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History, Bachelor of Arts
Your history degree will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the issues and events that shape today’s global society. Studying history is also a proven way to develop the analytical and communication skills necessary for success in most fields, including business, law, journalism, public policy and teaching. Jobs for history teachers alone are expected to rise 13 percent over the next few years.
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- History, Bachelor of Arts
Your history degree will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the issues and events that shape today’s global society. Studying history is also a proven way to develop the analytical and communication skills necessary for success in most fields, including business, law, journalism, public policy and teaching. Jobs for history teachers alone are expected to rise 13 percent over the next few years.
Discover the advantages of a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in History at St. John’s University. This 120-credit program is your introduction to many exciting careers, and the skills you develop will increase your chances for a successful career in almost any field.
Offered by St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences — the University's oldest division — the program features an award-winning faculty that cares about your growth as a student and an individual. Our History program connects the past to the present, providing an in-depth study of the world’s major civilizations, cultures and events. From ancient to contemporary times, course offerings span the globe and include the histories of the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia.
As a history major you will learn vital skills such as effective writing, critical analysis, in-depth research and interdisciplinary thinking, all of which will prove extremely valuable as you pursue a career after graduation.
- Degree Type
- BA
- Area of Interest
- History
- Associated Colleges or Schools
- Program Location
- Queens Campus
- Required Credit Hours
- 120
Admission
For more information about admission to this and other acclaimed undergraduate programs at St. John’s University, please visit Undergraduate Admission.
Additional Information
As a History major, you gain a solid understanding of the historical forces that have shaped today's global society. You also develop valuable communications and writing skills that are vital to the discipline — and to professional success in virtually any field.
You will be guided and mentored by St. John's internationally recognized faculty of scholar-teachers.
You will also develop a strong academic and professional edge by joining any of St. John's more than 180 student clubs, organizations and honor societies, including the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for History.
Every student at St. John's enjoys the outstanding academic resources for which the University is known. Facilities include high-tech classrooms and our 1.7 million-volume University Library. Our D’Angelo Center is a five-story, 127,000-square-foot University and Student Center with classrooms, lecture halls, a Starbucks Café, and a full-service food court.
To earn your B.A. in History, you complete 120 credits, including core, major sequence, and elective requirements. The major sequence and elective requirements are outlined below for a total of 36 credits. For more information about the courses listed below, please the St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of our Undergraduate Bulletin.
Required Courses – 12 Credits
| Course | Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIS | 1000C | Emergence of a Global Society | 3 |
| HIS | 1010 | Foundations of World History to 1500 | 3 |
| HIS | 2990 | Introduction to History (Sophomore Seminar) | 3 |
| HIS | 4990 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
Elective Courses – 24 Credits
| Category | Credits |
| U.S. History | 6 |
| World History* | 12 |
| Free History Electives** | 6 |
*Courses must be taken from 3 of 5 different categories: Africa, non-U.S. Americas, Asia, Europe, and Transregional.
** Courses can be taken from any category (U.S. History, Africa, non-U.S. Americas, Asia, Europe, Transregional, Internship, or Independent Study.
Total Credits: 36
HIS 2130 Money and Things: Capitalism in History
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Bulletin Description: Examines the development of the world economy from the Early modern period with a focus on consumption.
3 credit hours
HIS 2142 Disease in Modern World History
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Bulletin Description: Effects of epidemic diseases on the political, social, cultural and economic dimensions of global societies from the Black Death to the present.
3 credit hours
HIS 2335 Atlantic Revolutions
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Bulletin Description: Examines interrelated political upheavals and their social and cultural effects from 1776 to 1848.
3 credit hours
HIS 2550 Black Europe
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Bulletin Description: Surveys the presence of people of sub-Saharan African descent in Europe from the early modern period to the present-day.
3 credit hours
HIS 3321 Nomadic Empires After the Mongols
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Bulletin Description: The history of nomads in Eurasia after the Mongol Empire, including in China, Russia, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East.
3 credit hours
HIS 3541 Italy: Race, Culture, and Identity
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Bulletin Description: Investigates the intersection of race, culture, and national identity in Italy from the movement for unification in the mid-19th century to the present-day.
3 credit hours
You will take advantage of St. John’s location in dynamic New York City. Our faculty and Career Services have strong ties to employers and other professional and educational resources throughout the New York area.
You also benefit from St. John's focus on an international academic experience. The University offers extensive study abroad courses during the academic year as well as the winter and summer semesters. You can live and learn at St. John's Rome, Italy, campus and Paris, France, location. For more information, please visit Global Education.
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