What you will study
Interested in exploring foreign languages? While the History B.S. allows for a wide
range of elective courses, the History B.A. includes Spanish, German, French and Chinese
(offered per semester avaliability). Besides language classes, the History degree program curriculum at UCM includes robust
course offerings that cover a range of eras. Some popular courses you may take include:
- Public History: Gain first-hand experience working in museums, historic preservation and archives
to explore your career options with a History degree from UCM.
- Hidden Histories: Take a creative and topical approach to history with this undergraduate course that
focuses on rotating topics. Example course themes include conspiracy theories and
sports history.
- Nazi Germany and the Holocaust: Delve deeply into the history of Hitler’s Germany, the rise of the Nazis and the atrocities
perpetrated during the Holocaust.
- Civil War and Reconstruction: Examine the causes and effects of the war and the post-war reconstruction process.
Learn from UCM’s distinguished faculty whose areas of research expertise span the
globe. Follow your passions and academic interests, choosing among the histories of
African Americans, agriculture, the environment, gender, military, Missouri, politics,
religion, social movements, women and more.
As a History major at the University of Central Missouri, you’ll also enjoy one-on-one
advising with a faculty mentor who will provide academic guidance, as well as support
for internship and job opportunities, so you’ll be well-prepared for the workplace
by the time you graduate.
Unique learning opportunities in history
The University of Central Missouri’s bachelor’s degree in History program provides
you with a relevant education for the 21st century, so you’ll be prepared for whatever
career or graduate school path you choose:
- Internships: Complete an internship with the Missouri State Archives through a unique partnership
with UCM that gives you a chance to process archival material right on campus. You
can also apply for competitive internships at institutions such as the National Archives,
the National Park Service, the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum and other regional
history institutions.
- Study abroad: Design your own study abroad experience, focused on your historical and language interests.
With more than 60 countries in our study abroad programs, including Spain, South Korea,
Israel, Costa Rica and Malta, UCM provides the opportunity to practice your language
skills in an academic and personal experience you’ll remember for a lifetime.
- Faculty-led research: Learn the skills and process important for archival research while working with faculty
on historical projects.
- Digital technologies: Master advanced tools and methods used to document and share history, from websites
and mobile apps to virtual reality. For example, our students can participate in Historic
Missouri, an ongoing historical project that provides easy access to information about
the places, people and stories that are uniquely significant to the state.
- Accelerated Master's Program: Earn your BA in history plus an MA in History in as little as five years.
What can you do with a History degree from UCM?
In today’s competitive marketplace, you might ask yourself, what can you do with a
History degree? At the University of Central Missouri, we focus on developing core
job skills along with your interests, so you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other.
Students from our bachelor’s in History degree program build key skill sets that prepare
them for successful careers in museums and archives, state and federal government,
law, journalism, teaching and business, among other fields. If you’re interested in
the Civil Rights movement or criminal justice, for example, your History degree will
provide the crucial context and foundation for law school.
If you want to go to grad school, our bachelor’s degree in History program prepares
you with skills that can be used in both advanced education and a variety of career
paths. You’ll learn to work with primary source documents, conduct independent research,
confidently present your work to an audience and collaborate seamlessly with others
— all valuable skills that both graduate schools and employers seek.
Explore fulfilling careers with a History BA
UCM graduates with a bachelor’s degree in History enjoy competitive salaries, job
growth and options for rewarding and in-demand careers. Use the interactive tool below
to discover the possibilities.
Financial assistance options for your History BA degree
Our focus at UCM is on affordability, value and a 21st-century college education that
prepares you for a fulfilling career in today’s competitive job market. As you consider
the question “what can you do with a History degree,” what you really want to know
is whether a UCM History degree is a valuable, worthwhile investment. The answer is
yes!
The University of Central Missouri offers a variety of resources to help you finance your college education. Beyond the scholarships available through the university, several scholarships are
also available specifically for History majors, including:
- Charles Mayes History Scholarships
- Alfred E. Twomey Undergraduate Scholarship in History
- Gloria J. Maxwell Scholarship in History
You can learn more about program-specific scholarships at the UCM Scholarship Finder.
Meet Cameron E.
BA History ’20
“The faculty makes UCM’s history program stand out. They are welcoming and supportive
to all their students and encourage them to explore new opportunities. With their
support, I was able to present my research at national and state conferences and to
study abroad multiple times as an undergraduate.”
Meet Sarah T.
BA History ’15
“In the UCM history program, I was able to utilize the skills necessary for understanding
and using primary source documents that are vital to historians and was able to transfer
these skills to understanding the documents that I will work with in archives. I will
also be able to better aid historians by understanding what types of documents may
aid them in their wide varieties of historical research.”
Meet Michael M.
BA History ’18
“Studying history helped me understand how to make sense of large pools of information,
pull meaningful conclusions from that information, and present those conclusions in
an interesting and thoughtful way. I feel more knowledgeable of the complex issues
society faces today and the world around me as a whole. The strong sense of community
also made my studies a particularly joyful and rewarding experience.”
Meet Michael G.
BA History ’16
“At UCM, I learned how to make an argument and defend it. I loved the freedom and
ability to think outside the box. History was humanized for me and I developed a sense
of empathy through studying and understanding the challenges people faced in the past.
I learned how to think, do research and write better. At the end of the day, I gave
myself the tools to pursue my ambitions in an ever-changing job landscape.”
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