BA in History

Why pursue a history degree at North Central College?

You’ll work closely with some of the most well-respected faculty and authorities in the field as you conduct primary research at local and Chicago-area historical centers. Our history major is immensely flexible—it enables you to shape your entire college experience around your interests. You can major and minor in additional areas, such as business, political science, or media studies. You can study abroad. Learn new languages. Add Chicago Term and urban/suburban studies to your program. A history major can put you on a path to a career in higher education, museums, archives, law, government, or business. But no matter how you define “history major,” you’ll graduate with the solid writing and analytical skills that every successful career requires.

You may also:

• Prepare for careers in public history and museums by working with the College's own full-time archivist and with exhibit curators and history professionals at museums like Naper Settlement.
• Secure internships and future jobs with local historical centers, including the Chicago History Museum, Naper Settlement, Cantigny's First Division Museum, the Newberry Library, and the Field Museum.
• Collaborate with noted faculty such as Dr. C. Frederick Toenniges Professor of History Ann Durkin Keating, a renowned expert on Chicago-area history and the editor of several authoritative historical references.

The History major provides an excellent liberal arts education that prepares students for a wide variety of careers. Some History majors want to work as historians, and they go on to graduate study in History or pursue public history careers in museums, libraries, and archives. Others use their in-depth training in research, writing, and critical thinking to pursue careers in business, law, government, or media. History Majors gain a deeper understanding of U.S. history and World history, choosing from courses examining a wide variety of regions, historical periods, and themes. They take a methods class providing training in historical research and then do original research projects in upper-level seminars and in the senior capstone seminar.

Major Requirements

At least 36 credit hours in history to include:

Methodology

• HIST 200 - Historical Methods

U.S. History Courses (200-level or above)

Two of the following:

• HIST 222 - U.S. and Illinois to 1865
• HIST 224 - U.S. and Illinois from 1865–1945
• HIST 226 - U.S. and Illinois since 1945
• HIST 242 - U.S. Women's History
• HIST 248 - American Environmental History
• HIST 310 - Immigration and U.S. Ethnic Identity
• HIST 315 - Public History and Local History
• HIST 320 - U.S. Social Movements
• HIST 325 - American Cities and Suburbs

Non-U.S. History Courses (200-level or above)

Two of the following:

• HIST 255 - Greek and Roman History and Historians
• HIST 256 - Renaissance and Reformation Europe
• HIST 258 - Early Modern Europe
• HIST 260 - Chinese History
• HIST 265 - Japanese History
• HIST 267 - Twentieth-Century East Asia: Industry, Empire and War
• HIST 270 - India Since 1750
• HIST 280 - Nineteenth-Century Europe: Sex and Mass Hysteria
• HIST 285 - Twentieth-Century Europe: Hitler Versus Stalin
• HIST 330 - East Asian Thought
• HIST 345 - European Intellectual History: History of the Book
• HIST 350 - Science, Religion and Magic in Early Modern Europe
• HIST 370 - Asia's Rapid Industrialization
• HIST 380 - Holocaust Seminar
• HIST 385 - World Wars of the 20th Century

Advanced History Seminars

Two of the following:

• HIST 310 - Immigration and U.S. Ethnic Identity
• HIST 315 - Public History and Local History
• HIST 320 - U.S. Social Movements
• HIST 325 - American Cities and Suburbs
• HIST 330 - East Asian Thought
• HIST 345 - European Intellectual History: History of the Book
• HIST 350 - Science, Religion and Magic in Early Modern Europe
• HIST 370 - Asia's Rapid Industrialization
• HIST 380 - Holocaust Seminar
• HIST 385 - World Wars of the 20th Century

Note:

Courses taken for the U.S. & Non-U.S. requirements may apply to the Advanced Seminar requirement.

Capstone

• HIST 470 - Capstone Seminar

Additional Requirements for the BA Degree

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language.

A North Central education integrates career preparation with rich academic study. Our faculty encourages you to refine and apply your knowledge in an interconnected world. Here you'll learn to think independently and work globally to solve problems and lead.

Internships

• Accession intern, The Field Museum, Chicago
• Curatorial intern, Chicago History Museum
• Curatorial intern, Naper Settlement, Naperville
• Education intern, Museum at Cantigny, Wheaton, IL
• Graduate Schools
• American University, Washington, DC
• Arizona State University
• Iowa State University
• Loyola University
• Marquette University
• Miami University, Ohio
• Trinity College, Ireland
• University of Leicester, England
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Careers

• Museum curators and educators
• History teachers and professors
• Lawyers
• Writers, journalists, and bloggers
• Archivists and librarians
• Government and nonprofit
• Business and private sector