Online Degree in History | Undergraduate Degree Program | School of Arts and Sciences

about

Are you considering an online degree in history? If you have an interest in history, then you should turn your passion into your profession by enrolling in Ottawa University's online Bachelor in History program. As a history major, you’ll explore the impact of past events on vital contemporary problems and synthesize the study of past human activity with the nature, purpose and principles of governmental systems throughout the world. Then you’ll bring it all together to develop an understanding of public events and trends in both national and international spheres.

Curriculum

Courses in our bachelor in history program will explore the interrelationships between society and the environment, issues of war and peace, and movements for social and political change, and include:

American Government
American Women's History
Global Issues in Historical Perspective
Religion in American Culture
Seminar in American History and Government I
Seminar in World History I
The American Experience I & II
Twentieth Century World History
United States Constitution
World Civilization I & II
World Regional Geography

Career Outlook

With a major in history, you can apply solid critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to careers, including teaching, research, law, information specialist, intelligence agent, museum curator, archivist, and more. You could even find yourself studying ancient civilizations across the globe!

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for historians was $63,680 in May 2019. An online degree in history prepares students for a wide variety of career options where research, problem solving, analysis, and communication skills are valued. In fact, most graduates with a bachelor in history degree have the flexibilty to work outside of traditional historian jobs, and pursue careers in education, communications, law, business, publishing, or journalism.
Numerous local museums, historical societies, government agencies, non-profit and other organizations offer internships or volunteer research opportunities. Archaeological field schools instruct future anthropologists, archaeologists and historians in how to excavate, record, and interpret historical sites and typically require a bachelor degree or higher.

Education and Qualifications

For almost 150 years, Ottawa University has educated students for lifetimes of enlightened faith, exemplary service, inspired leadership and personal growth and significance. Today, we remain an inclusive learning community grounded in faith and focused on the career needs of the future.

Discover the Benefits of Ottawa University

Generous credit transfer policy – Get credit where credit is due with Ottawa University’s generous credit transfer policy that honors past experience – up to 80 credit hours
Rich, established history – For almost 150 years, Ottawa University has educated students for lifetimes of enlightened faith, exemplary service, inspired leadership and personal growth and significance. Today, we remain an inclusive learning community grounded in faith and focused on the career needs of the future
Life-friendly online learning options – At Ottawa University, we’re committed to your professional growth and development – no matter where you are in life. That’s why we offer life-friendly degree programs for working adults, military personnel and their families, or anyone looking for a flexible and convenient program that can be completed outside the classroom
A supportive learning environment – As an online student at Ottawa University, you will collaborate with and draw upon the expertise and support of faculty members and ministry professionals who are dedicated to your success

Why Choose Ottawa?

The courses in Ottawa University's bachelor in history program are 100% online and accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. We make it easy for you to transfer credits in order to help keep tuition costs down. We also offer courses in accelerated 8-week terms in order to reduce your time to completion. These are just a few of the reasons why we are proud to be the best, fastest, and most affordable option locally in the Kansas City, Phoenix, and Milwaukee areas, as well as serving students nationally through our online degrees.

If you’re interested in earning a Bachelor's degree in history, contact us today.

For curriculum and course descriptions please download a program overview.

COURSES

History Major Courses

World Regional Geography |
Survey of the developed and developing regions of the world, emphasizing regional differentiation, as well as concepts of location, place, human environment interaction, and cultural diffusion.

The American Experience I |
Introduces the study of American history and its cultural, intellectual, political, economic, religious, racial and diplomatic topics. Emphasis on development of the country from discovery through Reconstruction.

The American Experience II |
Uses principle theme of the development of United States since reconstruction. Examines political, economic, social, and cultural development.

The Great Plains |
From northern Texas to the Canadian prairie provinces. Examines the physical environment, resources, land use patterns and ethnic cultures of the region. The historical and political development of Kansas plays a central role in the course.

Practicum in History |
Experience aspects of the discipline through a semester long practicum.

World Civilization I |
Introduces historical study of the beginnings and development of human culture and institutions, western
and non-western. Basic introduction to historical study.

World Civilization II |
Examines development of civilization, western and non-western, in the modern era. Analysis of political, economic and cultural revolutions that have created contemporary culture and its tensions.

Seminar in Research Methods and Historiography |
Introduce traditional and emerging methods of historical research. Construct an extensive annotated bibliography as a purposeful entry into the Senior Comprehensive project.

Senior Comprehensive |
Involves written paper responses to examination questions with oral defense.

Seminars (choose one)

Seminar in American History and Government I |
Examines a selection of readings and topics on American history and government. Common theme, assigned readings and individual projects required. Inquire in advance for information on selected topics.

Seminar in World History I |
Examines a selection of readings and topics in world history. Common theme, assigned readings and individual projects required.

Choose minimum of 12 semester credit hours from the following courses:

American Government |
Introduces American government philosophy, structure and operation of it. Studies performance and problems of American government with emphasis on the question of the citizen’s knowledge, role and responsibility.

Human Geography |
The location and distribution of human cultural patterns throughout the world. Provides an overview of the spatial analysis of earth's human inhabitants, with a comprehensive view of settlement patterns and land use issues, and introduces the landscape as a cultural text.

United States Constitution |
Overview of the history of the United States Constitution to establish a foundation of understanding.

Geography of North America |
Introduces spatial processes and patterns with the context of North America. Focuses on the physical environment , exploration, mapping settlement patterns, population, migration, agriculture and transportation. Primary objective is to gain an understanding of the regional variation in various social and economic phenomena in the U.S.

American Women’s History |
Surveys women’s history in America from precolonial history to the present, and explores the intersections of race, class, and ethnicity in structuring women’s lives today.

Ethnicity in American History |
Considers the histories of a variety of immigrant groups arriving in the United States from colonial settlement through the twentieth century, and examines issues of nativism, patterns of acculturation and assimilation, and adjustment to the American economic and political systems, religious experiences, and other issues connected to the ongoing adaptation to life in the U.S.

Religion in American Culture |
Examine and explore the prominent place of religion in this religiously pluralistic country. Explores institutional and non-institutional developments with Protestantism, Catholicism, Judaism and Islam. The course concludes with an examination of religion and material culture.

Twentieth Century World History |
Course focuses on the history of Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa in the twentieth century. Course will address globalization and consequences, colonization versus nationalism, militarization, collective security, and the effects of technology on nations. Students will assess the consequences of global, regional and civil wars throughout the century and the subsequent shift in influence to emerging nations.

Political Parties |
Studies American political party system, its organization, strengths, weaknesses, function and techniques. Emphasis on post-World War II era and trends of the political party system.

International Relations |
Introduces international relations and foreign policy. Emphasis on causes of international conflict, the resolution of conflict and the study of war, particularly its prevention.

Frontier in American History |
Emphasis on factors that have affected the commercial, political and natural development of the United States.