Overview

Using rigorous standards of evidence, historians tell meaningful stories about the past. In-depth historical study gives students important tools for understanding contemporary issues affecting their own lives as well as local, national and global events. The Bachelor of Arts in History, offered by the Department of History, enables students to develop skills useful for any career that requires high-level critical thinking, wide-ranging analytical skills and great writing. Our students learn to master large amounts of information, conduct in-depth research, contextualize evidence from a variety of sources, and craft powerful written and oral arguments. These strengths are a foundation not only for successful careers but for lifelong learning and civic engagement.

Our home, Philadelphia, is a terrific place to study history—not only of the city and its remarkable past, but of the world as well. Our courses take advantage of Philly's exciting past and our major allows students to take advantage of the many study abroad options available at Temple.

The History major requires twelve courses (36 credits). Students must take two introductory level courses selected from American and World history surveys. Students may opt to take two survey courses from either area or one from each. These should be taken as early as possible, preferably in the freshman year. The three-course sequence in research methods and writing should be taken in the following order: HIST 2001 The Historian's Craft, then HIST 3096 Intermediate Writing Seminar, culminating in the senior level course, HIST 4096 Capstone Seminar in History in which students develop a research and writing project on the topic of their choice.

Students must select two "American" and two "non-American" History courses. This requirement can be fulfilled with a combination of the required survey courses and the upper-level electives. (Note: HIST 2001, HIST 3096 and HIST 4096 may not be used for this requirement.)

In addition, students in this major have a high degree of freedom, selecting seven upper-level electives in history (numbered 2000+). Our majors take rigorous courses in subjects such as Dissent in America, The History of Nazi Germany, the History of Philadelphia, Immigration and the American Dream, and Cold War Africa. We have faculty experts in urban history, African history, Asian history, military history, gender history, diplomacy, imperialism, the environment and many other fields.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: LA-HIST-BA

Undergraduate Honors and Distinction in Major

There are two ways to enhance your history degree by achieving honors within the major:

• Participate in the History Honors Thesis Program
• Become a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honors Society.

Students in the History Honors Thesis Program research and write an original history thesis. All students who have a 3.4 cumulative and history averages are eligible to apply by contacting the History Honors Thesis Program Advisor, Eileen Ryan. Note that this program is separate from the University Honors Program and is designed to complement that experience.

In addition to meeting the major requirements, students who successfully complete HIST 4934 Honors Historiography and Research Methods (3 credits, History major elective) and HIST 4997 Honors Thesis Seminar (3 credits, taken in lieu of HIST 4096) are eligible to graduate with distinction in major.

Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honors Society, is open to both history majors and non-majors who have completed at least 12 credits in history and achieved a history GPA of 3.25 and a cumulative GPA of 3.10. Participation in Phi Alpha Theta is separate from the History Honors Thesis Program and the University Honors Program. For more information, contact the Phi Alpha Theta advisor, Katya Motyl.

Special Organizations

Both majors and minors participate in the Temple Undergraduate History and Social Sciences Association (TUHSSA).

Accelerated Program

The BA in History / MEd in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies Education is an accelerated program, administered through the College of Education and Human Development, which allows students to earn a Master in Education one year after receiving their undergraduate History degree.

Career Potential

Our students have interned at organizations like the American Philosophical Society, the Constitution Center, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the McNeil Center for Early American Studies. Philadelphia's rich museum heritage provides abundant opportunities for students to pursue their interests.

Graduates have gone on to successful careers, including:

• Educator,
• Layer,
• Filmmaker,
• Military officer,
• Database administrator,
• Public health professional,
• Diplomat,
• Public policy expert,
• Museum curator, and
• Historian.

Associated Research Centers

• Center for Public History
• Center for the Study of Force and Diplomacy
• Feinstein Center for American Jewish History

Contact Information

Petra Goedde, Chair
922 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-7437
pgoedde@temple.edu

Ralph Young, Faculty Advisor
951 Gladfelter Hall
ryoung@temple.edu

TJ Cusack, Administrator
910 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-9209
tjc@temple.edu

Vangeline Campbell, Coordinator
911 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-7839
vcampbel@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in History.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Degree Requirements

University Requirements

• MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
• All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major.
• Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

College of Liberal Arts Requirements

• Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including:
  • 90 credits in CLA/CST courses;
  • 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
    • History is designated as a "social science" major in the College of Liberal Arts.
      • Distribution Requirement: Social Science majors must take 6 upper level credits (numbered 2000-4999) in Humanities subject areas: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek (Ancient), Greek and Roman Classics, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, and Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts, Art History in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
  • Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
  • Professional Development Requirement
    • All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. History majors may select either HIST 1012 Professional Development for History Majors or CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
  • Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements:
    • All students must complete or test out of the first and second levels of a foreign language - these courses are numbered 1001 and 1002;
    • All students must complete at least one course from the GenEd Global/World Society category; and
    • All Bachelor of Arts students must complete one of the following options:
      • Third semester of a foreign language;
      • Demonstrated proficiency beyond the third semester in a foreign language (placement exam or certification from the language department);
      • Take one Global Studies course from the list on the CLA College Requirements page;
      • Study Abroad at an approved program; or
      • Take a second General Education Global/World Society course.
    • Notes on Foreign Language Study
      • The third level of language is numbered 1003 in French, Spanish, and Portuguese and numbered 2001 in all other foreign language subjects.
      • Students are strongly encouraged to take the third level of a foreign language as it is the minimum required for election to the prestigious honor society Phi Beta Kappa. (Taking the course does not guarantee admission but not taking it guarantees exclusion.)
      • See the College of Liberal Arts Policies section of this Bulletin for more information on the Foreign Language Placement, Regression in Coursework, and guidelines for students' other experiences with language.

General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.

Major Requirements (36 credits/12 courses in history)

¹

From the introductory and elective courses, two courses must be taken in American History and two courses in non-American history.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Arts in History

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

¹

All students must take a minimum of two courses focused on American history and two courses that are non-American history. These can be taken from the introductory course options or the history electives (but not HIST 2001, HIST 3096, or HIST 4096).

Accelerated Programs

Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The following accelerated program may be of interest to students in the History BA:

College of Education and Human Development

• Secondary Education MEd with Social Studies Education