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BA in History

Program overview

In order to know where you are going, you need to know where you’ve been. This basic tenet underpins the FIU bachelor's in history. Our program is both forward-thinking and relevant, shaping our graduates as the leaders of tomorrow. Study the complex interactions between the world’s cultures and develop the analytical means that will help you understand the past and change the future.

Our students gain vital, transferable skills in research, communication and investigative work as they learn about past societies and correlate these lessons to modern issues. The broad scope of our faculty's research allows for cross-cultural comparative work across a wide geographical and temporal range.

Courses are delivered in a variety of modes, whether in-person, hybrid or fully online. Our fully online BA has been ranked 13th nationally in the category "Most Affordable Bachelor's History Degrees."

Start your journey today

Take the first step in earning your degree in History at FIU. Our program features world renowned scholars who are dedicated to providing you with top of the class knowledge preparing you for the workforce.

Apply now

History careers

A degree in history is excellent preparation for a variety of careers and as preparation for advanced postgraduate studies in a number of disciplines. History students are trained to be critical readers, good writers, and astute analysts. These qualities and skills are fundamental for success in business activities, public and professional careers:

  • Journalist
  • Writer, editor
  • Publisher
  • Archivist
  • Preservation/restoration
  • Assistant librarian
  • Museum curator, educator
  • Lawyer, paralegal
  • Historian
  • Teacher, professor
  • Historic sites researcher
  • Analyst with federal agencies

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Degree requirements

  • Overall

    Students are required to complete:

    • 120 total credits (including all accepted transfer credits)
      • At least 48 credits upper division (3000-4000 level)
    • Foreign Language requirement
    • 2 Global Learning courses

    Contact your advisor to create a specific study plan tailored to your remaining requirements. Be aware that requirements change over time. You must complete the requirements in place when you signed on for the degree, which might be different from those listed above.

    The FIU Catalog provides the most complete and accurate degree description and requirements. Select the year of admission, then Undergraduate, then Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, then History for more information.

  • Prerequisite courses

    Students should complete 2 of the following common prerequisites:

    • AFH 2000 African Civilizations
    • AMH 2041 Origins of American Civilization
    • AMH 2042 Modern American Civilization
    • AMH 2010 American History 1607-1850
    • AMH 2020 American History 1850-Present
    • EUH 2011 Western Civilization: Early European Civilization
    • EUH 2021 Western Civilization: Medieval to Modern Europe
    • EUH 2030 Western Civilization: Europe in the Modern Era
    • LAH 2020 Latin American Civilization
    • WOH 2001 World Civilization

    Please note that students may count AMH 2010 or AMH 2041 towards the major but not both.  Equally, students may count AMH 2020 or AMH 2042 towards the major but not both.

    Check with an advisor to see if courses you have taken as dual enrollment or transfer credits fulfill the course requirement.

    For a full list of required courses, visit the FIU Catalog.

    For all current and upcoming history courses offered at FIU, visit the Courses page.

  • Upper division program (3000-4000)

    All students are required to take:

    • HIS 3051 Junior Seminar: Approaches to History (3 credits)
    • HIS 4935 Senior Seminar (3 credits)

    One course at the 3000 or 4000 level in three of the following areas (9 credits):

    • United States
    • Latin America
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • World or Comparative History

    Any five additional history courses at the 3000 or 4000 level (15 credits).

    For satisfying the remaining university Upper division requirements please check with your advisor.

  • Honors requirement

    To earn the bachelor's with honors, a student must maintain a 3.5 GPA in history courses. Instead of completing the 'five additional history courses at the 3000 or 4000 level' category as required for the major, honors students must complete:

    • HIS 4052 Honors Historical Methods (3 credits)
    • HIS 4973 Honors Thesis in History (3 credits)

    Students interested in the honors track should learn the languages necessary for research in their chosen field(s) as  early in their academic careers as possible, and should be prepared to utilize their linguistic skills whenever possible in all their coursework at FIU.

Focus areas

Students with a Bachelor's in History will be temporarily certified until they meet other requirements. One of these requirements is to complete specific courses required by the Department of Teaching and Learning. Students who complete the Education Minor will fulfill this requirements. We encourage students to minor in Education while they complete the requirements for our major.