Studies & Degrees in History
History Study Programs
History is the study of the human past through the evidence it has left behind. Students learn to find documents and other sources, judge how reliable they are, and build an argument from them. The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) describes history as an interdisciplinary field: to understand it, students need to look at politics and war and also at cultural, religious, social and intellectual developments.
The Department of History at The University of Texas at Austin gives a second reason why students choose the subject, the research itself: finding and investigating the materials that earlier generations left, and using documents and artefacts to write accounts of human experience. Penn State names three skills that the degree develops: research, analysis and synthesis.
What students learn
In Spain, the grado en Historia of the Universidad de Navarra covers history, art and geography and goes through every historical period from a political, diplomatic, cultural, social and geographical point of view. In England, the BA (Hons) History at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge covers the histories of Britain, Europe, the United States and other parts of the world from 1500 onwards, together with the history of everyday life.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree in Spain. The grado en Historia is an official degree of 240 ECTS credits over 4 years. This is the case at the Universidad de Cádiz, where the degree belongs to the branch of arts and humanities and is taught in Spanish, and at the Universidad de Navarra, which admits 60 students a year in Pamplona.
- Bachelor's degree in the United Kingdom. The BA (Hons) History at ARU lasts 3 years, or 4 years with a placement year or a foundation year.
- Bachelor's degree in North America. History is a major within a Bachelor of Arts. At Penn State the degree requires a minimum of 123 credits, 36 of them in the major, and it can also be taken online through World Campus. The University of the Fraser Valley in Canada offers the Bachelor of Arts with honours, a major, a minor or an extended minor in history.
- Master's degree. Spanish master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. In the United States, historians typically need a master's degree or a PhD, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS); some study related fields such as museum studies, historical preservation or archival management.
- Doctorate. Research positions in universities may require a PhD. Doctoral students usually concentrate on a country or region, a period or a field such as social, political or cultural history.
Combined degrees are common. Navarra, for example, offers a double degree in international relations and history, and a diploma in archaeology alongside the degree. Avignon Université in France has two history tracks at bachelor's level (licence), one of them combined with multimedia.
Where to study history
History is one of the largest subjects in the directory: SpainExchange lists 494 active schools. The United States has 206, the United Kingdom 48 and Spain 42. They are followed by Canada (19), France (16), Germany (12), Brazil (11), Chile (10), Australia (7), and Argentina, Mexico and Poland (4 each).
Examples in Spain are the Universidad de Cádiz and the Universidad de Navarra. In the United Kingdom, the list includes the University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495, the University of Westminster and ARU. In the United States there are large public universities such as The Ohio State University, The University of Texas at Austin and Penn State, and small liberal arts colleges such as Lawrence University. Elsewhere, examples include Ghent University in Belgium, Avignon Université in France and Tel Aviv University in Israel.
History is taught in the language of the country, and reading sources often requires more languages. Check the language of instruction and the level required with each school.
Careers
Few graduates work under the title of historian. The BLS counted about 3,800 historians in the United States in 2025 and projects employment to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. They work in museums, archives, historical societies and research organisations.
The degree is more often a base for other careers. Penn State mentions government, international relations, law and librarianship, as well as work as an archivist or secondary school teacher. The University of the Fraser Valley adds politics, publishing, public relations and public administration. The Universidad de Cádiz includes the management of historical and cultural heritage and work in the cultural and publishing industry among the aims of its degree.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a history degree take?
In Spain the grado en Historia has 240 ECTS credits and takes 4 years. At ARU in England the BA (Hons) takes 3 years, or 4 with a placement or foundation year. At Penn State in the United States it requires at least 123 credits.
Can I become a history teacher in Spain with a history degree?
Not with the degree alone. Secondary school teaching is a regulated profession in Spain, and it requires an official master's degree in teacher training of 60 ECTS credits after the degree.
What jobs can I get with a history degree?
Teaching, archives, museums and heritage management, publishing, public administration, politics and international relations, and, after further study, law or librarianship. Research and university posts normally require a PhD.