History Schools and Programs in The United States

History Studies in The United States

History is the study of the past through the documents and other sources people left behind: historians research, analyse, interpret and write about what happened and why. In the United States it belongs to the humanities and is offered at every kind of institution, from small colleges to large research universities. Many students use a history degree as preparation for law, public policy or teaching.

How the degree is organised

There is no national list of degree titles in the US: each accredited college or university designs its own programmes. The usual levels in history are:

• Associate degree (two years) at a community college, mostly as the first half of a bachelor's degree
• Bachelor's degree (four years), usually a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a major in history
• Master's degree (typically two years), for example a Master of Arts (M.A.) in history or a related field such as museum studies or archival management
• PhD (five to eight years), in which students usually concentrate on a specific area of history

US credits reflect the hours a class meets each week; they are not ECTS credits. The academic year usually runs from August to May, and students normally declare their major at the end of the second year, after general courses in several disciplines. At a liberal arts college, students take 25 to 50 percent of their courses in their major and the rest in the humanities, languages, mathematics and the social and natural sciences.

A history major is built from courses in different periods and regions plus research seminars. At Duke University, for example, the Bachelor of Arts in History requires ten courses, at least seven of them at the 200 level or above, including a gateway seminar, two pre-modern courses and at least one senior capstone seminar. Departments also run their own research projects and public history: the history department at The University of Texas at Austin, for example, covers events from across the globe over the last two millennia and publishes the digital magazine Not Even Past and the podcast 15 Minute History.

Admission, English and visa

For a bachelor's degree you need to have finished secondary school and generally be at least 17. Each university reviews foreign records itself, sometimes through a credential evaluation agency, and US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. A history major teaches students to think, to write and to research, as Duke University puts it, so a strong level of written English matters from the first year.

Before applying for a student visa you must be accepted by an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which then issues the Form I-20 (or DS-2019 for exchange programmes). Degree students normally use the F visa. Check the school's accreditation too: according to EducationUSA, recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to it.

Where to study history in the United States

This page lists 206 schools that teach history in the US. Boston, Philadelphia and New York have four each; Denver, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Miami and Cambridge have three. Examples include public universities such as The Ohio State University, The University of Texas at Austin, The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA); private research universities such as Yale University, Cornell University, Duke University, The University of Chicago and Vanderbilt University; smaller colleges such as Dartmouth College, Lawrence University and Claremont McKenna College; and community colleges such as Pasadena City College and Tacoma Community College. When comparing programmes, look at the periods and regions the department covers, the size of seminars, research opportunities such as an honours thesis, and whether the school is a large university or a small college.

Careers

History graduates work in many fields. Duke University says its history graduates have gone notably into law, medicine, business and public policy. Working as a historian usually requires further study: according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), historians typically need at least a master's degree, while a bachelor's degree can qualify for entry-level positions at museums, historical associations and other small organisations. Historians held about 3,800 jobs in 2025, mostly in research services and federal, state and local government; the BLS gives a median annual wage of $76,750 in May 2025 and projects employment to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035. Teaching history in a US public high school requires at least a bachelor's degree and a state-issued teaching certification or licence.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study history in the United States?

A bachelor's degree takes four years, a master's degree typically two and a PhD five to eight years.

Do I need a master's degree to work as a historian?

Usually, yes. According to the BLS, historians typically need at least a master's degree, and research positions in government and academia may require a PhD. A bachelor's degree can lead to entry-level jobs in museums and historical associations.

Can I combine history with another subject?

Yes. According to EducationUSA, US bachelor's degrees are very flexible, and students declare their major only at the end of the second year. History departments such as Duke's also offer a minor that students of other majors can add.

Can I become a history teacher in the US with a history degree?

A bachelor's degree is the minimum, but teachers in public schools must also hold a state-issued certification or licence. Private schools typically do not require a licence.