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History is the study of the human past as it is constructed and interpreted with human artifacts, written evidence, and oral traditions. It requires empathy for historical actors, respect for interpretive debate, and the skillful use of an evolving set of practices and tools. As an inquiry into human experience, history demands that we consider the diversity of human experience across time and place. As a public pursuit, history requires effective communication to make the past accessible; it informs and preserves collective memory; it is essential to active citizenship. As a discipline, history requires a deliberative stance towards the past; the sophisticated use of information, evidence, and argumentation; and the ability to identify and explain continuity and change over time. Its professional ethics and standards demand peer review, citation, and acceptance of the provisional nature of knowledge.
Our Program
The History Program at AWC is designed to prepare students to transfer to a university. Students will complete a variety of courses that provide a foundation in global, national, and local histories, including world history, and the histories of Europe, the United States, Mexico, and Arizona. Through the study of the past, students develop critical thinking skills and the ability to conduct historical research, evaluate primary and secondary sources, craft historical arguments, and write effectively. The program articulates with all three Arizona state universities, fulfilling all lower-division requirements for the major.
Graduates of these programs will successfully complete the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the historical period and subject understudy
- Develop critical thinking and writing skills through evaluation of major historical events
- Improve research methods, analysis, oral communication, and writing skills through the completion of a research paper
- Identify and recall key information from a historical text and/or documentary film
- Define and discuss the historical significance of key historical terms and concepts
- Identify the underlying causes, explain the historical significance, and analyze the lasting impact of an event and/or how it changed the course of history
- Evaluate a primary or secondary source
- Summarize findings in an oral presentation
- Research an assigned topic and synthesize information in a research paper, citing all sources using appropriate style and format.
Programs
Click on a program to get more information.
AA in History
Recommended Program Map / Program Requirements
The recommended plan below meets the requirements to complete this program. For official requirements, visit the AWC Catalog. If the recommended classes listed below don’t fit your schedule or interests, you can take alternate classes.
Visit Academic Planning to get started on your personalized Academic Plan, or schedule an appointment with the Advising Office or with a Faculty Advisor.
Program Requirements Based on Fall/Spring rotation (AGEC-A certificate also included)
First Semester
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 101 or ENG 107 |
Freshman Composition I | 3 | GE-Composition |
| MAT 142 | College Mathematics or higher | 3 | GE-Mathematics |
| HIS 121 | US History to 1877 | 3 | Major Requirement |
| HIS 240 | Western Civiliation 1 | 3 | Departmental Requirement |
| GEO 105 | World Regional Geography | 3 | GE-Social & Behavioral Sciences |
| SSC 101 | Student Success Course | 1 | |
| 16 |
Milestones:
- Meet professors one-on-one
- Research University Degree Program options
- Plan with your advisor after midterm grades posted
Co-Curricular Requirements:
- Attend AWC Majors Fair & Career Expos
- Register with Jobs 4 Matadors
Second Semester
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 102 or ENG 108 |
Freshman Composition II | 3 | GE-Composition |
| HIS 122 | US History Since 1877 | 3 | Major Requirement |
| HIS 241 | Western Civilization 2 | 3 | Departmental Requirement |
| PHI 101 | Introduction to Philosophy (recommended--see other options) | 3 | GE-Humanities |
| BIO 100 | Introduction to Biology (recommended--see other options) | 4 | GE-Physical & Biological Sciences |
| 16 |
Milestones:
- Join a club
Co-Curricular Requirements:
- Attend Transfer Services Events
- Apply for Scholarships
Third Semester
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIS 110 | World History to 1500 | 3 | Departmental Requirement |
| HIS 280 | History of Mexico | 3 | Departmental Requirement |
| ARH-141 | Survey of World Art (recommended--see other options) | 3 | GE-Arts |
| ENV 101 | Environmental Science (recommended--see other options) | 4 | GE-Physical & Biological Sciences |
| SPA 101 or FRE 101 |
Choose a course from Second Languages/101 level (recommended) (or take a CLEP World Languages exam) |
4 | General Elective |
| 17 |
Milestones:
- If transferring, apply to universities
Co-Curricular Requirements:
- Visit universities campus
- Apply for internship or volunteer opportunities
Fourth Semester
| Course | Course Title | Credits | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIS 111 | World History Since 1500 | 3 | Major Requirement |
| HIS 220 | History of Arizona * | 3 | GE-Additional Course |
| HIS 230 | Women in American History | 3 | GE-Additional Course |
| ANT 130 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 | GE-Social & Behavioral |
| SPA 102 or FRE 102 |
Choose a course from Second Languages/102 level (recommended) (or take a CLEP World Languages exam) |
4 | General Elective |
| 16 |
* HIS 220 is only offered during Winter Session
Milestones:
- Apply for Graduation
Co-Curricular Requirements:
- Attend Etiquette Lunch
- Meet with Career Services
- Apply for university scholarship opportunities
Transfer Paths and Requirements
| UNIVERSITY | DEGREE | MAJOR | LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | BA | History (multiple program options) | depends on program |
| Northern Arizona University | BA, BS, BSED | History (multiple program options) | depends on program |
| University of Arizona | BA | History | 4th Semester Proficiency |
Transfer Tools
AZTransfer will provide you with more information and tools on how to transfer to ASU, NAU, and UofA.
Need help with transferring? The AWC Transfer Services office can provide you with individualized help to explore degree pathways and specific university requirements. Visit their website or schedule an appointment with a transfer specialist.
Career Overview & Job Outlook
To pursue a career in history and its related fields requires a bachelor’s degree or higher. The top five professional fields history majors pursue are education, management, law, administration, and sales, however, the skills acquired through the study of history are transferrable to professions in a variety of sectors. Explore the many career options for history majors here.
Below are examples of related occupations and annual mean wages in Arizona according to a May 2020 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Clerical Library Assistants Compile records, and sort, shelve, issue, and receive library materials such as books, electronic media, pictures, cards, slides and microfilm. Locate library materials for loan and replace material in shelving area, stacks, or files according to identification number and title. Register patrons to permit them to borrow books, periodicals, and other library materials. |
$31,210 |
| Tour Guides Escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries. |
$32,130 |
| Library Technicians Assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by answering questions that require only brief consultation of standard reference. Compile records; sort and shelve books or other media; remove or repair damaged books or other media; register patrons; and check materials in and out of the circulation process. Replace materials in shelving area or files. Includes bookmobile drivers who assist with providing services in mobile libraries. |
$35,130 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators Restore, maintain, or prepare objects in museum collections for storage, research, or exhibit. May work with specimens such as fossils, skeletal parts, or botanicals; or artifacts, textiles, or art. May identify and record objects or install and arrange them in exhibits. Includes book or document conservators. |
$41,790 |
| Archivists Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials. |
$46,010 |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment. |
$53,990 |
| Curators Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution. |
$55,540 |
| Historians 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. |
$59,160 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists Study the origin, development, and behavior of human beings. May study the way of life, language, or physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world. May engage in systematic recovery and examination of material evidence, such as tools or pottery remaining from past human cultures, in order to determine the history, customs, and living habits of earlier civilizations. |
$61,340 |
| Postsecondary History Teachers Teach courses in human history and historiography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. |
$75,790 |
| Postsecondary Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. |
$78,210 |
| Postsecondary Anthropology and Archeology Teachers Teach courses in anthropology or archeology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. |
$84,090 |