Bachelor of Arts in History
At Rosemont College, we believe history is much more than a glimpse into the past. It’s an active study that instills a deep understanding of the cultural, economic, social, political, and cultural institutions that make up our world and connects the past to the future.
That’s why Rosemont’s Bachelor of Arts in History program offers a uniquely diverse skill set and hands-on approach to learning with four career-focused pathways for students to specialize in their area of interest:
- Public History
- Secondary Education Certification (7-12)
- Historic Preservation
- American Politics and Government
History majors complete three core courses in World and U.S. History during their first year. These courses also fulfill requirements in the general education program. Each career-based pathway continues through a series of electives in history and related disciplines that provide students with a solid foundation for their future career.
Our unique practice-based curriculum incorporates a service-learning course or field observation, progresses into a project-based methodology course, and culminates in internships or student teaching and a resume building capstone project. All history majors graduate with a portfolio documenting qualitative and quantitative research techniques, critical thinking prowess, and the ability to communicate information about the past to audiences outside academia.
Across all the pathways, our students collaborate with faculty to publish original research—an invaluable opportunity that’s often unavailable at the undergraduate level. In fact, nearly 50 students have been published over the past three years! They also create digital history projects that showcase innovation, creativity, and the ever-growing use of technology to document history.
Along the way, History majors are trained to assess, analyze, and apply information from various sources and effectively report their findings. You’ll learn best practices for locating accurate and relevant information, evaluating the quality of written and audio/visual resources, and recognizing bias in sources. This expertise is crucial for careers in law, government, public history, education, and historic preservation.
Choose Your Path to Success
Public History: Students studying Public History focus on presenting history to the general public. Students gain the preparation they need to work in museums, archives, libraries, historical sites, heritage organizations, tourism organizations, and more. They consider the past analytically, view texts critically, conduct research accurately, and communicate professionally. This pathway includes extensive work in historical archives, specialized research methods courses in public history, and multiple hands-on experiences that develop students’ ability to interpret the past in a variety of venues and to communicate with a range of audiences.
Comprehensive Social Studies Secondary Education Certification (Grades 7-12): Bring history to life in the classroom. If you are considering a career in social studies education, Rosemont will prepare you for teacher certification for grades 7-12. In addition to your required history classes, you will take a specific set of Education courses designed to provide you with the skills to take the teacher certification exam. If you choose this pathway, advisors from each discipline will work together to support you and ensure you are meeting all the criteria to become a certified social studies teacher with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Our inquiry-based approach focuses on primary and secondary source analysis, and future educators develop three primary-source standards-aligned lesson plans as their capstone project. This curricular approach prepares students to teach advanced placement courses and enroll in graduate coursework to enhance their earning potential.
Historic Preservation: Our world is filled with treasured cultural sites that need to be preserved and protected. The historic preservation pathway equips students for this essential field to keep the past thriving into the future by conserving artifacts, places, and landscapes of historical significance. Students may enroll in a dual degree program with Jefferson University leading to a master's degree in Historical Preservation. Nine credits of this program are included in Rosemont College tuition, and those courses fulfill history degree requirements.
American Politics and Government: If you have always been fascinated by working in politics, this combination of courses in history and political science will provide students with the career skills to transition into government roles or into Rosemont’s Homeland Security graduate program. Courses in this pathway prepare students to work in high-demand fields such as counterintelligence, homeland security, government, and international relations.
Why Study History at Rosemont?
Close-knit, supportive community: Rosemont’s intentionally small class size allows our students to make deep connections to their peers and professors, helping you find your unique voice and expand your professional opportunities. Our intimate academic environment means that you’ll be an active participant in your learning: contributing to discussions, engaging with different viewpoints, and thinking critically about your own.
At Rosemont, you will gain experience through:
- Career-focused pathways
- Hands-on research
- Practice-based curriculum
- Service learning, field observation, or internship
We realize that figuring out your calling is a process, so History faculty serve as mentors, truly getting to know each student’s talents and ambitions. From discussing the best coursework for your goals to introducing you to career paths you may not have known existed, professors and advisors support you through every step of your academic journey.
Rosemont College Archives: Rosemont has a rich, fascinating history that is preserved in our archives. Located in the library, the space is home to College-related historical documents, memorabilia, photographs, and publications. Our archives are a fantastic resource for History students: Many put their learning into action here during internships, and even more use the archives as a learning lab, theming projects around the materials they uncover.
Coursework Examples
- HIS 0245: Gender, War, and Peace
- HIS 0265: History of Environmental Social Movements
- HIS 0340: Introduction to Public History
- HIS 0451: Historians and Their Craft
The Past Prepares You for a Successful Future
From critical thinking and analytic reasoning to complex problem-solving and advanced written and oral communication, Rosemont's History pathways will equip you with the skills that employers value most. With ample opportunities to publish original research and participate in digital history projects, you’ll be able to not only discuss, but demonstrate your knowledge.
Our hands-on, skills-focused curriculum provides a strong foundation for success in fields such as law, education, government, publishing, public history, and more. In fact, 100% of our qualified students who applied to graduate school were accepted. Jobs for graduates with a BA in History include:
- Academic researcher
- Archivist
- Counterintelligence
- Education
- Government
- Historian
- Librarian
- Museum/gallery curator
- Paralegal
- Social studies/history teacher
- Tourism
- Writer/editor
From Our Alumni
“My time in the History department enhanced my research, writing, and public speaking skills. My professors’ rich and engaging courses instilled in me a deep passion for the subject matter. Through class trips to museums, I started to favor an object-based approach to history that I pursued in my graduate studies.” – Mary Manfredi, Registrar at Sotheby’s