History (BA)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2024–Spring 2025 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Arts in History 
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: History 
Academic Plan Code(s): See Track Requirements tab.

Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.

Program Information

The University of Louisville Department of History offers a comprehensive undergraduate program. Our course offerings include an extensive array of classes covering American, South American, European, African, South Asian, and Asian history. Courses are taught by an internationally recognized faculty.  Students who choose to pursue a history major or minor receive extensive, one-on-one advising with the department's faculty.

Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.

Degree Summary

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Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework.

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Accelerated BA/MA in History Program

History majors who are considering pursuing a master’s degree (MA) in History can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master's degree.  Students accepted into the Accelerated BA-MA take three graduate courses (9 credit hours) as an undergraduate that apply toward both the bachelor’s degree and the eventual master's degree.  

Interested students should apply to the program during their Junior year (i.e., when they have accumulated 60-90 hours of credit). Applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.35, a History GPA of 3.35, and meet all other requirements for admission to the History Department's Master of Arts program (including at least 21 hours of history courses).

Students must retain a 3.35 GPA in history during their senior year to remain in the program.

Departmental Admission Requirements

Admission to the BA in History requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on courses in the major. 

The Change Major Request form can be found under the Academic Progress tile on ULink.

Accelerated BA/MA in History Program

Interested students should apply for entry into the accelerated program no later than the end of their Junior year.

Interested students should:

1. Complete an application for admission to the History Department's Master of Arts program (including GRE scores, transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose) no later than the end of their junior year.
2. Have a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.35, a history GPA of 3.35, and meet all other requirements for admission to the History Department's Master of Arts program (including at least 21 hours of history courses).

General Education Requirements

*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Program/Major Requirements

At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.

Once a student has declared a History major, the student must enroll in HIST 304 as 3 of the next 12 History credit hours.  A grade of C or better must be earned in HIST 304.

Six hours of required 500-level history courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.

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Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language

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In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above

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May be incorporated into other degree requirements

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Courses numbered HIST 310, HIST 410, HIST 498, HIST 499, HIST 501, HIST 502, HIST 503 and HIST 540 may at times also fulfill area requirements; consult History Department

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Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

Tracks

Track in Humanities 

Academic Plan Code(s): HISTBA_HUM

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In addition to courses counted toward General Education

Flight Plan

Track in Humanities

Track in Social Sciences

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan.  What-if reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Select the appropriate report.
   1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
   2. To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
   3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.