History (B.A., B.S.)

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Unlock Your Future by Studying the Past 

History majors explore the past, and that's just the beginning—majoring in history will help students master the skills they need to thrive in the future. In a world driven by rapid change and complex challenges, employers are seeking critical thinkers, effective communicators, and problem-solvers. That's what a history degree delivers. 

Learn to dissect information, identify patterns, and apply historical insights to today’s pressing problems. Craft compelling narratives, engage diverse audiences, and translate complex ideas into clear, persuasive arguments—all while examining the tapestry of human experience across time and space. 

A history degree from Nebraska Wesleyan equips graduates with the transferable skills that employers value most, especially in fields including public history, museums and libraries, law, business, government, information management, teaching, insurance, and publishing.

History Major (B.A. or B.S.**, 36-37 hours)
Core Courses12 hours
HIST 1010FYW Topics in United States History to 1877
or
HIST 1020FYW United States Society and Culture Since 1877		4 hours
HIST 1110 World Civilizations4 hours
HIST 2170 Body, Mind, Spirit: The Understanding of the Self in Western Culture
or
HIST 2180 Science and Religion in Western Tradition		4 hours
Research Methods4 hours
HIST 2800 Historical Methods4 hours
History Electives16 hours
Students must take 16 credit hours of history electives. Select 8 credit hours from each of the two skill concentrations listed below (Analysis & Application; Commuinication & Curation). At least 8 hours of elective credit must be taken at the 4000-level, and students must take at least one elective each from the US and Global lists. 

Analysis & Application

U.S.

Global

8 hours

Communication & Curation

U.S.

Global

8 hours
Capstone Courses4-5 hours
HIST 4940 History Capstone and
HIST 4970 History Internship
or
HIST 4940 History Capstone and
HIST 4980 Introduction to Senior Thesis and
HIST 4990 Senior Thesis
or 
Students seeking secondary education endorsement must take HIST 4650 Topics in Nebraska History and HIST 4940 History Capstone and complete their student teaching in history.

**A History major customarily earns a B.A. or B.S. degree. However, if a student has a first major that is associated with a different baccalaureate degree, the History major may serve as a second major for the degree associated with the first major (B.F.A., B.M., or B.S.N.).