- Gain transferable skills including communication and critical thinking that equip you to succeed in a wide range of careers and graduate programs.
- Stand apart from history majors at other universities with experience and expertise in digital technologies. RIT History majors are skilled practitioners of history in the digital age.
- Choose from four thematic specializations in U.S. history; global history; Deaf and disability studies; or history of the environment, science, and technology
- Dynamic course work in areas as diverse as digital history, computing, and quantitative data
- A professional internship or co-op gives you career experience before you graduate.
- A senior capstone project illustrates your knowledge and research expertise.
The past will always shape the future as our understanding of who we are and what we value continues to evolve. The ability to reflect on history, examine the human condition, and critically analyze the past as a guide to the present and future is part of what it means to be human and to live in human communities. A history degree not only encourages you to develop a lifelong passion for critical thinking, but also leads you to become a better local and global citizen, an effective communicator, an active participant in civil discourse, and an informed creator and consumer of media and technology. RIT's history BS will equip you to understand the past and the means by which it shapes the present.
Focus on acquiring content knowledge and mastering historical methodologies. Understanding content provides intricate expertise in eras, fields, and topics–all of which are not only important in their own right but also are relevant to other disciplines that incorporate historical themes. A bachelor's in history enables you to conduct your own research–to collect, evaluate, analyze, synthesize, and interpret evidence and data.
Central to RIT's history BS is building you technological expertise necessary to study and craft history in the digital age. These skills separate RIT's history BS graduates from graduates at other institutions. As a result, you will learn to:
- Collect, organize, and critically appraise a variety of evidence and data (primary and secondary sources).
- Construct effective interpretations, arguments, and presentations based on the analysis of evidence and data.
- Manage projects based on research, analysis, and the communication of findings and results.
- Become well-prepared for graduate-level study in history or a related field, such as business, education, government, journalism, law, and public service.
History BS Specializations
You will choose one of four thematic specializations in which you'll gain a deeper understanding in a particular area of history. Thematic specializations include:
- U.S. History
- Global History
- Deaf and Disability Studies
- History of the Environment, Science, and Technology
Capstone Project
The capstone project is the final core requirement of the history degree and serves as an opportunity to further develop and sharpen your practice and understanding of history. You'll work with faculty to conceive and develop a senior thesis, and present your research project in front of your peers and program faculty.
History Careers
A bachelor's in history will prepare you for a variety of history careers and for study at the graduate level. Nearly half of those who major in history pursue graduate school in a related discipline. The American Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau shows that a significant number of history majors work in fields other than history, including law, management, and primary/secondary education. In fact, 48 percent of history majors go to graduate school.
These statistics further demonstrate how a degree in history serves as strong preparation for graduate training in several different academic and professional fields.
RIT's Pre-Law Program
Law schools welcome applications from students majoring in a wide range of academic programs. RIT's pre-law program will help you navigate the admission process for law school, explore a range of legal careers, and guide you through course selection to ensure you build the skills and competencies required of competitive law school applicants. The program is open to students in all majors who are interested in pursuing a career in law.
RIT/Syracuse University College of Law 3+3 Option
RIT has partnered with Syracuse University's College of Law to offer an accelerated 3+3 BS/JD option for highly capable students. This option provides a fast-track pathway to law school in which students earn a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctorate degree in six years. In the 3+3 option, students may apply to the option directly. Successful applicants are offered admission to RIT and given conditional acceptance into Syracuse University's College of Law.
RIT's history BS is one of the approved majors for the 3+3 option. Learn more about the RIT/Syracuse University College of Law 3+3 Option, including admission requirements and frequently asked questions.
Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees
Today's careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT's Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.
+1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor's degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.