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History

Strengthen your critical thinking, research, writing, and communication skills. Understand the past so you can launch into the future ready to make a difference.

Dr. Coleman pointing to a projector with students facing him in the foreground.
Dr. Coleman pointing to a projector with students facing him in the foreground.

Types

Bachelor
Minor

Location

On-Campus

Credits

38*

Cost

$9,875

To embrace the future, you must first understand the past.

“Those who don’t understand history are doomed to repeat it,” it’s said. Well, “those who don’t understand history” must not have been history majors at Cumberlands. At this university, we don’t limit our bachelor’s degree in history to merely studying politics and recounts of countries; much more lies beneath the surface, and we dig in!  The small class sizes here give you a more involved and personable classroom experience, and our knowledgeable and caring faculty will help you choose the combination of courses that best support your goals and dreams.  

You have the power to take the past, remold it in the present, and improve the future; no other degree can do what history program can. The world “way back when” may have the key to transforming the world we know today into one we can be proud to teach in the future. Not to mention, innumerable careers benefit from the skills you learn in a history degree program, giving you an advantage in your job search after college. Or, if you’d like to further your education, stepping into a graduate program is an easy transition. 

Anchor: Stats

By the Numbers

$63,940

Average Salary

4%

Industry Growth

1 in 5

Students Make the Dean's List

5

National Distinctions
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

Programs & Requirements

* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.

To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog. 

General Education Requirements

Bachelor of Science in History

Discover the fascinating past of America and the rest of the world! With a Bachelor of Arts in history, you will embark on an adventure to reveal the secrets of people from the past and learn to apply it to make a better future. From the U.S. to the U.K. to the rest of the world, an informed understanding of the culture and power dynamic of different continents is vital to create a future that’s worthwhile. With the knowledge of what happened in years prior, you can forge a new path in life. In your history classes at Cumberlands, you will research wars, influential people, cultural eras and how they impacted the population, and much more!

Course Requirements

A Bachelor of Arts requires all the same courses as a Bachelor of Science with the addition of four classes (12 hours) in a foreign language.

Choose one foreign language sequence:

  • FREN 131        Elementary French I
  • FREN 132        Elementary French II
  • FREN 231        Intermediate French I
  • FREN 232        Intermediate French II
     
  • SPAN 131        Elementary Spanish I
  • SPAN 132        Elementary Spanish II
  • SPAN 231        Intermediate Spanish I
  • SPAN 232        Intermediate Spanish II

Minor in History

Have you always liked learning about history but wrestled with whether you should turn it into your career or not? Good news: University of the Cumberlands offers the perfect balance so you can learn more about what you love while still pursuing a different degree. When you minor in history, you open the doors for valuable and marketable information to add to your repertoire, all while you chase after your other dreams.

Course Requirements

Bachelor of Science with a Major in History & Political Science

Interested in politics but still want to study history? UC's Bachelor of Science in History & Political Science offers you the best of both worlds. No need to double major when we've got everything you need in one degree! Explore the depths of U.S. and world history and learn no navigate the future through a political lens! With classes that dive into the expanse of government and powers, you will equip yourself with a well of invaluable knowledge that you can use in your personal as well as your professional life! Learn about the past, and acquire the skills needed to change the future!

Course Requirements

  • All Electives must be 300/400 level.
  • 6 Credit Hours must be HIST electives, the remaining 12 hours from HIST or POLS electives 

Core course sequence is the same as the bachelor of science program. Bachelor of Art students must take 12 credits of the Lower Division General Education requirement in the same World Language. Complete 12 credit hours of one foreign language sequence.

  • FREN 131        Elementary French I
  • FREN 132        Elementary French II
  • FREN 231        Intermediate French I
  • FREN 232        Intermediate French II
     
  • SPAN 131        Elementary Spanish I
  • SPAN 132        Elementary Spanish II
  • SPAN 231        Intermediate Spanish I
  • SPAN 232        Intermediate Spanish II

Take the Next Step

Anchor: Mission & Goals

Mission & Goals

The goal of the Department of History at UC is to guide you as you pursue the intellectual, spiritual, and social objectives of the university, while simultaneously gaining an understanding of historically relevant topics as they apply to the world today.

Deepen knowledge of American and world civilizations.
Cultivate appreciation of cultural issues within past and present societies.
Strengthen critical thinking, reading comprehension, and research skills.
Prepare to pursue history-related fields and/or post-graduate study.
Sharpen written and verbal communication skills.
Anchor: Career Outcomes

History Careers & Outcomes

*All statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics

Curator: $50,120

Curator: $50,120

Archivists appraise, process, catalog, and preserve permanent records and historically valuable documents. Curators oversee collections of artwork and historical items and may conduct public service activities for an institution. Museum technicians and conservators prepare and restore objects and documents in museum collections and exhibits.

High School Teacher: $61,820

High School Teacher: $61,820

High school teachers generally teach students from the 9th through 12th grades, specializing in an area such as math, science, or history. Some choose to teach a skill or even several different classes within a general subject area.

Historian: $63,940

Historian: $63,940

Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources.

Management Analysts: $93,000

Management Analysts: $93,000

Management analysts, often called management consultants, recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency. They advise managers on how to make organizations more profitable through reduced costs and increased revenues.

Archeologist: $61,910

Archeologist: $61,910

By drawing and building on knowledge from the humanities and the social, physical, and biological sciences, anthropologists and archeologists examine the ways of life, languages, archeological remains, and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world. They also examine the customs, values, and social patterns of different cultures.

Paralegal: $56,230

Paralegal: $56,230

Paralegals help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. They use technology for managing and organizing the increasing number of documents and data collected during a case. They also help discover and organize materials such as emails, data, documents, accounting databases, and websites for cases and other legal pursuits.

Anchor: FAQs

Common Questions

Naturally, the history program at Cumberlands will teach you about past events that have shaped the present – both in the U.S. and around the world. But you will also learn important skills that will benefit you in work and in life, such as reading comprehension, communication, research, and analysis. Every workplace needs someone who can present their thoughts clearly, research relevant topics, and interpret company data to create action plans. With what you learn in a history degree program, that person could be you.

There are many history- and research-related careers out there, such as curating, teaching history (and/or political science), or working as an archivist or historian. But nearly every job benefits from workers who are able to comprehend complicated information, communicate well, and work in a team – just a few of the skills you would strengthen during your time as a history major at Cumberlands.

Absolutely! Many Cumberlands students major in two different academic programs. A history major can pair well with essentially any other major. With a required 38 credit hours, it is possible to double-major, so long as you have the time management skills to balance your coursework and personal life. 

Our average on-campus undergraduate class size is 16 students, and online classes cap out at 30, so your classes will be small – meaning more individualized attention to your questions and thoughts. History classes focus heavily on reading comprehension, research, and class discussion.

Since a knowledge of the past is key to understanding the present and creating a better future, a history degree is inarguably relevant in life and in work, no matter what year it is. Companies don’t have to repeat past mistakes when their managers can interpret data from the past. Families can make better-informed decisions for their lives if a parent knows how to research. And nations always benefit when their politicians understand the history that brought current events into being. For these reasons and more, a degree in history can make a lasting positive difference.

All programs at University of the Cumberlands are offered at some of the lowest rates in the nation. For more information on how affordable this program would be for you, visit our Financial Aid page.

Anchor: Faculty

Faculty Experts in History and Political Science

Learn more about the professors you will interact with in the Department of History

Catherine Ball

Catherine Ball, JD

Assistant Professor
History

Catherine Ball, JD

Contact Information

606.539.4301
catherine.ball [at] ucumberlands.edu
Bennett Building
Dr. Michael Spurlock

Dr. Michael Spurlock

Adjunct Professor
History

Dr. Michael Spurlock

Contact Information

404-769-3531
michael.spurlock [at] ucumberlands.edu
Remote
Charles Melvin Smith

Dr. Chuck Smith

Professor
History

Dr. Chuck Smith

Contact Information

606-539-4271
chuck.smith [at] ucumberlands.edu
Bennett Building
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