Undergraduate Programs

The study of history investigates the relationship of change over time. The intersections between political, economic, and social institutions shape human experiences and impact cultures around the globe.

What Can I Do With My History Degree?

Today, history majors have opportunities to be historians both inside and outside the classroom. As demonstrated by our alumni, UNO history students take their acquired knowledge into a variety of careers, involving legal practice, politics, policy analysis, non-profit organizations, grant-writing, journalism, international studies, publishing, and various positions in Public History (such as archival work, curating, cultural resource management, and historical preservation).

As career diversity in the historical profession continues to evolve, students with history degrees will encounter numerous employers who value their skills in critical thinking, communication, research, writing, and analytical thought.

Students who choose to major in history will work closely with faculty who will help them select courses from our diverse offerings and provide them with a unique and exciting program of study.

What is the difference between a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in history and a B.S. (Bachelor of Science) in history?

There are some specific differences between the two degrees:

• The B.A. requires completion of a foreign language taken through the intermediate level (see more below). If you plan to attend graduate school in history, the Department of History advises you to pursue a B.A. degree. Most graduate programs throughout the United States and Canada require knowledge of one or more foreign languages.
  
  
• The B.S. requires a 15 hour "cognate field" in lieu of a foreign language. A cognate field consists of 12 hours of 3000-4000 level courses in one or more related disciplines outside of the history department. These disciplines serve to complement the student's interest in history and can originate from a wide array of UNO departments. The B.S. also requires one 3-credit hour course in logic or statistics. The specific composition of a student's cognate field will be determined in consultation with the student's History faculty advisor.

Bachelor of Arts Foreign Language Requirement

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in History at UNO are required to complete 16 credits in a foreign language. How many courses it takes to complete 16 credits depends on your Foreign Language Placement and retroactive credit received.

There are several ways for you to meet the Bachelor of Arts Foreign Language Requirement:

• take levels I-II-III-IV of a single foreign language at UNO;
• transfer credit (for the equivalent of level IV of any foreign language) to UNO from another institution;
• score a 4+ on any AP language test;
• take up through the equivalent of 4 years of the same foreign language in high school

The languages offered to fulfill the Foreign Language Requirement are:

• French
• German *
• Japanese *
• Spanish
• Sign Language

* The first course of these languages is only offered in the fall, so you can only begin these languages in the fall, and you should take one course from the language each semester thereafter to stay on schedule.

For more information about the Foreign Language requirement, consult with your academic advisor.

Bachelor of Science Cognate Field Requirement

The Bachelor of Science in History requires a 15 hour "cognate field" in lieu of a foreign language. A cognate field consists of 12 hours of 3000-4000 level courses in one or more related disciplines outside of the history department. These disciplines serve to complement the student's interest in history and can originate from a wide array of UNO departments.

The B.S. also requires one 3-credit hour course in logic or statistics. The specific composition of a student's cognate field will be determined in consultation with the student's History faculty advisor.