The social changes of our era are part of a longer, more complex process; the study of history puts current issues and events into context.
32
Average age
85%
Employment rate
$45k
Average salary
89%
Student recommended
Source: institutional data analysis
Q: Why take the Bachelor of Arts?
A:The Bachelor of Arts strengthens critical and creative thinking through a broad range of social, political, and cultural studies.
Q: How long will it take to complete?
A:Finish the concentration option in 3 years of full-time study, the major option in 4 years, or work at your own pace and take as long as you need. There is no time limit for completion.
Program summary
Program overview
The social changes of our era are part of a longer, more complex process; the study of history puts current issues and events into context. The history program at Athabasca University will help you
see contemporary events in broader historical contexts
explain changing social attitudes as the result of specific contexts and events
recognize the ways knowledge is socially constructed and sanctioned
interpret historical evidence, assessing for possible bias
AU offers a wide variety of history courses, with strengths in Europe and North America, and a growing number of courses on global history and the history of Africa.
Why take the Bachelor of Arts?
The Bachelor of Arts strengthens critical and creative thinking through a broad range of social, political and cultural studies. The program is designed to
broaden your perspective on local and global affairs
encourage community and social involvement
prepare you for lifelong learning and occupational diversity
Routes and options
The Bachelor of Arts, History Major is an online degree program, with both a 3-year and a 4-year option. There are no set start dates – you can enrol at any time and register for courses right away.
Bachelor of Arts, History Concentration(3-year online degree)
A 3-year degree is a well-respected and marketable credential in Canada and the United States.
Itdoes notprovide direct access to graduate-level studies.
Bachelor of Arts, History Major(4-year online degree)
A 4-year degree fully prepares students for most graduate programs.
The 4-year BA program allows you to pursue either a double major or a minor.
Double majors must meet the requirements for both majors, which may restrict course selection or require additional credits above the 120 required for the BA.
You should talk to anacademic advisorabout your program and courses if you’re considering a double major.
To earn a minor you must complete30 creditsin that subject area.
List of minors
Anthropology
Canadian Studies
English
French
Global Studies
Humanities
Inclusive Education
Labour Studies
Philosophy
Political Economy
Political Science
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology
Women's and Gender Studies
AU does not offer an Honours BA.
Completion times
Finish the concentration option in 3 years of full-time study, the major option in 4 years, or work at your own pace and take as long as you need. There is no time limit for completion.
Admission requirements
There are no formal admission requirements for either the 3-year or the 4-year program. All you need is to be 16 or older. You can enrol anytime and start right away, regardless of your previous education.
How to apply
You can apply to AU online, anytime. Once you’ve completed the online application form and paid the one-time general application fee (and transfer credit evaluation fee, if applicable), you’re officially an AU student and can start registering in courses.
Make sure we get your transcripts if you want us to consider your previous post-secondary education for transfer credit.
Transfer and advanced credit
If you have previous post-secondary education or significant life and work experience that relates to this program, you may be eligible for transfer credit or Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). This could mean fewer courses to get your AU degree.
If you transfer credit, you must complete aminimumof 30 credits at AU.
To complete the program you will need to fulfill all the general requirements of the Bachelor of Arts, plus those specific to your major, minor or concentration.
Our program plans can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program, and how to plan the order you’ll take them in. If you’re feeling stuck, ouracademic advisorscan help.
Once you have paid the initial application fee, tuition is pay-as-you-go for each course registration. Course fees vary depending on your location and other factors.
You can estimate your total program cost by multiplying the cost of a 3-credit course by the number of courses you need to take for the program. Remember that tuition costs may increase each year.
Program learning outcomes
By the end of the program, students will be able to:
Interpret past and contemporary events in broader historical contexts to explain the complex processes by which societies have evolved.
Identify patterns of continuities and change over time to reveal structures within which human societies operate.
Investigate the ways in which knowledge is created, deployed, enforced, and reinforced, as well as how it is resisted.
Employ and contextualize a wide variety of historical sources to make sense of complex, richly textured, diverse, and sometimes disparate materials, and to identify biases, ambiguities, and uncertainties in primary and secondary historical sources.
Conduct research that is accurate, critically analytical, comprehensible, and thorough to efficiently and effectively produce historical research.
Communicate research results cogently, clearly, and logically in written form that correspond to professional standards of doing history.
graduate studies in history/interdisciplinary studies
library science
law
police studies
social work
education: bachelor/master
English as a second language (ESL) teacher training
* Some universities will not accept a 3-year degree for admittance into a graduate program. An additional year of study may be required. Entrance requirements vary among educational institutions. It is the students’ responsibility to research the entrance requirements of other universities.
Resources and links
Additional information that you need to know about AU and this program.