. History majors examine the root causes and significance of world events. They take a range of courses from American history to histories of regions across the world that introduces them to the research and writing techniques central to the historian’s craft. The study of history explores our shared and diverse past, providing an essential context and perspective on the contemporary world.
Our history majors also have the option to pursue an accelerated master’s program, earning the BA and MA degrees in 5 years.
The Value of a History Degree
The history degree prepares students for graduate and professional programs. They are also prepared for entry into the workforce due to their advanced skills in analysis, communication, research, and interpretation of sources.
Our history majors are employed in a variety of fields including:
- Business
- Law
- Government
- Marketing
- Education
- Historical preservation
- Archives management
- Non-profits
- Legislative research
- Documentary filmmaking
A deeper understanding of worldwide historical events prepares students to become both engaged citizens and competitive members of an increasingly global economy.
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Program Information
Program Type
Major
Minor
Area of Study
Humanities
School
Duration
4 years
Degree
B.A. in History
Program Location
Emphases
History
Required Credit Hours
120
Degree Requirements
See the information below on the history major and minor. For a full description, visit the online catalog.
Students in the B.A. in History complete 33 credit hours of history courses, with a maximum of 9 credit hours of 100-level survey courses.
- Two courses in American history (see below)
- Two courses in European history (see below)
- Two courses in histories of other regions (see below)
- Four courses of history electives
- One advanced research course from:
- Hst 494 Directed Readings in History
- Hst 498 Undergrad Research Seminar in History
- Hst 499 Undergrad Reading Seminar in History
American history courses from:
- Hst 130 Intro. to US History to 1877
- Hst 131 Intro. to US History since 1877
- Hst 400 Early America to 1715
- Hst 401 Colonial America, 1607-1763
- Hst 402 Revolutionary America, 1763-1800
- Hst 403 US – Emerging Nation, 1789-1850
- Hst 404 US – The Civil War Era, 1848-1877
- Hst 405 US – Nation Redefined, 1877-1918
- Hst 406 US – WWI to WWII, 1914-1945
- Hst 407 US – The Nation since 1945
- Hst 408 US – WWII to Watergate, 1945-1974
- Hst 409 US – Watergate to the Present
- Hst 410 Native America, Pre-contact to 1850
- Hst 411 Native America since 1850
- Hst 414 African American History to 1865
- Hst 415 African American History since 1865
- Hst 418 African American Women’s History
- Hst 419 Black Women’s Enterprise & Activism
- Hst 420 History of African Americans in Sport
- Hst 422 The Rise and Fall of American Slavery
- Hst 423 History of Mass Incarceration in the US
- Hst 424 The Civil Rights Era
- Hst 426 The American Dream
- Hst 427 Disease and Medicine in American History
- Hst 428 US Women’s History
- Hst 429 US Gender History
- Hst 430 US Foreign Relations
- Hst 431 US Legal History
- Hst 432 US Economic History
- Hst 433 US Labor History
- Hst 434 US Religious History
- Hst 435 US Military History
- Hst 436 US Sexuality History
- Hst 440 The Military History of the Civil War
- Hst 450 Southern History to 1900
- Hst 451 The South in the Twentieth Century
- Hst 452 The History of Mississippi
- Hst 453 Economic History of the South
- Hst 454 Women in Southern History
- Hst 455 History of Religion in the South
- Hst 456 Southern Music History
- Hst 474 Vietnam War
- Hst 490 Problems in History – America
European history courses from:
- Hst 120 Intro. to European History to 1648
- Hst 121 Intro. to European History since 1648
- Hst 301 The Golden Age of Athens
- Hst 302 Law and Life in Ancient Athens
- Hst 303 Alexander the Great
- Hst 304 Roman Republic
- Hst 305 Roman Empire
- Hst 306 From Republic to Empire
- Hst 308 Slavery in Ancient Greece and Rome
- Hst 309 The Middle Ages
- Hst 310 History of Medieval Christianity
- Hst 311 Medieval Church and Empire
- Hst 316 Martyrs of the English Reformation
- Hst 317 Late Middle Ages and Renaissance
- Hst 318 Renaissance and Early Modern Studies
- Hst 319 Reformation Europe
- Hst 320 Tudor-Stuart Britain & Ireland, 1485-1688
- Hst 321 Tudor England, 1485-1603
- Hst 322 Stuart England, 1603-1714
- Hst 323 Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment
- Hst 326 Age of Revolution, 1750-1850
- Hst 331 Europe – Imperialism to World War II, 1890-1945
- Hst 332 Europe since 1945
- Hst 334 France since 1789
- Hst 335 The French Revolution
- Hst 336 The Napoleonic Era
- Hst 337 History of London
- Hst 338 Great Britain in the Modern Age
- Hst 339 British Empire and Commonwealth
- Hst 340 Italy since 1815
- Hst 341 History of Germany, 1789-1918
- Hst 342 History of Germany since 1890
- Hst 343 History of the Holocaust
- Hst 344 Late Imperial and Revolutionary Russia
- Hst 345 Russia in the Twentieth Century
- Hst 347 Science in the Modern World
- Hst 348 Women who Ruled in European History
- Hst 349 Society and the Sexes in Modern Europe
- Hst 470 The First World War
- Hst 491 Problems in History – Europe
Histories of other regions courses from:
- Hst 150 Intro. to Middle Eastern History
- Hst 160 Intro. to Latin American History
- Hst 170 Intro. to African History
- Hst 180 Intro. to East Asian History
- Hst 307 History of Ancient Christianity
- Hst 350 Muslim World – Origins to Middle Ages
- Hst 351 Muslim World – Middle Ages to WWI
- Hst 352 The Middle East since 1914
- Hst 355 Water in the Middle East
- Hst 360 Colonial Latin America, 1450-1820
- Hst 361 Latin America since 1820
- Hst 362 History of Mexico and Central America
- Hst 363 History of the Caribbean
- Hst 364 Independence of Latin America, 1760-1830
- Hst 366 Race and Ethnicity in Latin America
- Hst 367 Social Revolutions in Latin America
- Hst 368 Latin America and the Cold War
- Hst 370 Modern Africa
- Hst 371 History of Southern Africa
- Hst 373 War, Rebellion and Revolution in Africa
- Hst 374 Nationalism in Africa
- Hst 375 History of Islam in Africa
- Hst 380 Pre-Modern China
- Hst 381 Late Imperial and Modern China
- Hst 382 China in Revolution
- Hst 383 China and the United States since 1784
- Hst 384 Global Shanghai
- Hst 385 Gender/Sexuality ub East Asian History
- Hst 387 Modern Japanese History
- Hst 388 War and Memory in Japan
- Hst 389 History of Japan-United States Relations
- Hst 392 South Asia and the Indian Ocean
- Hst 482 Samurai in Film
- Hst 492 Problems in History – World
History majors interested in graduate studies can get a head start in earning a master's degree through the accelerated B.A./M.A. program.
After completing 30 courses (90 credit hours) as an undergraduate with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, history majors can take up to 5 graduate-level courses to count towards their Master’s degree. Students pursuing the Accelerated BA/MA in History must complete an application to the Graduate School in their senior year.
As an undergraduate, history majors can choose up to 5 of the following courses as credit towards their MA in History:
- Hst 505: Historiography – US to Reconstruction
- Hst 506: Historiography – US since Reconstruction
- Hst 509: Historiography – African American History
- Hst 520: Historiography for Late Antiquity
- Hst 523: Historiography of the Late Middle Ages
- Hst 550: Historical Methods & Philosophy of Hist
- Hst 551: Historiography – Europe to 1815
- Hst 552: Historiography – Europe since 1789
- Hst 570: Historiography: Precolonial Africa
- Hst 571: Historiography: Colonial Africa
- Hst 585: Historiography of the Modern Middle East
What is the Study of History?
Connect with a History Major
Samantha Case
What professor or class has had the most impact on you?
See Samantha’s Answer
Harrison Dillard
- Service and Community Engagement
- Student Government
Why is your department a special place?
See Harrison’s AnswerWhat can I do with a degree in history?
- Associate, King & Spalding Law Firm
- Judge, 9th District Court
- US Ambassador, retired
- President, 61 South Studios
- VP Equity Trading, Credit Suisse/First Boston
- Commander, US Navy
- Special Agent, FBI
- Professor, University of North Carolina
- Museum Educator, Kennesaw State University
- State Archivist, Alaska
- Historian, National Park Service
- President, Waring Oil Company
- Teacher, St. Andrew's Episcopal School
Why Choose a B.A. in History?
“I believe you can do anything with a liberal arts degree and I’m a living example of it. My career has been circuitous, encompassing several industries, but my background in liberal arts has helped me effectively communicate (verbally and written) with clients and colleagues alike, which is an invaluable skill regardless of your career path.”
Jordan Cavanaugh
Senior Consultant, Deloitte Consulting
Earn your Bachelors and Masters in 5 years
Our accelerated master's degree program allows you to earn the B.A. and M.A. in history in 5 years instead of 6. We offer undergraduates the opportunity to begin earning credit towards a graduate degree while they complete the final requirements for their undergraduate degree. This saves time and money in earning the advanced degree.
Undergraduate history students can apply after completing 90 credit hours with a GPA of 3.0.
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Apply to the University of Mississippi
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?