Program Details
BA in History
Bachelor of ArtsUniversity of Mary Washington
Explore world and American history in Fredericksburg, Virginia, a city with a long human story of its own. Here you can study pre-European cultures, the American Revolution , the Civil War, and the 20th century--and that's just outside the classroom. UMW's master teachers will ground you in a broad knowledge of history and help you narrow your focus to gain specialized expertise. You'll leave ready to make a difference in a career or graduate school. The history curriculum offers courses from ancient to modern times in the Americas and around the world. The major is distinctive for courses that develop critical judgment, including first-year seminars, history colloquium and practicum, and a senior-level historical research class.
Program Overview & Guidance

Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
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Considerations for Selecting Degree | Our program emphasizes research and communication (written, oral, and digital). Various courses are writing intensive, speaking intensive, and digital intensive. Some students choose to concentrate on a particular region or era, while others range widely across American, Asian, European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern history. Courses in research methods, public history, and digital history prepare students for careers as historians. Required seminars develop research, speaking, and writing skills, culminating in a capstone project (typically a 30-40-page research paper) designed by students in collaboration with a faculty advisor and conducted as an independent study. |
Program Requirement Notes | Program Requirement Notes A minimum of 120 credits are required; all general education, intensives, and major requirements must be met. Thirty-one of the 120 credits must be completed at UMW. Fifteen of your last 21 credits must be earned on campus. You must have an overall and major GPA of 2.00. The restrictions below apply to the BA/BS degrees:
*Only 8 cr in debate/comm consulting practicum *Only 8 credits in THEA 390 will count *Only 12 credits of private music will count *Only 10 credits of ensemble music will count *One 100-level BIOL sequence will count
*BLST/PORT classes do not count toward the degree *Only 9 credits of overlap allowed between double majors This Degree Evaluation is an advising tool to be used in consultation with your major advisor and staff in the Offices of the Registrar and Academic Services. It is not the final approval for degree completion. |
Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Students should complete a 2-course introductory sequence of American history, Western civilization, or Asian civilization; History majors pursuing teaching licensure in Social Studies should complete sequences in both American and World history. Additional preparation in college-level writing recommended. The 100-level two-course sequence will provide six credits in the history major, as well as fulfill General Education requirements.
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Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
Doing More With Your Degree | The methods course prepares students for senior-level seminars, as well as the capstone research project. The History major is easy to pair with other majors, such as Political Science, International Affairs, Historic Preservation, and American Studies and with minors; many students complete internships at historic sites and with local, as well as Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., organizations. |
Program Successes & Highlights | History grads go into a wide array of careers due to the skills (research, planning, organizing, and communication) that they develop and fine-tune, for example, law enforcement, the ministry, nonprofits, law, communications, business, the military, information management, and government contracting. They also work in libraries and archives and in national and state parks, as well as teach in primary and secondary schools. |
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 University of Mary Washington 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 |
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Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Completing the appropriate transfer degree through VCCS allows students to enter the university as a junior with nearly all general education requirements satisfied. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | Students earning an associate degree while in high school are not eligible for guaranteed admission programs and must complete 3 college specific general education courses. All courses are evaluated and transferred as applicable to your degree. |
Credit for Prior Learning | UMW accepts AP, IB and CLEP results for college credit if the scores earned meets college expectations. Enter your test scores into the portal to see if scores will earn credit. |
Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information

College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
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Is This College Right For Me? | UMW is a perfectly sized university of 3,700 undergraduates that blends opportunity with community. Set in Fredericksburg, our park-like campus for both residential and commuter students is located fifty miles south of Washington, DC and fifty miles north of Richmond, VA. Fredericksburg is one of the most southern final stops on the Virginia Rail Express (VRE) which has allowed convenient commuter access to DC for internship experiences while studying at UMW. Founded more than 100 years ago, UMW currently offers 80 majors, minors, and programs through our College of Business, Colleges of Education, and College of Arts and Sciences. |
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 | Declare intent to transfer to UMW by completing the “GAA Student Letter of Intent form” available at the Office of Admissions website after a minimum of 15 credits towards the transfer associate degree is completed at the community college and before applying for graduation from the community college |
Where Can This Degree Transfer

Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
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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 |
James Madison University | Bachelor of Arts, 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 |
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 |
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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
