Program Details
Bachelor of Arts, Major in History
Bachelor of ArtsJames Madison University
The History program blends core requirements with great choice permitting students to pursue particular interests while developing a broad understanding of the historic past. Students will have the opportunity to design, in consultation with faculty advisers, approximately two-thirds of their program to suit their needs and interests. The major offers students an opportunity for independent research and to present their findings at regional or national conferences. History prepares students for a broad range of challenging careers.
History courses introduce students to the nature of history and survey the globe in a historical context. The 100- and 200-level courses are world or regional surveys, covering extensive periods of time, while the 300- and 400-level courses are focused on one theme, time period or geography. The upper-level courses require extensive analysis of sources and texts, and they include a research assignment that showcases the students' ability to develop and present their own historical interpretations.
The major requires three core courses: HIST 101, HIST 102 and HIST 395. Majors must take eight additional courses: Two on the 200 level and six on the 300 and 400 levels—with at least three of the upper division courses taken at the 400 level. In addition, majors must take one upper division course in each of the following fields: U.S., Europe and World history. For students writing a senior honors thesis, only three hours of HIST 499. Honors may be counted among the three 400-level courses required for the major.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | This degree is reading and research intensive. Seniors complete a minimum of two capstone research projects. Study abroad, internships, and summer courses are available to assist in progress toward the completion of degree requirements. The bulk of courses are offered in face-to-face, on-campus formats. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
We recommend completing courses that are equivalent to HIST general education requirements including HIST 101, 102 and HIST 225. Courses that are not completed prior to transfer may be completed in first semesters at JMU.
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | The history degree pairs nicely with other disciplines and there are ample opportunities for double majoring. Students often double major in history and political science, justice studies, international affairs, or foreign languages, but also have found synergies with chemistry, biology, and dance. Internships provide opportunities to hone professional skills. Study abroad is an opportunity for many students to enhance their studies from our dedicated semester experience in Salamanca, Spain to our signature programs in Ghana, Argentina, and various cities in Europe. Students also work in our dedicated History Studio to acquire technology skills related to the production of podcasts, virtual reality, 3-D printing and other technologies. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | Our degree prepares students for a broad range of opportunities from business, law, and tourism to graduate education and museum training. We offer mentoring from pre-enrollment through graduation. Recent graduates have won Fulbright fellowships and entered prestigious graduate MA and PhD programs in History as well as Law School and professional degree programs. |
Program Credit Requirements
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between James Madison University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Completion of an approved transfer associate degree will guarantee fulfillment of JMU's General Education requirements. https://www.jmu.edu/transfer/VCCStransfer/ASDegrees.shtml |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School |
| Credit for Prior Learning | JMU accepts and reviews AP, IB, CIE and CLEP for all students with eligible scores, which may be different than at your prior institution. JMU will complete an independent review of the test score to apply credit to the JMU student record. Credit for prior learning (CLEP) is awarded on a per case basis for Adult Degree (Individualized Studies Majors) and RN-BSN students only and in consultation with the department of expertise, with the exception of military service credit. Credit for learning acquired in military service is awarded by the registrar's office using the ACE guide credit recommendation for study/experience listed on the military transcript and in consultation with the department of expertise. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | JMU is a mid to large size institution that behaves more like a smaller institution. Faculty and staff hold students as the top priority. JMU has a 96% satisfaction rate. 89% of classes have less than 50 students. JMU is the #1 most recommended public University in the US by the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education; JMU is the #1 Best College for Employment in Virginia according to U.S. Department of Education statistics compiled by Zippia. JMU has the highest post-graduation job levels of all Virginia colleges. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | Transfer applicants applying through the Guaranteed Admissions Agreement must submit a Letter of Intent prior to applying to JMU. Requirements and forms are available at: https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer-GAA.shtml |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Mennonite University | Bachelor of Arts History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Averett University | Bachelor of Arts in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Hollins University | BA in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | Associate of Science Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Eastern Shore Community College | Associate of Science Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate in Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Germanna Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid, Online |
| Germanna Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid, Online |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Science in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Science in Social Sciences | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts - American Sign Language/Deaf Studies Major | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Science Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Art degree in Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Art | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Science Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | General Studies, A.S. | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Liberal Arts, A.A. | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Social Sciences, A.S. | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Rappahannock Community College | AA&S Degree in Arts and Sciences | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Wytheville Community College | Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Arts & Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Southside Virginia Community College | Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Arts and Sciences | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid, Online |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Science in Social Science | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | Online |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Science - General Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | Online |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Science - Social Sciences | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | Online |
| Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Science Degree in General Studies | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Science Degree in Social Sciences | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Wytheville Community College | Associate of Science Degree Social Science | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Sweet Briar College | Bachelor of Arts in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Christopher Newport University | Bachelor of Arts in History, Major in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Longwood University | History BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Longwood University | History: Pre-Law BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Longwood University | History: Public History BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Longwood University | History: Teacher Preparation in History and Social Science BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Roanoke College | Bachelor of Arts in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Roanoke College | Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Education | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Radford University | BA in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Radford University | BS in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| University of Lynchburg | BA in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| The University of Virginia's College at Wise | Bachelor of Arts in History, Major in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Bachelor of Arts in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Mary Baldwin University | Bachelor of Arts in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| George Mason University | History, BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Norfolk State University | Bachelor of Arts in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| William & Mary | History - Bachelor of Arts | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Old Dominion University | History-BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| University of Mary Washington | BA in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Bridgewater College | History Major - BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Shenandoah University | Bachelor of Science History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Ferrum College | B.A. in History (Minor Required) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Randolph College | Bachelor of Arts in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | History, Bachelor of Arts | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | History with concentration in Public History, Bachelor of Arts | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Applied History Social Sciences (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | History (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary History and Integrative Social Sciences Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary History and Social Sciences Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary Mathematics & Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Regent University | A.A. in History | Associate | Associate of Arts | 4-Year | Hybrid |
| Regent University | B.A. in History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | Hybrid |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-9199.11 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9199.02 | Compliance Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards. | Management Occupations |
| 19-3093.00 | Historians | Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters. | Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
| 25-1125.00 | History Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in human history and historiography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 11-9199.08 | Loss Prevention Managers | Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9199.00 | Managers, All Other | All managers not listed separately. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9199.01 | Regulatory Affairs Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures. | Management Occupations |
| 25-2031.00 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 39-7011.00 | Tour Guides and Escorts | Escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries. | Personal Care and Service Occupations |
| 11-9199.10 | Wind Energy Development Managers | Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9199.09 | Wind Energy Operations Managers | Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning. | Management Occupations |
Cost To Complete