History BA

Major: History
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 180.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years); No Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 54.0101
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3093

About the Program

The history program reflects the strengths of Drexel University, including specialization in transnational history and in the history of science, technology and the environment. A series of required courses in history build skills in research and interpretation of the past while elective courses within and outside the history program allow students to shape their curriculum to meet their needs and interests. Our history graduates go to graduate school in history, to professional schools in law, medicine, and business, and to work in business, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.

We apply Drexel's experiential, research-intensive approach to the discipline of history. Using the extensive historical resources of Philadelphia, the region, and the digital world, students develop a profound understanding of history and the ways it is made. We also encourage students to enrich their education through co-op, study abroad, and summer research projects working alongside department faculty.

Degree Offered

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) provides a course of study that includes a broad grounding in the liberal arts, with the opportunity for students to choose courses to fulfill humanities, social science, foreign language, math and science requirements according to their overall educational and career plans. The program requirements also leave room for students to take electives of interest or to add a minor or a double-major in another course of study. 

The Minor in History allows students in other majors to explore the historical background of their discipline, to better understand the origins of the contemporary world, and to build the knowledge and skills needed to understand the development of human societies over time and to understand historical episodes into their proper contexts. The minor in History is highly flexible and allows students to choose those History courses which appeal to them and which will contribute to their broader education. To complete the minor, students must take a total of six History courses (24.0 credits), five of which must be at the 200-level or above.

The Minor in War and Society is an interdisciplinary minor offered by history in which students examine the history and politics of warfare, the military, and related institutions. In the Minor in the History of Capitalism, students explore capitalism and the emergence of the modern world economy from a global, historical perspective.

Drexel Co-op for History majors

History majors at Drexel embark on up to three, six-month periods of employment — exploring their career options, strengthening their résumés and building a professional network in the process. Our curriculum has students complete courses in historical methods before they go on co-op, allowing them to hone their research, analytical and communication skills while adding value to their employer. 

Additional Information

For more information about this program, please visit the Department of History website or contact:

Jonathan Seitz, PhD
Assistant Department Head
Teaching Professor of History
jwseitz@drexel.edu

Degree Requirements

*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

See the CoAS Core Curriculum List for a complete list of course options.

***

These courses must be taken in sequence. (It is recommended but not required that HIST 380 fall between HIST 301 and HIST 490 [WI] .)

†

The History Distribution courses must be at least 200-level, and a course may not fulfill more than one Distribution category.

‡

The History electives may be applied to fulfill an optional concentration (either in the History of Science, Technology, and Environment or in Global History). At least two of the History electives/Concentration electives must be 300-level or above; another two must be at least 200-level or above.

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Students must complete a department language requirement. They may either successfully complete 103 in one language (including the option to test out of it, if the university offers the language of the student's competence), or they may take 12.0 credits of language distributed across more than one language.

• Students may count one Study Abroad or international co-op experience (minimum one quarter) in a non-English speaking country toward their language requirement. Students should consult with their advisor to ensure this credit is properly recorded.
• Students may count one language course toward the CoAS "cultivating global competence" distribution requirement.

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The number of Free Electives will vary depending on the number of credits in other course selections; the total need not be 74.0 credits to reach 180.0 credits for the degree.

Optional History Concentrations

Students may select one of the two following concentrations in the History BA, or they may elect not to undertake a concentration. The courses in the required History Core Sequence and used to fulfill the History Distribution categories may not count toward the 20.0 credits in the concentration.

History of Science, Technology, and Environment Concentration

Global History Concentration

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At least two courses must be 300-level and above.

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Courses that fulfill the Global Engagement requirement include designated travel-integrated courses, Study Abroad courses (with approval), Global Classroom courses in history, or independent study courses (with approval.)

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In addition to the Department of History foreign language requirements, students in the global history concentration must take one more foreign language course.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

4 year, no co-op - No concentration

4 year, 1 co-op - No concentration

5 year, 3 co-ops - No concentration

*

The History Distribution courses must be at least 200-level. (The pre-1700 History Distribution course must be at least 200-level but may not be HIST 201.)

**

The History electives/Concentration electives must include at least two 300-level courses and at least two 200-level courses.

†

See the CoAS Core Curriculum List for a list of course options for this distribution.

††

See the degree requirements for the department foreign language requirement. One language course may count toward the "Cultivating Global Competence" College of Arts & Sciences requirement.

4 year, no co-op - Science, Technology, and Environment Concentration

4 year, 1 co-op - Science, Technology, and Environment Concentration

 5 year, 3 co-ops - Science, Technology, and Environment Concentration

*

All History Distribution and History Elective courses must be at least 200-level. At least two must be 300-level.

**

The pre-1700 History Distribution course must be at least 200-level but may not be HIST 201.

†

See the CoAS Core Curriculum List for a list of course options for this distribution.

††

See the degree requirements for the department foreign language requirement. One language course may count toward the "Cultivating Global Competence" College of Arts & Sciences Core Curriulum requirement.

4 year, no co-op - Global History Concentration

4 year, one co-op - Global History Concentration

5 year, three co-ops - Global History Concentration

*

All History Distribution and History Elective courses must be at least 200-level. At least two must be 300-level.

**

The pre-1700 History Distribution course must be at least 200-level but may not be HIST 201.

†

See the CoAS Core Curriculum List for a list of course options for this distribution.

††

See the degree requirements for the department foreign language requirement. One language course may count toward the "Cultivating Global Competence" College of Arts & Sciences Core Curriulum requirement. Note that the Global Concentration requires one additional foreign language course beyond the department's requirement for the major.

†††

Courses that fulfill the Global Engagement requirement include designated travel-integrated courses, Study Abroad courses (with approval), Global Classroom courses in history, or independent study courses (with approval.)

Co-Op/Career Opportunities

Co-Op Experiences

History majors have a wide variety of co-op experiences from which to choose. Businesses offer many possibilities, as do local, state, and federal governments or non-profit organizations including museums and archives. Pre-law students, for example, may be especially eager to work in a law firm, whether the co-op job they receive is clerical or a more challenging paralegal assignment. These practical experiences in the “real” world can reinforce the lessons of the classroom, sharpen skills, and establish important contacts. Sample co-op positions include:

• Law clerk/paralegal, Joe Davidson, Attorney-at-Law, Philadelphia
• Archival digitization assistant, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
• Legislative intern, Corporate Public Affairs Division, Philadelphia Electric Company
• Research analyst, Legislative Office for Research Liaison, Harrisburg, PA
• Education intern, Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Programs intern, Collegium Institute, Philadelphia
• Assistant, Office of the Governor, Harrisburg, PA

Career Opportunities

The flexible programs allow students to shape a curriculum that meets their needs, whether they are preparing for the business world, graduate school in history or political science, an MBA or other business program, or law school.

Program Level Outcomes

History Faculty

Emeritus Faculty