BA in History Online
Earn an Online History Degree from an Accredited University
Online
2-4 years
36 Credit Hours (Major)
$305 per Credit
Request More Information
Complete this form to receive information about coursework, admissions, tuition, and more.
Understand Our World by Studying the Past
The online Bachelor of Arts in History from Southwest Minnesota State University encourages you to explore and analyze history as a means of understanding modern society and human experiences. You’ll study European, American, and world history while learning alongside our highly experienced faculty. When you graduate with your online history degree, you’ll have enhanced skills in communication and critical thinking that you can apply in any career.
This BA in History program is also offered on campus.
Program Details
- 100 percent online program
- Transfer credits accepted
- Learn from expert faculty
- 3 program starts per year
- Waivable application fee
Explore History Major Courses
16-Week Terms
12 Major Courses
Our history major delivers a broad study of historical periods by covering European, American, and world history. Research projects and a capstone course are included in the program plan so you can apply what you learn and become familiar with using primary sources. Fifteen elective credits are also built into the online bachelor’s in history program, allowing for customization based on your interests and career goals.
Course Highlights
- HIST 210: Contemporary World History
- HIST 301: Historiography
- HIST 363: History of Social Welfare in the U.S.
- HIST 365: Rome: from Republic to Empire
How to Get a History Degree Online
Start Date August 26, 2024 Fall Term 2024
Admission to the online bachelor’s degree in history program begins by submitting your application. Take the next step toward a rewarding career by completing your application today with support from the SMSU enrollment team.
| Online Application Form | Apply Now |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $20 waivable fee* |
| Official Transcripts | Send official high school transcripts. Transfer students must send transcripts from each institution attended |
| Minimum GPA | 2.5 minimum, 3.0 recommended |
International Students
Additional information and requirements may be necessary for international students. Please contact our enrollment team to learn more.
It’s always the right time to invest in your education with SMSU. Contact an enrollment counselor by calling 1-800-201-2944 to get started today.
Admissions DetailsExceptional History Education at an Affordable Price
Calculate your cost for attending SMSU Use our tuition calculator to help you estimate your total tuition costs.
The first step toward creating a successful future for yourself is investing in your education. Whether you’re applying for a college degree for the first time or picking back up where you left off in your education, Southwest Minnesota State University’s tuition and financial aid packages can assist you. We offer competitive tuition, scholarship options, and accept transfer credits to help ensure you earn your degree affordably.
| Cost per Credit Hour | $305 |
|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours | 120 |
| Total Estimated Cost** | $36,600 |
| Other Costs | The estimated tuition cost does not include factors such as textbooks, supplies, or additional fees and expenses |
Military Benefits
SMSU proudly welcomes active military and veteran students. We accept the GI Bill™ and VA education benefits. Learn more by contacting an enrollment counselor or by visiting our military benefits page.
Financial Aid Options & Support
Southwest Minnesota State University offers a variety of solutions to help you invest in your education. SMSU offers in-state tuition rates to all students, along with a variety of financial services, including military benefits, financial aid opportunities, and scholarships for qualifying applicants.
Take your next step in financing your education by completing your FAFSA today. Use SMSU’s school code: 002375
Tuition Details
Build Versatile Skills for a Successful Career
Employment of historians is expected to increase by 3 percent through 20321, keeping pace with the national average. Roles like archivist, curator, and museum worker are growing even faster at 10 percent during the same period2. You can qualify for in-demand roles like these by learning with SMSU.
Rewarding Jobs with a History Degree
Curator*** $60,380 per year2
Historian*** $64,540 per year1
Program Outcomes
The skills you gain in SMSU’s online BA in History program are designed to make you a better writer, speaker, thinker, and communicator. These tools can help you excel in your chosen career and prepare you for graduate study in fields like law, public service, government, museum work, and teaching – all areas that make a positive impact on the world.
What You’ll Learn
- Explore and analyze themes, events, and people in history in order to gain a stronger comprehension of the contemporary world
- Have a deep understanding of a variety of fields of historical study
- Prepare for continuing education like law school, or join various career fields, including public service, administration, government agencies, businesses, teaching, museums, and many more
Meet Our Faculty
SMSU employs a faculty of experts who are top-skilled in their fields. Our educators are fully committed to providing each student with personalized and thoughtful instruction to help you succeed academically and professionally.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Jeff Kolnick
Dr. Kolnick focuses mainly on U.S. history and has research interests related to rural and agricultural history, labor history, political history, U.S. foreign policy, and African American history. In 1997, he helped to found the Fannie Lou Hamer National Institute on Citizenship and Democracy. Since then, he has worked extensively in developing curricula that use the lessons of the civil rights movement to inform the teaching of U.S. history and movements for social justice.
He has been a fellow with the Salzburg Seminar and a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute at Harvard. Since 2002, his work with the Hamer Institute has been central to winning a five-year Teaching American History Grant from the U.S. Department of Education and 10 National Endowment for the Humanities awards for conducting summer institutes and workshops for K-12 teachers, community college faculty, and college and university faculty.
Dr. Kolnick has published on topics including Minnesota History and teaching the Civil Rights Movement and has recently published a book on Freedom Summer. He was named five times to the SMSU Faculty Honor Roll, a campus-wide recognition for teaching excellence awarded by students.
Learn Online with Southwest Minnesota State University
Whether you’re enrolling in a degree program for the first time or completing a degree you previously started, learning online with SMSU provides the flexibility you need to be successful. Our online programs offer the same rigorous curriculum delivered on campus, plus the convenience of studying on your schedule from the location of your choice.
Discover SMSU OnlineSources and Disclaimers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Historians, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/historians.htm (visited October 17, 2023).
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/curators-museum-technicians-and-conservators.htm (visited October 17, 2023).
*Contact our enrollment team for more details!
**Tuition costs and fees will vary based on semesters of enrollment and number of transfer credits accepted. Contact our enrollment team to learn more.
***Additional education required.