Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History program at West Chester University prepares students for a wide range of career. Our students graduate as creative problem solvers, who can think imaginatively not only about the past, but about the world today. We teach marketable and transferable skills you will take well beyond the history classroom: 

  • The skill of investigation 
  • The art of asking good questions to define the problem at hand 
  • Research skills in identifying and understanding sources 
  • Analysis and interpretation of complex subjects 
  • Use of evidence to draw conclusions 
  • Effective oral and written communication skills

Our curriculum focuses on non-Western, European, and United States history, and is taught by 20 full-time faculty experts who value excellent teaching, active scholarship, and engagement with our community. Get Involved: History Club Phi Alpha Theta (professional history society)

 

Tracks

History

 Students who choose the history concentration have the flexibility to United States, European, or World /Regional History. The history concentration also includes courses in other disciplines that are related to history such as American studies, anthropology, art history, economics, geography, literature, music history, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, and women's and gender studies, resulting in a well-rounded understanding of history and many of the disciplines that affect it. The opportunity to take classes outside of history also gives students the option to complete a minor.

Social Studies Education

Our B.A. in History with Elective Social Studies Teacher Certification program meets the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) certification criteria and the most recent standards set by the National Council for the Social Studies. Graduates are able to apply to PDE certification to teach all of the social studies in secondary schools upon completion of the program. The social studies education program ensures that our students attain the knowledge, capabilities, and dispositions to become effective educators who create meaningful learning experiences for their students. The program emphasizes ten thematic strands: 

  • Culture and cultural diversity 
  • Time, continuity, and change 
  • People, places, and environment 
  • Individuals, groups, and institutions 
  • Power, authority, and government 
  • Production, distribution, and consumption 
  • Science, technology, and society 
  • Global connections 
  • Civic ideals and practices 
  • Individual development and identity

American Studies

Prepares students for a wide range of careers, including careers in public history at museums, institutions, and agencies that focus on "American" cultural themes. The American Studies concentration also includes courses in other disciplines that are related to history such as anthropology, art history, economics, geography, literature, music history, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, and women's and gender studies, resulting in a well-rounded understanding of history and many of the disciplines that affect it. The opportunity to take classes outside of history also gives students the option to complete a minor.
 

Program Highlights

Opportunities to: 

  • Attend and present at local and regional conferences 
  • Study abroad trips in Africa, the Middle, East, and Europe 
  • Get involved in faculty research
  • Have your research published 
  • Work with award-winning faculty

More highlights: Best papers (undergraduate and graduate) at Phi Alpha Theta Mid Atlantic regional conference, Kings College, 2018. College of Arts and Humanities Award for top student. Four student papers presented at Phi Alpha Theta national conference, history honors, New Orleans.

 

What can I do with this degree?

Our graduates go on to do amazing things. You can find them everywhere from the classroom to the boardroom. Some of our recent graduates hold titles like: 

  • Acquisitions and digital preservation specialist 
  • College lecturer 
  • Director of external affairs 
  • Filmmaker 
  • History teachers across the country 
  • Manager of an oral history program 
  • Multimedia designer 
  • Owner of a local insurance company 
  • Practice liaison 
  • Strategic planner, U.S. Department of State 
  • Talent acquisition professional

Many of our students also choose to pursue graduate education. Some recent graduates have studied at:

  • The College of William and Mary
  • Florida State University
  • Indiana University Bloomington
  • Lehigh University
  • Temple University
  • University of Delaware
  • West Chester University
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