What do President John F. Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Sport Center anchor Chris Berman, presidential candidate Carly Fiorina, journalist Wolf Blitzer, Joe Biden and possibly, you, have in common?
All were history majors before going on to achieve illustrious careers.
History majors don’t just study what has happened in the past. As a history major at Alvernia University, you’ll acquire skills and knowledge that can prepare you for a variety of careers in fields including teaching, law, government service, writing, researching, genealogy, business and politics.
Perhaps most importantly, however, you’ll achieve a better understanding of the world and its people. History informs us of who we are, and from where we came. It is a foundation of the liberal arts, and vital to our comprehension of ourselves and world around us.
Careers in History
History is a versatile major that can prepare you for a variety of exciting careers. History majors at Alvernia University have gone on to work as journalists, historians, congressional aids, community relations directors, demographers, museum curators, historic preservation specialists, public relations executives and lobbyists.
Studying history helps you develop effective research and writing skills, and provides you with the ability to think critically about problems and issues. These skills, along with a curious nature and desire to keep learning, are attractive to prospective employers and may set you apart from other candidates for positions.
Earning a history degree at Alvernia can also prepare you for graduate school. History graduates have been accepted into a variety of graduate programs, including law, business and medical, at institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State University and the University of Pennsylvania. Past Alvernia graduates have found employment at the White House, EPA and in marketing and computing careers. Recent census data suggests that today’s students are likely to have 4-7 careers over their lifetimes, and a history degree supports a broad and deep range of skills.
For more information about Alvernia’s history program, contact the Admissions Office at 1-888-ALVERNIA or 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu.
- Curriculum
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All Alvernia students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits to complete a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. History majors must complete 36 credits in the major.
In addition to courses on U.S. and European history, you will have the opportunity to study topics such as Africa, Latin America, women’s history and military history.
Required History Couses:
- HIS 110 World Civilizations
- HIS 112 The Study of American History
- HIS 303 20th Century World History
- HIS 426 Research Seminar
- HIS 493 Contemporary Historiography
Choose 6 credits of American history from the following:
- HIS 300 Colonial America
- HIS 308 American Revolution and Constitution
- HIS 322 Early National & Jeffersonian America
- HIS 334 Jacksonian and Ante-Bellum America
- HIS 344 The Era of the Civil War
- HIS 352 America’s Industrial Revolution and the Age of Reform
- HIS 364 America’s Trial: The Depression through the Korean War
Choose 6 credits of European history from the following:
- HIS 307 Greco-Roman Civilization
- HIS 319 Late Antiquity and Early Medieval
- HIS 323 The High and Late Middle Ages
- HIS 337 Early Modern Europe
- HIS 349 The Age of the Revolutions
- HIS 353 The European Century
Choose 9 additional elective History credits @ the 200 level or above:
- HIS 230 Women in Hisotry
- HIS 240 Topics in Global History
- HIS 245 Topics in Native American History
- HIS 250 Interdisciplinary History
- HIS 255 Historical Biography
- HIS 260 Pennsylvania and Local History
- HIS 281 Topics in Military History
- HIS 461 Social Studies Methods: PA's Founding and the World
- Experiential Learning
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Through internships, students have opportunities to apply theories and knowledge learned in the classroom in a variety of professional settings. In addition to providing exposure to the activities and expectations of a real-world workplace, internship experiences help students develop their network of professional contacts.
- Tuition
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To determine the cost of this program, please visit our Tuition page. For a personalized estimate, please contact an admissions counselor at 610-790-8269 or at admissions@alvernia.edu.
- Financial Aid
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Alvernia offers loan, grants, scholarships, and payment plans. Our admissions counselors can help you identify the aid that is available to you and for your program. For more information, visit our Financial Aid page.
- Accreditation
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All programs offered by Alvernia University are approved by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
Learn More
For more information about Alvernia’s History Program, please contact the Admissions Office at 1-888-ALVERNIA or 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu, or reach out directly to:
Corey Harris, Ph.D.
Chair of the Humanities
Francis Hall Room 245
610-796-1922
