Bachelor of Arts in History

Our students become keenly aware of the past in all its complexity and, by extension, the present; they enjoy satisfying careers in businesses, law, philanthropy, government, education, media and communications.

History students inquire about the past. Their study of the past, in all of its complexity, allows them to better understand our contemporary world, the forces that created it, and their power to shape the present and the future. Our students study world regions, gain exposure to multiple discipline-specific methods and have the freedom to pursue individual areas of interest.

  • Study an area of interest, whether that be a specific geographic area, historical period or central theme
  • Understand how the world operates
  • Gain an awareness of past human achievement

In the top 40 history departments in the U.S.

(U.S. News & World Report, 2018)

Learn from award-winning faculty, including Pulitzer Prize winners, National Endowment for the Humanities fellows and Fulbright fellows

Take part in one of our honors seminars, providing students with rigorous, individualized instruction

Be successful.

Our esteemed history faculty help students become informed, contributing and effective citizens, scholars and teachers, able to respond flexibly and with wisdom to changes in the profession and the world.

 
$56,300

Median salary of CU Boulder history students 1–5 years after graduation

 

Curator, archivist, K–12 teacher, policy analyst and writer are common job opportunities for graduates

 

Work for businesses, law practices, philanthropic institutions, government organizations, or in education, media and communications

Academic Plan & Requirements

History students must complete 42 credit hours in history courses, with 24 of those credits at the upper division. In addition, students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Our history curriculum is flexible enough for students to focus on a specific area of study:

  • Geographic area: Examples include Britain, China, Latin America and the U.S.
  • Historical period: Examples include the ancient world, the medieval period and the 20th century.
  • Central theme: Examples include environmental or diplomatic history, the history of revolution and war, imperialism and colonialism, borderlands and migration, cultural and intellectual history, and religious history.

Community & Involvement

History majors have many opportunities to network with peers and faculty, further their studies and get the most out of their undergraduate experience.

Be inspired.

The history department has an extensive list of alumni who have worked in a variety of industries across the globe.

Some alumni of the program include:

Dan Carlin

('89)
A podcaster, famous for his Hardcore History podcast

Mike Nelson

('91)
A pediatrician practicing in Mexico

Peter Perla

('92)
A partner in the law firm of Holland & Hart

Bertrall Ross

('98)
​Director, Karsh Center for Law and Democracy

Stacey Smith

('98)
Associate professor of history at Oregon State University

Brian Delay

('94)
Associate professor of history at the University of California, Berkeley

Jaime Kreiner

('04)
Associate professor of history at the University of Georgia

Richard Payne

Associate professor of history and Near East languages and civilizations at the University of Chicago

News & Stories

College of Arts & Sciences magazine cover