History Major
Why Study History at Virginia Tech?
We pride ourselves on an innovative curriculum, an emphasis on learning outside the classroom, and close-working relationships between our award-winning history faculty and our students, who leave well prepared for graduate or professional school. Graduates often go into teaching, business, government, and other careers that value analytical thinking and strong research and writing skills.
1:11
Faculty-Student Ratio
23
Average Class Size
100+
Courses to Choose From
Andrea Ledesma, '14
Andrea completed a two-year contract with the Newseum in Washington, D.C., where she worked as a research associate developing website content, assisting with documentaries for upcoming exhibits, and preparing materials. She now works as the Digital Content Coordinator at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois.
Catherine Fravel, '15
Catherine studied abroad in London for three weeks over winter semester her senior year while pursuing her bachelor's in History. She's now attending the University of Maryland to work on a master's degree in Library and Information Science.
Michelle Oh, ‘15
History major and International Studies minor Michelle worked as an intern in the office of Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, where she did research on cybersecurity and health care and interacted with local government officials. Michelle pursued a Master's Degree in Applied Quantitative Research from New York University and has been working at the Legal Services Corporation as a research analyst.
Quinton Cookis, '18
Quinton was a cadet, majored in history, and earned three minors including residential property management, leadership studies, and war and society. He completed three internships with Beacon Communities LLC, a Boston-based property management company. After graduation, he commissioned in the United States Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant.
Courtney Ebersohl, '19
Courtney served as a research intern for the Appomattox Civil War Museum, where she researched and interpreted Freedmen’s Bureau records to create the Enacting Freedom: Black Virginians in the Age of Emancipation exhibit displaying the experiences of African Americans during the Civil War era. She also interned at Historic Smithfield Plantation, Monticello, and Mount Vernon.
Abbey Basa, ’21
Abbey pursued a degree in history while also completing undergraduate research. She credits her courses and projects that developed her argument analysis and research and writing skills in preparation for her future career. Abbey is completing a Master’s in Public Policy and J.D. joint program with the goal of becoming a policy analyst and advisor attorney.
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Rosemarie Klosky, '22
While at Virginia Tech, Rosemarie had the opportunity to complete a capstone research paper focused on the role graffiti played in aiding women protesting in Cairo during the 2011 Arab Spring. She was also given the chance to be a peer mentor for an Introduction to History class where she acted as a resource for students. After graduation, Rosemaire plans on attending George Mason University to earn a Masters in Secondary Education with a History and Social Science Concentration.
Careers and Further Study
What can you do with a major in History?
Jobs Held by Our Graduates
- Museum Curator
- Legislative Staffer
- Intelligence Analyst
- Publishing Coordinator
- Inventory Specialist
- Law Associate
- Secondary Educator
Beyond the Classroom
Experiential Learning
Majoring in history at Virginia Tech means joining an active and welcoming community. Our faculty work side-by-side with you to advise you on pursuing research interests, presenting and publishing your work, and preparing you for a career after graduation. Our award-winning Phi Alpha Theta chapter and the history club hold regular get-togethers, service projects, and events like Stump the Chumps — our annual student-versus-faculty trivia challenge.
We place a strong emphasis on undergraduate research, so there are many opportunities to submit papers to conferences and publish research in peer-reviewed journals like Philologia or our own Undergraduate Historical Review.
History majors can also apply for the Undergraduate Research Scholarship. More details can be found here!
Immersing yourself in a culture is an important aspect of being a history major, so we encourage students to conduct hands-on study. We sponsor study abroad programs and partner with local historical organizations and public history projects, where you can participate in preservation and get valuable experience. Our department also operates the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies, which sponsors outreach opportunities for students.
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Our program offers hands-on work in public and digital history as well as local, regional, and national internships. Work with faculty like Tom Ewing and Amy Nelson on digital history projects.
Curriculum
What You'll Study
Bachelor of Arts in History Degree
- Including Virginia Tech's Pathways
History Major Requirements
- Empires, Colonialism, and Globalization
- Ideas, Traditions, and Cultures
- Science, Technology, Environment, and Medicine
- Conflict, War, and Peace
Minor and Elective Hours
Our program gives you the opportunity to build knowledge in another area by pursuing a minor, double major, or cognate.
120 hrs
B.A. History
45 hrs
General Education
39 hrs
Major Requirements
36-57 hrs
Elective
Campus Life
Campus Life
Discover all that Virginia Tech has to offer inside and outside of the classroom. Our campus life aims to build communities, promote holistic education, and cultivate environments that offer opportunities for leadership, innovation, and service.