Bachelor of Arts in History Degree Program Guide

History degree program guide header

History is the study of past worlds and how they have changed over time. It is a way of thinking about how and why past environments, societies, governments, and beliefs were different from and similar to our own. History is not about memorizing lists of names and dates; it is instead about finding clues about the past and following those clues to craft true stories about ourselves and others. 

History is also about understanding the connections between past and present. As humans, we can understand our current situation by studying the conflicts, ideas, and relationships that shaped global societies over time. Students of this field learn how to write effectively, how to do research, and how to think through complex problems.

Academic Requirements for History Majors

General Requirements and Information
  • Minimum of 30 units to a maximum of 48 units at the senior level in HIST including a minimum of 6 units at the 300 level and 6 units at the 400 level
Course Requirements
  • HIST 290 - Introduction to History as a Discipline is required
  • 3 units from your choice of course on the early periods from the list below:
    • HIST 207 - From Constantine to the Cathedral: Europe in the Middle Ages
    • HIST 212 - Early Modern Europe
    • HIST 228
    • HIST 241 - Colonial Latin America
    • HIST 243 - The Golden Age of Islam: History of the Muslim World to the 16th Century
    • HIST 246 - Africa from Medieval to Modern Times
    • HIST 250 - American History to 1865
    • HIST 252 - Slavery in the Americas
    • HIST 260 - Pre-Confederation Canada
    • HIST 280 - East Asia to 1500
    • HIST 289 - Classical India to 500 CE
    • HIST 292 - Medieval India from 500 to 1500 CE
    • HIST 303 - Saints and Medieval Christianity
    • HIST 310 - A History of the Habsburg Monarchy, 1526-1918
    • HIST 313 - Medieval and Early Imperial Russia
    • HIST 323 - The Middle East in the Making: 1300-1920
    • HIST 365 - The Canadian West to 1885
    • HIST 383 - The Civilization and Culture of Early China
    • HIST 386 - History of Science in Ancient and Classical India
    • HIST 387 - History of Indian Yoga and Meditation
    • HIST 395 - The Early British Empire
    • HIST 401 - Topics in the History of the Habsburg Monarchy
    • HIST 403 - Topics in Medieval European History
    • HIST 405 - Fashion and Material Culture c. 1600-1900
    • HIST 420 - Topics in the History of Early Modern Europe
  • A minimum of 3 units from at least four different areas of study as listed below for a total of 12 units:
    • Indigenous History in Global Perspective
      • HIST 237 - The Pacific World Since 1500
      • HIST 241 - Colonial Latin America
      • HIST 242 - Modern Latin America
      • HIST 246 - Africa from Medieval to Modern Times
      • HIST 247 - Africa in the 20th and 21st Centuries: From Colonial Rule to Modern Nations
      • HIST 250 - American History to 1865
      • HIST 260 - Pre-Confederation Canada
      • HIST 338 - Topics in Indigenous History
      • HIST 368 - Histories of Indigenous Peoples and Kanata until 1870
      • HIST 369 - Histories of Indigenous Peoples and Kanata after 1870
      • HIST 478 - Topics in the History of the Canadian North
      • HIST 479 - Topics in Indigenous Histories - Global and Local
    • Global and/or Comparative Approaches
      • HIST 205 - Capitalism
      • HIST 285 - China and the West
      • HIST 293 - History of Science, Technology and Medicine: Key Moments
      • HIST 294 - An Introduction to the History of Sciences, Technology, and Medicine
      • HIST 296 - World War Two
      • HIST 297 - The History of Christianity
      • HIST 315 - Topics in Global History
      • HIST 339 - The Modern British Empire and the Commonwealth Experience
      • HIST 344 - Global Environmental History
      • HIST 373 - Peasants, Slaves and Workers
      • HIST 394 - History of Astronomy and Cosmology from Stonehenge to the Space Age
      • HIST 395 - The Early British Empire
      • HIST 405 - Fashion and Material Culture c. 1600-1900
      • HIST 444 - Topics in Transnational History
      • HIST 490 - Topics in British Empire and Commonwealth History
    • Canadian History
      • HIST 260 - Pre-Confederation Canada
      • HIST 261 - Post-Confederation Canada
      • HIST 359 - Canadian Environmental History
      • HIST 360 - Topics in Canadian History
      • HIST 362 - History of Alberta
      • HIST 365 - The Canadian West to 1885
      • HIST 366 - The Canadian West Since 1885
      • HIST 368 - Histories of Indigenous Peoples and Kanata until 1870
      • HIST 369 - Histories of Indigenous Peoples and Kanata after 1870
      • HIST 370 - Making War in Canada
      • HIST 377 - Canada Since 1945
      • HIST 460 - Topics in Canadian History
      • HIST 465 - History of Edmonton
      • HIST 467 - Topics in Alberta History
      • HIST 478 - Topics in the History of the Canadian North
    • Middle East or African History
      • HIST 220 - The Making of the Modern Middle East
      • HIST 243 - The Golden Age of Islam: History of the Muslim World to the 16th Century
      • HIST 246 - Africa from Medieval to Modern Times
      • HIST 247 - Africa in the 20th and 21st Centuries: From Colonial Rule to Modern Nations
      • HIST 323 - The Middle East in the Making: 1300-1920
      • HIST 349 - Topics in Middle East History
      • HIST 446 - Themes and Issues in African History
      • HIST 449 - Advanced Topics in Middle East History
      • HIST 491 - Topics in Mediterranean History
    • American History
      • HIST 250 - American History to 1865
      • HIST 251 - From the End of Slavery to the Present: American History Since 1865
      • HIST 252 - Slavery in the Americas
      • HIST 351 - History of Women in the United States
      • HIST 352 - African American History from Slavery to Black Power
      • HIST 378 - Topics in the History of the United States
      • HIST 450 - Topics in American History
    • Latin American & Caribbean History
      • HIST 241 - Colonial Latin America
      • HIST 242 - Modern Latin America
      • HIST 345 - Topics in Latin American History
      • HIST 442 - Topics in Latin American History Since 1850
    • Asian History
      • HIST 280 - East Asia to 1500
      • HIST 281 - East Asia from 1500
      • HIST 285 - China and the West
      • HIST 289 - Classical India to 500 CE
      • HIST 292 - Medieval India from 500 to 1500 CE
      • HIST 298 - State and Society in Mughal India
      • HIST 382 - History of Modern Japan
      • HIST 383 - The Civilization and Culture of Early China
      • HIST 384 - History of Chinese Philosophy
      • HIST 385 - Modern China
      • HIST 386 - History of Science in Ancient and Classical India
      • HIST 387 - History of Indian Yoga and Meditation
      • HIST 390 - Imperial China from circa 600 to 1911
      • HIST 396 - Topics in South Asian History
      • HIST 427 - Topics in Indian History
      • HIST 481 - Topics in Chinese History
    • European History
      • HIST 207 - From Constantine to the Cathedral: Europe in the Middle Ages
      • HIST 210 - Europe in the 19th and 20th Centuries
      • HIST 212 - Early Modern Europe
      • HIST 291 - World War One
      • HIST 300 - Topics in European History
      • HIST 301 - Europe in the Age of Total War, 1890-1945
      • HIST 302 - Germany in the 20th Century and Beyond
      • HIST 303 - Saints and Medieval Christianity
      • HIST 308 - Sexuality and Gender in Modern Europe
      • HIST 309 - The History of Paris
      • HIST 310 - A History of the Habsburg Monarchy, 1526-1918
      • HIST 311 - History of Vienna
      • HIST 312 - Foundations of East European History
      • HIST 313 - Medieval and Early Imperial Russia
      • HIST 318 - Modern Ukraine
      • HIST 320 - Russia from Reform to Revolution, 1800-1917
      • HIST 322 - Russia in the 20th Century
      • HIST 379 - Religion in Modern Europe
      • HIST 401 - Topics in the History of the Habsburg Monarchy
      • HIST 403 - Topics in Medieval European History
      • HIST 414 - Topics in the History of Modern Germany
      • HIST 416 - Topics in Eastern European History
      • HIST 419 - Topics in Soviet History
      • HIST 420 - Topics in the History of Early Modern Europe
      • HIST 421 - Topics in the History of Europe
      • HIST 428 - Topics in the History of Christianity
      • HIST 429 - Topics in British History
Additional Notes
  • In addition to courses offered in History (HIST), students may count up to 3 units of any CLASS course at the 200 or 300 level toward their major in HIST, except when their second major or minor is in Classics
  • Students cannot use a single course to satisfy multiple breadth requirements

Academic Requirements for History Minors

Minor Requirements
  • A minimum of 12 units to a maximum of 42 units in History, at the senior level, including 6 units at the 300-level or above, of which at least 3 units must be at the 400-level

The University of Alberta Calendar will always contain the most up-to-date degree requirements for your program, and your requirements are determined by the calendar year you were admitted in.

What kinds of courses can History students take?

  • HIST 104 - The Atomic Age: The World After 1945
  • HIST 115 - Technology and History
  • HIST 123 - Plague: Disease and Epidemics in History
  • HIST 205 - Capitalism
  • HIST 210 - Europe in the 19th and 20th Centuries
  • HIST 237 - The Pacific World Since 1500
  • HIST 291 - World War One
  • HIST 323 - The Middle East in the Making: 1300-1920
  • HIST 338 - Topics in Indigenous History
  • HIST 436 - Postcolonialism and History

What kinds of careers can you pursue with a History degree?

There are many different fields and career paths that students can pursue with a History degree. From museum curation to foreign service, graduates are equipped with communication, research and critical thinking skills to name a few, that are assets in today’s job market. Although there is a list of career options below, it is important to understand that careers are not linear. Intentionally engaging in a variety of activities and following your curiosities will open new opportunities that you might not have expected. To learn more about how you can put your Arts degree to work, stop by the HUB Career Centre (8917 HUB Mall) for more information.

  •  Museum Curator
  • Archivist & Conservator
  • Researcher
  • Archaeological Field Technician
  • Educator (Professor, Secondary or Primary)
  • Legal Researcher
  • Film & Television Production
  • Educational Consultant
  • Policy Analyst
  • Diplomat or Foreign Service Officer
  • Cultural Affairs Specialist
  • Librarian
  • Information Specialist
  • Heritage Educator
  • Tourism and Travel Coordinator
  • +More!

Interested in gaining work experience related to your career goals? If so, apply to Arts Work Experience to gain full-time, PAID, work experience before you graduate!

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