B.A. in History
Understand the relationship between people, events, cultures, places, and time.
History majors at the University of Mississippi take a range of courses across American and European history as well as history of other regions. They take at least one advanced research course where they utilize primary resources to address questions of historical importance.
Key Benefits
History majors develop a systematic understanding of social structures and institutions, as well as strong analytical skills, creative thinking, and exceptional oral and written communication skills. Deeper understanding of worldwide historical events prepares you to become both an engaged citizen
and a competitive member of an increasingly global work force.
Graduate Outcomes
A liberal arts education empowers and prepares graduates to deal with complexity and change through a broad knowledge of the world. They gain key skills in communication, problem-solving, and working with a diverse group of people. Careers related to history include business, law, government, marketing, education, historical preservation, archives management, non-profits, legislative research, documentary filmmaking, and many more.
Experiences Offered
All history majors take a seminar that introduces them to the research and writing techniques that are central to the historian's craft. Enrollment is limited to about a dozen, and all students write a research paper using primary sources that is related to the specific topic of the seminar.
B.A. in History Faculty
The faculty members within the Arch Dalrymple III Department of History at the University of Mississippi have been trained at world-class institutions around the world. They have research and teaching strengths in the areas of American (with a special strength in Southern), European, African, East Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latin American history.
Course Requirements
A major in history for the B.A. degree consists of a minimum of 33 semester hours, which may include a maximum of three survey-level courses (100-level courses) and must include at least one advanced research course from Hst 494, 498, or 499. Of these 33 hours, students must take at least 6 hours in each of the department's three main focus areas: a) American history, b) European history, and c) histories of other regions. The Department of History website has the list of courses that meet these three areas. History majors should also take courses that reflect the chronological diversity of course offerings.
Admissions Requirements
Admission requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in History program are the same as the general undergraduate admission requirements.
Robert Corbin
Robert (B.A. in history and sociology, 2013) wrote his honors thesis about Sicilian agriculture and the political economy of Italian unification, which set the course of his future specialization. After graduation he earned a M.A. in modern European history at Syracuse University. With support from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Robert researched Mussolini's agricultural programs in archives around the Po Valley of Italy. He is currently in the Ph.D. program at Columbia University where he will continue his research on the political economy of the Axis Alliance. Robert's goal is to teach collegiate history in Mississippi.
Why study history at UM?
"I cannot say it enough, the faculty are the best reason to come to UM to study history. They are a very diverse and a very talented group of people; they are a source of immense support for me. I credit the interest that they took in me as an undergraduate for many of the things that I have been able to accomplish thus far in my career."
Student Organizations
Join the History Club and Phi Alpha Theta, a history honor society.