History, BA, Online BA
Studying history is more than just memorizing facts — it’s about understanding the past to solve the problems of the present.
In the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s online Bachelor of Arts in History degree, you’ll explore how people have expressed their ideas and beliefs through artifacts, social movements, documents and more. You’ll make connections between art, culture, social practices, politics, religion and economics to understand how they impact the human experience.
Take practical courses to develop critical analysis, text reading, creative problem-solving and communication skills. You’ll prepare for many types of professions or to pursue graduate education.
Learn more about undergraduate online education, including important pricing information.Â
Start Dates: Fall, Spring or Summer
Cost per Credit: $395 (Total Cost: $47,400*)
Credit Hours: 120 (30 Credits in Major)
*Total cost will vary based on the number of credits transferred into 51ÁÔÆæ.
Program Type
Major
Program Format
Online
Why study history at 51ÁÔÆæ?
- Learn from the same faculty members who also teach in-person courses.
- Find internships or part-time job opportunities with social service agencies, government offices, museums, nonprofits and more in your local area.
- Customize your coursework by taking electives in your area of interest, such as a specific location or time period.
- Develop skills employers value — the study of history relies on data and research. You’ll learn how to digest and interpret large amounts of information using the latest tools.
- Complete a senior thesis or participate in research projects alongside faculty and graduate students.
- Combine your history major with a certificate or another undergraduate program.
Financial Aid
Various financial aid options are available to support your educational journey. 51ÁÔÆæ’s Student Financial Services team will guide you through the financial aid process, helping you identify and apply for the best options to fund your bachelor’s degree.
Scholarships
51ÁÔÆæ’s scholarships encompass a wide variety of awards, including academic excellence and need-based opportunities. Scholarship opportunities may increase with academic standing.  regularly as you make progress on your degree.
Admissions
Applicants must meet 51ÁÔÆæ’s general admission requirements to be considered for admission.
Curriculum
History Major Requirements
History majors must maintain a 2.0 GPA in all history credits attempted at 51ÁÔÆæ and a 2.0 GPA in all history credits attempted at all institutions attended, collectively. No more than 6 of the 36 credits applied to the major may be earned in independent study courses ( or ). Note that in all courses taken in the major on a credit/no credit basis (whether applied to the major or not), regular letter grades are recorded on your transcript and are used in the calculation of your GPA. History majors must enroll in and complete least 18 credits in courses numbered 300 or above, of which 15 must be taken in residence at 51ÁÔÆæ.
Note: Specific courses may count toward the fulfillment of more than one requirement. For example, counts toward the fulfillment of both requirement #1 and requirement #4.
History majors are required to take 36 credits of coursework distributed as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Select at least 6 credits in European history 1 | 6 | |
| 2. Select at least 6 credits in U.S. history 1 | 6 | |
| 3. Select at least 9 credits in non-Western or global history 1 | 9 | |
| 4. Select at least 3 credits in a course dealing with the period before 1500 1 | 3 | |
| 5. Electives | 6 | |
| 6. Select at least one course in historical methods from the following: | 3 | |
| Seminar on Historical Method: Research Techniques | ||
| Seminar on Historical Method: Theory and Approach | ||
| 7. Complete | ||
| Seminar in History: 2 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
Course lists delineating approved European, U.S., non-Western or global, and pre-1500 history courses offered at 51ÁÔÆæ are below.
- 2
(meets the L&S requirement for a research experience in the major); prerequisite is or ). Students who complete the senior thesis (see below) may substitute the thesis courses for .
Students should pay particular attention to requirement #6. Students will not be permitted to enroll in until after they have taken and passed one of the courses in historical methods listed under #6. This sequence may not be reversed and students cannot take both courses in the same semester. Prospective majors should fulfill the methods requirement at an early stage of their progress in the curriculum, in no case later than the next-to-last semester before they plan to graduate.
Senior Thesis Option
Students choosing this two-semester sequence (/) write a substantial research paper on a topic of their choice in consultation with a faculty thesis advisor. The prerequisite for  is at least one of the following courses: or . Students also must receive approval from the faculty thesis advisor and department chair prior to enrolling. With the consent of the faculty thesis advisor and the department chair, history majors with a GPA of 3.333 (B+) or higher in all history credits attempted, including transfer work, may take the thesis sequence in lieu of Hist 600 to satisfy (in part) major requirements and the L&S research requirement. Access and print out the Ìý(±Ê¶Ù¹ó).
Independent Study
Independent study is not a substitute for courses regularly available in the curriculum. Students who wish to enroll in independent study ( for freshmen and sophomores;  for juniors and seniors) must have a minimum GPA of 2.500 in credits attempted at 51ÁÔÆæ. It is recommended that students work only with faculty members from whom they previously have taken regular classes. Students may not enroll in Ìý´Ç°ùÌý for work already completed. When enrolling in Ìý´Ç°ùÌý, students shall select the section number of the faculty member who will supervise their work.
After consultation with the supervising faculty member, students must print out and complete an Ìý(±Ê¶Ù¹ó). This form contains the description of the independent study proposal, and it should be completed during the first two weeks of the semester. The supervising faculty member must approve the proposal and return the signed form to the department office for endorsement by the department chair as well as by the Dean. A student should not take more than three credits of independent study in one semester from the same faculty member. History majors may take no more than 6 of the required 36 credits in History in independent study, and a maximum of 3 credits of independent study may count toward the minor.
Ancient and Medieval History (Pre-1500) Requirements
The following courses satisfy the pre-1500 requirement of the History major:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Western Civilization: Ancient World to 1500 | 3 | |
| World History to 1500 | 3 | |
| East Asian Civilization to 1600 | 3 | |
| The Ancient World: The Near East and Greece | 3 | |
| The Ancient World: The Roman Republic and Empire | 3 | |
| The History of Medieval Europe: The Early Middle Ages | 3 | |
| The History of Medieval Europe: The High Middle Ages | 3 | |
| English History to 1688 | 3 | |
| Ancient Egyptian Civilization | 3 | |
| Islamic Civilization: The Formative Period, ca. 500-1258 | 3 | |
| A History of Greek Civilization: The Greek City-State | 3 | |
| A History of Greek Civilization: The Age of Alexander the Great | 3 | |
| A History of Rome: The Republic | 3 | |
| A History of Rome: The Empire | 3 | |
| Medieval Civilization: The High Middle Ages | 3 | |
| The Era of the Crusades | 3 | |
| History of Medieval Warfare | 3 | |
| Premodern China | 3 | |
| History of Japan to 1600 | 3 |
The following variable topic courses satisfy the pre-1500 requirement of the History major if the specific topic deals preponderantly with the era prior to 1500:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year Seminar: | 3 | |
| First-Year Seminar: | 3 | |
| Independent Study | 1-3 | |
| Historical Roots of Contemporary Issues: | 3 | |
| Topics in American History: | 3 | |
| Topics in Global History: | 3 | |
| UROP Apprenticeship | 1-3 | |
| Study Abroad: | 1-12 | |
| Ad Hoc: | 1-6 | |
| Topics in the History of Religious Thought: | 3 | |
| Topics in European History: | 3 | |
| Topics in Global History: | 3 | |
| Topics in Gender and History: | 3 | |
| Honors Seminar: | 3 | |
| Honors Seminar: | 3 | |
| Topics in Latin American and Caribbean History: | 3 | |
| Topics in Middle Eastern History: | 3 | |
| Topics in Asian History: | 3 | |
| Study Abroad: | 1-12 | |
| Ad Hoc: | 1-6 | |
| Methods and Theory in the Historical Study of Religion: | 3 | |
| Seminar in History: | 3 | |
| Senior Thesis I | 3 | |
| Senior Thesis II | 3 | |
| Independent Reading: | 1-6 |
Because individual student topics in Hist 600 can vary, that course, with the instructor's approval, may count toward the pre-1500 requirement for certain students, as determined by the predominant focus of their individual work in the course.Â
Categorization of Courses by Geographic Area
The following lists indicate the geographic areas towards which courses count in the fulfillment of the major and minor requirements. (Note that some courses do not satisfy any of the geographic area distribution requirements and that for variable-topic courses, the geographic area is determined by the specific topic). Â
European History
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Western Civilization: Ancient World to 1500 | 3 | |
| Western Civilization: 1500 to the Present | 3 | |
| The Ancient World: The Near East and Greece | 3 | |
| The Ancient World: The Roman Republic and Empire | 3 | |
| The History of Medieval Europe: The Early Middle Ages | 3 | |
| The History of Medieval Europe: The High Middle Ages | 3 | |
| Europe and the Modern World: 1815 to the Present | 3 | |
| English History to 1688 | 3 | |
| Britain Since 1688: Rise and Decline of a Great Power | 3 | |
| Poland and its Neighbors, 1795-1914 | 3 | |
| Women and Gender in Europe: 1350 to 1750 | 3 | |
| Women and Gender in Europe: 1750 to the Present | 3 | |
| The First World War | 3 | |
| The Second World War in Europe | 3 | |
| A History of Greek Civilization: The Greek City-State | 3 | |
| A History of Greek Civilization: The Age of Alexander the Great | 3 | |
| A History of Rome: The Republic | 3 | |
| A History of Rome: The Empire | 3 | |
| Medieval Civilization: The High Middle Ages | 3 | |
| The Era of the Crusades | 3 | |
| History of Medieval Warfare | 3 | |
| The Roman Catholic Church, 1500 to the Present | 3 | |
| The Papacy in History | 3 | |
| Imperial Russia | 3 | |
| Russia Since 1917 | 3 | |
| Poland and Its Neighbors, 1914-1945 | 3 | |
| Poland and Its Neighbors, 1945 to the Present | 3 | |
| Modern and Contemporary France | 3 | |
| The Jews of Modern Europe: History and Culture | 3 | |
| Germany: Hitler and the Nazi Dictatorship | 3 | |
| The Holocaust: Anti-Semitism & the Fate of Jewish People in Europe, 1933-45 | 3 | |
| Topics in European History: | 3 | |
| Contemporary European History, 1945 to the Present | 3 |
U.S. History
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Multicultural America | 3 | |
| American History: 1607 to 1877 | 3 | |
| American History: 1877 to the Present | 3 | |
| History of Capitalism | 3 | |
| History of Race, Science, and Medicine in the United States | 3 | |
| History of Women in American Society | 3 | |
| North American Indian History to 1887 | 3 | |
| North American Indian History Since 1887 | 3 | |
| The History of Latinos in the United States | 3 | |
| History of the American West | 3 | |
| Asian Americans in Historical Perspective | 3 | |
| Topics in American History: | 3 | |
| The 1960s in the United States: A Cultural History | 3 | |
| Topics in American History: | 3 | |
| The Age of the American Revolution, 1750-1789 | 3 | |
| Causes of the Civil War, 1828-1861 | 3 | |
| Civil War and Reconstruction: The United States, 1861-1877 | 3 | |
| America in Prosperity, Depression and War, 1921-1945 | 3 | |
| America Since 1945 | 3 | |
| North American Environmental History | 3 | |
| The United States as a World Power in the 20th Century | 3 | |
| Ethnic America: To 1880 | 3 | |
| Immigrant America Since 1880 | 3 | |
| History of the American Working Classes | 3 | |
| Beer and Brewing in America | 3 | |
| African Americans from Slavery to Freedom | 3 | |
| African Americans Since the Civil War | 3 | |
| Baseball in American History | 3 | |
| Popular Culture in America, 1800 to the Present | 3 | |
| The History of Milwaukee | 3 | |
| History of Wisconsin | 3 | |
| History of Religion in American Life to 1870 | 3 | |
| History of Religion in American Life Since 1870 | 3 | |
| The History of Poverty in America | 3 | |
| History of the American City | 3 | |
| The American Feminist Movement | 3 | |
| History of Wisconsin Indians | 3 | |
| Topics in North American Indian History: | 3 | |
| American Indian History, Law, and Government | 3 | |
| Fields and Methods in Public History | 3 |
Non-Western or Global History
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| World History to 1500 | 3 | |
| World History Since 1500 | 3 | |
| Global History of the Family, Gender, and Sexuality | 3 | |
| East Asian Civilization to 1600 | 3 | |
| East Asian Civilization Since 1600 | 3 | |
| Latin American Society and Culture | 3 | |
| The Twentieth Century: A Global History | 3 | |
| Ancient Egyptian Civilization | 3 | |
| Islamic Civilization: The Formative Period, ca. 500-1258 | 3 | |
| The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries | 3 | |
| Buddhism Across Asia | 3 | |
| The Korean War | 3 | |
| The Vietnam War | 3 | |
| Topics in Global History: | 3 | |
| Historical Encounters: | 3 | |
| Topics in Global History: | 3 | |
| Premodern China | 3 | |
| Modern China | 3 | |
| Revolution in China | 3 | |
| Introduction to Jewish History | 3 | |
| Buddhism: A Cultural History | 3 | |
| Africans in World History: Communities, Cultures, and Ideas | 3 | |
| Modern Africa | 3 | |
| The History of Southern Africa | 3 | |
| History of Mexico | 3 | |
| History of Japan to 1600 | 3 | |
| History of Japan Since 1600 | 3 | |
| Topics in Latin American and Caribbean History: | 3 | |
| Topics in Middle Eastern History: | 3 | |
| Topics in Asian History: | 3 | |
| Maps as Historical Sources | 3 | |
| Decolonization, Revolution, and Independence in African History | 3 | |
| Luso-Brazilian Culture: (Topic: "History of Brazil") 1 | 3 | |
| Advanced Humanities Seminar in Women's and Gender Studies: (Topic: "Women, Gender, & Global Revolutions") 1 | 3 |
- 1
These courses in other subjects may be used to fulfill requirements of the undergraduate major or minor in history.
Geographic Area Determined by Specific Topic
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year Seminar: | 3 | |
| First-Year Seminar: | 3 | |
| Independent Study | 1-3 | |
| Historical Roots of Contemporary Issues: | 3 | |
| UROP Apprenticeship | 1-3 | |
| Study Abroad: | 1-12 | |
| Ad Hoc: | 1-6 | |
| Topics in the History of Religious Thought: | 3 | |
| Topics in Gender and History: | 3 | |
| Honors Seminar: | 3 | |
| Honors Seminar: | 3 | |
| Study Abroad: | 1-12 | |
| Ad Hoc: | 1-6 | |
| Methods and Theory in the Historical Study of Religion: | 3 | |
| Seminar in History: | 3 | |
| Senior Thesis I | 3 | |
| Senior Thesis II | 3 | |
| Independent Reading: | 1-6 |
The geographic area of concentration in sections of , where the area is not obvious in the title, by default is designated in accordance with the primary teaching and research interests of the instructor. In such cases, and with the instructor's approval, can count toward different areas for different students, as determined by the predominant focus of their individual work in the course. Note that a variable topic course cannot be considered "Non-Western or Global" unless at least a substantial part of the course's focus includes the study of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Latin American history.
No Geographic Area
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Internship in History, Lower Division | 1-6 | |
| Seminar on Historical Method: Research Techniques | 3 | |
| UROP Apprenticeship | 1-3 | |
| Internship in History, Upper Division | 1-6 | |
| Seminar on Historical Method: Theory and Approach | 3 | |
| The Quantitative Analysis of Historical Data | 3 |
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at 51ÁÔÆæ, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.Â
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.Â
Currently enrolled students should use the  to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
History Academic Advising
For academic advice, as well as for information on how to declare a major or minor in history, visit the undergraduate program web page of the Department of History at .
There is no typical job for a history major — our graduates thrive in all types of industries and roles, and some continue on to graduate school. You will shape your career path by how you apply your coursework to real-world experiences. Internships, part-time jobs and volunteering are key to building a network and starting your profession.
Our history majors excel in expected fields like museums, libraries, archives, law firms, government agencies and education. They also succeed in business, nonprofits, politics and beyond. Some of our recent alumni have earned positions such as:
- Academic Advisor, University of Wisconsin
- Archivist, North Dakota State University
- Attorney, Saks Fifth Avenue
- Business Analyst, FIS
- Copywriter, Epic
- Curator, Luxembourg American Cultural Society
- Economic Development Specialist, Waukesha County
- IT Analyst, Rockwell Automation
- Marketing Specialist, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
- Office Administrator, Milwaukee County
- Operations Coordinator, National Children’s Museum
- Police Officer, City of Oak Creek
- Project Manager, Uline
- Reporter, The Washington Post
- Service Coordinator, Easter Seals
- Talent Development, Kohl’s
- Teacher, Milwaukee Public Schools
- Video Editor, CBS 58
Explore 51ÁÔÆæ’s history graduate programs and the for additional post-graduate opportunities. See even more sample jobs on our Career Resources page: