History, B.A.
Understand the relationship between people, events, cultures, places, and time.
Bachelor of Arts in History
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 B.A. in History 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. A deeper understanding of worldwide historical events prepares students to become both engaged citizens and competitive members of an increasingly global economy.
Our history majors are employed in a variety of fields including bbusiness, law, government, marketing, education, historical preservation, archives management, non-profits, legislative research, documentary filmmaking, and more!
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Program Information
Degree
B.A. in History
Emphases
History
Required Credit Hours
120
Program Type
Major
Minor
Program Location
School
Duration
4 years
Degree Requirements
Find out about credit hour and course requirements for the 2025-26 academic catalog.
Students in the College of Liberal Arts earning the B.A. degree have a common set of 48-50 hours of general education. The specific courses taken to complete the categories of general education may differ between majors.
Categories of General Education:
- First Year Writing I, II
- English Literature Survey
- Modern or Ancient Language
- History
- Additional Humanities
- Fine or Performing Arts Appreciation
- Mathematics
- Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences
To see the details for these general education requirements, visit the UM online catalog or the degree sheet attached at the top of this webpage.
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. A minimum grade of C is required in all Hst courses applied by a student toward the major. Students pursuing the BA degree in the College of Liberal Arts must also complete a minor field of study (or double major).
- 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:
- 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 History since 1945
- Hst 410: Native America, Pre-contact to 1850
- Hst 411: Native America since 1850
- Hst 412: The Mississippian Shatter Zone
- 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 425:. Era of Reconstruction
- 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: Environmental 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:
- Hst 120: Intro. to European History to 1648
- Hst 121: Intro. to European History since 1648
- Hst 301: History of Classical Greece
- Hst 302: Law and Life in Ancient Athens
- Hst 303: The World of 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 Bright Ages, 1100-1300
- Hst 310: History of Medieval Christianity
- Hst 311: Medieval Church and Empire
- Hst 312: Birth of Europe - Vikings, Crusades, 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 324: Intellectual History of the 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: Postcolonial Europe
- Hst 341: History of Germany, 1789-1918
- Hst 342: History of Germany since 1890
- Hst 343: History of the Holocaust
- Hst 344: Russia Under the Tsars
- Hst 345: Russia in the Era of Total War
- Hst 346: Russia - Cold War to the War in Ukraine
- 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:
- 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 313: Saints and Sexuality
- 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 372: Decolonialization in Africa
- Hst 373: War, Rebellion and Revolution in Africa
- Hst 374: Nationalism in Africa
- Hst 375: History of Islam in Africa
- Hst 376: History of West Africa to 1800
- Hst 377: History of West Africa Since 1800
- Hst 378: Africa Since Independence
- 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 in East Asian History
- Hst 386: Capitalism and Communism in Modern China
- 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 396: Global Female Prophecy
- Hst 482: Samurai in Film
- Hst 492: Problems in History – World
A minor in history consists of 18 credit hours of history courses, of which at least 9 credit hours must be at the 300-level or higher. A minimum grade of C is required in all Hst courses applied by a student toward either a major or minor in history.
Earn both the B.A. and M.A. degrees in History in 5 Years
The Accelerated Master's program offers undergraduates the opportunity to begin earning credit towards a graduate degree while they complete the final requirements for their undergraduate degree. This saves students time and money as they complete their advanced degree, and is a great way to prepare for law school and post-grad plans.
Undergraduate history students can apply to the Accelerated Master's Degree after completing 90 credit hours with a GPA of 3.0.
Department Opportunities
Video: Get to Know the Department of History
Hear firsthand from students, faculty, and staff about the History program.
History Alumni Careers
- 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
Welcome to the College of Liberal Arts
As Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Liberal Arts, I work with students, and their parents, who are interested in attending UM for their undergraduate degrees. I coordinate personalized visits to our departments, answer questions about the majors and programs in the CLA and handle all recruitment communications from the CLA. Please feel free to send me any questions you may have. It is my job to make sure you have everything you need to make an informed decision on where to spend your college career, and I hope it will be with the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi!
Annabelle Harris
Admissions Counselor
Future CLA Students
College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Students
We invite future undergraduates to learn about the College of Liberal Arts, the value of the liberal arts education, our programs, career opportunities, and resources to help you succeed. You can also request a personalized degree sheet.
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?