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History (B.A.)

The Department of History offers a Bachelor of Arts degree that prepares students broadly for modern careers in business, government, and teaching, or for graduate study in history, law, library science, business, or education. The Department's academic offerings reflect the diversity of the faculty, and students are encouraged to sample broadly the course offerings.

History (B.A.)


Description


What is History at ODU like?

The Department of History offers a Bachelor of Arts degree that prepares students broadly for modern careers in business, government, and teaching, or for graduate study in history, law, library science, business, or education. The Department's academic offerings reflect the diversity of the faculty, and students are encouraged to sample broadly the course offerings.

Program Highlights


What makes History at ODU unique?

  • The degree offers you many varied options to expand your horizons beyond the required number of classroom courses. The department offers study abroad courses over the spring break. A very popular study abroad course is the Holocaust in France. Students travel to Paris and trace the route of French Jews to Auschwitz. There are also possibilities for an entire study abroad semester in universities around the world. Internships in museums, at historical and archaeological sites, and libraries give you hands-on practical experience and offer networking possibilities for later employment.

  • A bachelor’s degree in history will give you invaluable research and analytic skills that will prepare you to enter into several professional fields. Teaching at the secondary level of education is a major career field. You can work as a historian in many large government and commercial organizations. You can use your research skills working in archives. You can also work as a curator in a museum. A very important professional field is serving in the military. A degree in history is also great preparation for a career as a lawyer.

Careers


What are some careers in this field?

Check out these ideas from ODU Career Development Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is the midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

History Teachers, Postsecondary

$82,900

MEDIAN SALARY


Teach courses in human history and historiography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Historians

$64,220

MEDIAN SALARY


Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.

Archivists

$55,470

MEDIAN SALARY


Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.

Lawyers

$141,890

MEDIAN SALARY


Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.

Courses


What are some courses offered in History at ODU?

HIST 201:
Introduction to Historical Methods


Required of all history and secondary education social studies majors. Recommended prior to upper-division course work. Examines methods of historical research and primary and secondary source analysis, inclusive of internet usage. Explores historiography and historical writing. Introduces students to issues in the philosophy of history. Prerequisites: HIST 100H or HIST 101H or HIST 102H or HIST 103H or HIST 104H or HIST 105H.

HIST 402W:
Senior Seminar in History


The course is an advanced study of selected topics leading to production of a research paper. It is required of all history and secondary education social studies majors. This is a writing intensive course. Prerequisites: HIST 201 and a grade of C or better in ENGL 211C or ENGL 221C or ENGL 231C.

Requirements


What are the requirements to apply for History at ODU?

Students entering the Bachelor of Arts program in History should meet the minimum university admission requirements (Undergraduate Admission)

Cost

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates for the 2022-23 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Anyone that is not a current Virginia resident will be charged non-resident rates. That includes international students.

Virginia Resident


Per Credit:

$ 374

Non-Resident


Per Credit:

$ 1,039

Active Duty Military Rate


Per Credit:

$ 250

Technology Delivered Courses Outside Virginia and/or the United States


Per Credit:

$ 407

Ways to Save

Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending ODU. For more information visit University Student Financial aid

Next Steps


I like this program. What are the next steps?

Contact


Need help applying?

Meet Your Enrollment Team

Our enrollment coordinators are ready to help you through the admissions process.

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SENIOR LECTURER


Name:

Robert Del Corso


Location:

8042 BATTEN ARTS & LETTERS, NORFOLK, VA, 23529



Office:

757-683-3949


Undergraduate Admissions


Location:

1004 Rollins Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529


Phone Office:

757-683-3685


Fax:

757-683-3255


Email:

admissions@odu.edu


International Admissions


Location:

2101 Dragas Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529


Phone Office:

757-683-3701


Fax:

757-683-3651


Email:

intladm@odu.edu

Transfer


I like this program and want to transfer. What are my next steps?

At ODU, we understand that as a transfer student you have unique needs that require a wide array of campus resources. The Center for Advising Administration and Academic Partnerships aims to create a transfer inclusive culture that supports the successful transition, engagement, and academic achievement of transfer students. The services and programs offered to you as a Monarch are endless so take advantage of every opportunity. Even before you set foot on campus, we encourage you to Explore, Experience, and Engage! Visit our Transfer Students page for more information.

Additional Programs


Are there other programs at ODU I may be interested in?

With over 120 undergraduate programs, 130 graduate programs at the master'seducation specialist and doctoral levels plus a wealth of certificate and professional development programs, Old Dominion University has the program for you. Visit our academic program listing page to see other programs ODU has to offer.

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