History

Build a Better Future With a Degree in History

As a History major, you’ll study diverse cultures and eras of the past while learning research, analysis and communication skills and developing a strong sense of ethics about how information is used.

Explore the history of the civil rights movement, wars of the 20th century, Middle East history, radicals and reformers and much more as you journey down a path toward becoming an engaged citizen and making your voice heard.

Why earn your History degree at St. Edward's?

Whether you’re looking to pursue a career in library or archival work, museum curation, international business, diplomacy, teaching or analyzing historic events, one thing is certain: The advantages of your St. Edward’s education will prepare you to succeed. You’ll find opportunities in and outside the classroom to learn, give back and achieve your goals. And your mentors will support you every step of the way.

Conduct graduate-level research

History majors will conduct research supervised by one of your professors to present at the St. Edward’s Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression or at a professional conference.

Build relationships with your professors

You’ll learn in small classes taught by award-winning professors who make a point of getting to know you and becoming your trusted advisors. They’ll help you identify and focus on your goals, and provide guidance and insight during and after your college years.

Reap the Rewards of Austin

As a History major, you will have access to internships offered at dozens of museums, archives and research libraries across the fast-growing city of Austin.

What do our graduates do?

History majors go on to a variety of careers and graduate schools from St. Edward’s. Here’s a sample.

Archivist for the Texas State Archives and Library Commission
City attorney
Graduate student in the Master of Arts in Museum Studies at George Washington University
English Teaching Assistant in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Law students at The University of Texas at Austin and Duke University
Teach for America corps member
Social Studies teachers at area middle and high schools

Explore Details About a Degree in History

Major Requirements: The Bachelor of Arts in History requires 37 hours of History major courses, which include introductory courses in U.S. and World history, and advanced courses in U.S., European, and World History. Through these courses students build skills that help prepare them for future interests in a broad range of career fields.

Electives: In addition to History classes, students complete 29 hours of elective courses in any area of study they choose. These courses do not have to relate to the History major.

General Education Requirements: The History degree requires up to 54 hours of general education courses that students complete over four years in addition to their major courses and electives.

View and download the full degree plan for our History major (PDF).

A few examples of courses students in this major take:

Introduction to Historical Methods – This class is designed to introduce students to how historians think, argue, research and write. The course will engage in a shared research project which will vary by semester.
Civil Rights and Social Wrongs – This course is a survey of post-WWII movements for Civil Rights in the United States. The course explores issues of power, race, gender, and class in U.S. society.
Wars of the 20th Century – This course will investigate causes and consequences of conflict focusing on how people understood a particular conflict and how it impacted different populations.

Skills You Will Gain

You’ll develop employer-valued skills in analytical thinking, communication and working across cultures.

Experiential Learning

Introduction to Historical Methods and Senior Research Seminar both invite students to use local archives, such as those at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, the Briscoe Center for American History, the Texas State Archives and the Austin History Center. In these classes, you’ll engage with materials produced by the people in the era you are studying. You’ll learn how to use original documents from this time period to inform your own historical projects.

By interning with an organization focused on the preservation and teaching of history, you’ll improve your research and organizational skills and get a firsthand look at the complex decisions that are part of historical interpretation. St. Edward’s students have recently interned at the following:

Texas Historical Commission
Washington Center Internship Program
Texas General Land Office
Texas Military Forces Museum

Students who wish to broaden their knowledge of history are encouraged to pursue a minor in History. Take the Introduction to Historical Methods class and 15 more hours of courses on topics of your choosing, 9 of which are upper division.

To get a History minor, students must complete 18 total hours of coursework.

Required Coursework (18 hours):