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2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: History

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Arts (Richard Bland College of William and Mary)
Richard Bland College
Richard Bland College
Associate degree
Program description

The Bachelor of Arts in History requires a minimum of 120 credits, with at least 36 of those credits in history. Students must complete HIST 300 with a minimum grade of C prior to enrolling in more than six credits of 300- or 400-level history courses. The history curriculum exposes students to a multidimensional analysis of the human past. Knowledge gained through such analysis not only has the intrinsic appeal of any disciplined intellectual inquiry, but also constitutes an indispensable basis for active citizenship and for critical thinking about the society in which the student lives. Historical training at the undergraduate level leads to personal and social awareness within the rich tradition of the liberal arts. It also provides students an ideal preparation for a wide range of careers and further professional study.

Students in the program can take advantage of a wide range of courses with thematic, topical, national or chronological emphases to fulfill requirements and electives. Students should consult with their advisers each semester to design a program that meets these requirements and suits their interests and career objectives.

Career opportunities
An undergraduate degree in history is good preparation for a wide variety of careers, including in public history, law, public administration, education, not-for-profit management, or business (including sales, marketing, and administration), as well as for graduate study in History. Students in History who take the appropriate coursework in the sciences also go on successfully to graduate programs in medicine. History undergraduate students would do well to seek leadership roles in school or community organizations, and to gain experience in the fundraising and grant writing techniques which support not-for-profit organizations. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are imperative for most careers related to history, politics, or government administration. Part-time and summer jobs, internships, and volunteer positions are critical to gaining the experience and skills that employers seek.
Bachelor-level job titles
  • Audio-Visual and Multimedia Collections Specialist   
  • Film and Video Editor
  • Library Technician
  • Museum Technician and Conservator  
  • Park Naturalist  
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Recreation Worker
  • Research Assistant
  • Secondary School Teacher
  • Social and Human Services Assistant 
  • Staff and Legislative Assistant  
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Archivist
  • Attorney
  • College Professor
  • Museum Director
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 131
Science required
  • Core only
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: History

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Arts)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Attend RBC Orientation.
  • Schedule an appointment with your Learner Mentor to discuss your degree and class plan.
  • Register for ESE 101 if you have not taken any college level classes.
  • Attend FAFSA Fridays to understand how you will fund your education. These events are available every Friday in October and February.
  • Use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU History Department.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Continue learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or History department-related events.
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships or job experiences before your senior year of college.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend RBC Orientation.
  • Schedule an appointment with your Learner Mentor to discuss your degree and class plan.
  • Register for ESE 101 if you have not taken any college level classes.
  • Attend FAFSA Fridays to understand how you will fund your education. These events are available every Friday in October and February.
  • Use tutoring to get ahead.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU History Department.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Continue learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or History department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships or job experiences before your senior year of college.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: History

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Arts)

Richard Bland College of William and Mary courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
ENGL 101 Rhetoric and Research I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENGL 102 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
ENGL 102 Rhetoric and Research II UNIV 200 3 General education
ENGL Core course in The Art and Language of Ideas (select 1): ENGL 203, 204, 205, 206, 210, 211, 214, 215. ENGL 3 General education
Core course in The Art and Language of Ideas (select 1): ENGL 203, 204, 205, 206, 210, 211, 214, 215, 216, PHIL 101, 201, 202, 203, 270, REL 201, 209, 210, COMM 101, 102, 201 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Fine Arts Core course in The Language and History of the Fine Arts (select 1): ART 201, 202, 231, MUS 103, 123, THEA 201 VCU equivalent 3 General education
FREN or SPAN Two Courses in Foreign Language as per Placement 6 to 8 General education
Human Experience SOC 201 General Sociology (or PSY 201-202 but both courses must be taken to receive credit for PSYC 101) VCU equivalent 3 General education
Human Experience Core courses in The Human Experience (select 1): PHIL 101, 121, 201, 202, 203, PSY 201-202, 250, 260, 291, REL 201, 209, 210, 270, SOC 201, 204, 208, 250, 253 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Laboratory Science Core course in the Investigation of the Natural World (select 1 with lab): BIOL 101/L, 110, 151/L, CHEM 101/L, 110/L, PHYS 101/L, 201/L, SCIE 111/L VCU equivalent 4 General education
MATH Core courses in Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning (select 1): Math 110 or 121, or Math 151, 200, 217, 224, 251, 252, 261, 271 MATH 3 General education
HIST 101 Western Civ. To 1715 HIST 101 3 Major
HIST 102 Western Civ. since 1715 HIST 102 3 Major
HIST 201 American History to 1865 HIST 103 3 Major
HIST 202 American History since 1865 HIST 104 3 Major
CSCI 121 or 202 Computer proficiency test or CSCI 121 or 202 VCU equivalent 0 to 3 Elective
Electives No more than 2 credits of PE may be chosen. Students considering teaching as a career should take GOVT 201-202. Other students should select electives as a means to explore possible minors or second majors VCU equivalent 9 to 12 Elective
Richard Bland credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
HIST 300 Introduction to Historical Study 3 Major
HIST 493 or HIST 490 Internship (capstone) or Seminar in History 2 to 4 Major
HIST Upper-level HIST classes (HIST 300-499, except for HIST 490 or 493) Note: Major requires at least six credits from each of three areas (may be satisfied by 100-level and 300-level HIST courses chosen above): a) Europe, b) United States, and c) Africa, Asia, Latin America or the Middle East. 18 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 20 to 22 Elective
Electives Open electives 12 to 15 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 60
Bachelor's degree total 120