Learn to think critically and deeply about the historical processes that have shaped the world we live in.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in History in the College of Letters & Science invites students to explore the historical processes that have shaped societies, institutions, and cultures worldwide. By examining the past, students develop critical thinking, analytical, and research skills that help them understand the present and contribute to a more informed and equitable future.
Our internationally renowned faculty bring expertise in diverse subfields, including cultural, political, economic, intellectual, urban, and world history, as well as the histories of science, religion, and sexuality. Whether pursuing a major or minor in History, students join a vibrant community of historians committed to critical inquiry and global understanding.
Highlights
- Get involved with a History student group such as Phi Alpha Theta or Clio’s Scroll.
- Find research funding through the History Undergraduate Research Grant.
- Complete an undergraduate thesis and present at the Senior Symposium.
Curriculum
History at UC Berkeley is a highly flexible major that prizes and prioritizes original research. The major consists of 12 courses—four lower division classes which emphasize breadth through a variety of historical regions and themes; and eight upper division classes focusing on depth in students’ areas of interest. In office hours, lectures, and particularly the seminars, students work closely with our faculty to conceptualize, research, and write an undergraduate thesis: an article-length, primary-source based, original research project.
Learn more at history.berkeley.edu/undergraduate
Study Options
In addition to the major, the Department of History offers:
- Minor program in History
- Courses that fulfill American Cultures and L&S breadth requirements
- Berkeley Connect course (HISTORY 98BC/198BC)
- Freshmen and Sophomore Seminars (HISTORY 24/39/84)
Declaring the Major
First-year students who are accepted to UC Berkeley are admitted to the College of Letters & Science as an undeclared student. You may declare the History major once you complete three lower division courses from three different regions, along with an elective or topic course. Courses must be completed for a letter grade with a 2.0 GPA or better.
If you entered UC Berkeley as a transfer student and selected History as your intended major on your application, you will be automatically declared in the major. If you did not select History as your intended major, fill out the major declaration form after completing a minimum of three lower division history classes.
Students with a degree in History are equipped with critical thinking, analytical writing, and research skills that are highly valued by employers and graduate programs. History graduates pursue careers in government, politics, law, nonprofits, museums, archives, education, business, and media, among other fields. Alumni also enter graduate and professional programs in education, history, law, public policy and administration, and other disciplines.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students studying History. The Social Sciences Career Readiness Internship Program helps prepare students for internships and the job market. The College of Letters & Science offers advising for undergraduates pursuing medical or health professions programs, law school, or masters and PhD programs. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.
Employment
Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include:
- Admissions Specialist
- Archivist
- Communications Manager
- Educator
- Law Clerk
- Librarian
- Marketing Director
- Military Officer
- Multilingual Interpreter
- Operations Research Analyst
- Paralegal
- Patent Agent
- Public Office/Government
- Research Associate
- Software Engineer
- Writer and Editor
Graduate Study
Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:
- Creative Writing
- Education
- History
- International Relations
- Journalism
- Law
- Library Science
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Public Policy
Nicole, class of 2022
Nicole Williams (BA, History) was part of many different communities at UC Berkeley—a re-entry student, NavCal and Nav2Cal femtor, underground scholar, first-generation, low-income, historically underrepresented cultures, EOP, and DSP. As a student, she researched the stigma attached to formerly incarcerated students and the socioeconomic effect it has on their future employment.
Nicole's goal is to give back to the communities that helped get her to UC Berkeley and find connections that will nurture her continued success. As a future educator, she intends to impact the way history is taught to our children.
First Year
Plan Your Studies
- Familiarize yourself with the History major; check out sample program plans and begin lower division requirements.
- Visit L&S Advising for help with major exploration and degree requirements.
- Start exploring with L&S 1 and the L&S New Freshman Student Guide.
- Join Berkeley Connect in History for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar or Berkeley Changemaker course.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Get involved with a student organization such as Phi Alpha Theta or Clio’s Scroll.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Pay a visit to the Bancroft Library, the University’s special collections library.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major.
- Begin making a plan to get career ready.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
Second Year
Plan Your Studies
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Continue exploring with a Sophomore Seminar or Big Ideas course.
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language; see guidelines from the department and options for History abroad.
- Enrich your studies with a minor, certificate, or course thread such as the Historical and Modern City.
- Verify you have completed a minimum of three lower division History courses and declare the major.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend department events such as the History Colloquia.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS and History websites; apply to URAP to work on a faculty research project.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields; look into the Social Sciences Career Readiness Internship Program.
- Considering graduate school? Explore resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, and BCE; look into the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.
Third Year
Plan Your Studies
- Begin taking upper division requirements in the major, including upper division electives, HISTORY 104 (Research Methods), and HISTORY 103 (Proseminar).
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Spend a term off-campus through UCDC or the Intercampus Visitor Program.
- Consider applying to the year-long thesis program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Browse grants from the Center for Race and Gender and Institute for the Study of Societal Issues.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by teaching your own DeCal course.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
- Join a professional association such as the American Historical Association.
- Interested in public service careers? Consider applying to the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, or Truman Scholarship.
Fourth Year
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in a senior thesis course: HISTORY 102 (semester capstone) or HISTORY 101A + 101B (year-long capstone—requires an application the summer before senior year).
- Join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Apply for the History Undergraduate Research Grant.
- Present your capstone project at the Senior Symposium.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your thesis or research paper to the Berkeley Undergraduate History Journal or Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Start connecting with alumni groups such as the UC Berkeley History Alumni Network.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course like HISTORY 7A or 7B.
- Go abroad through Berkeley Study Abroad or UCEAP.
- Get hands-on research experience in the Othering & Belonging Institute Summer Fellowship.
- Look into a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—check out programs in Journalism and Race and the Law.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
First Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Get your bearings with L&S 198 Transitioning to Cal and the L&S New Transfer Student Guide.
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Check out sample program plans; enroll in HISTORY 104 (Research Methods) or HISTORY 103 (Proseminar) in addition to one upper division History elective.
- Join Berkeley Connect in History for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Get involved with a student organization such as Phi Alpha Theta or Clio’s Scroll.
- Find support at the Transfer Student Center or Re-entry Student Program.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Pay a visit to the Bancroft Library, the University’s special collections library.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Apply to the Social Sciences Career Readiness Internship Program.
Second Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Complete lower division requirements (if needed); enroll in HISTORY 104 (Research Methods) or HISTORY 103 (Proseminar).
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language; see guidelines from the department and options for History abroad.
- Enrich your studies with a minor, certificate, or course thread such as the Historical and Modern City.
- Consider applying to the year-long thesis program; look into the Haas Scholars and SURF programs.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend department events such as the History Colloquia.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Explore research opportunities on the OURS and History websites; apply to URAP to work on a faculty research project.
- Browse grants from the Center for Race and Gender and Institute for the Study of Societal Issues.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields.
- Considering graduate school? Explore resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, and BCE.
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
Third Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Continue with upper division major electives; enroll in HISTORY 101A (senior thesis course) if accepted to the year-long thesis program.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Spend a term off-campus through UCDC or the Intercampus Visitor Program.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Help other students as a Transfer Peer Advocate.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by teaching your own DeCal course.
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Apply for the History Undergraduate Research Grant.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Join a professional association such as the American Historical Association.
- Interested in public service careers? Consider applying to the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, or Truman Scholarship.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs.
Fourth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in HISTORY 101B to continue the year-long capstone; or HISTORY 102 for your final semester if doing the semester capstone.
- Join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Finish all upper division requirements and electives.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your thesis or research paper to the Berkeley Undergraduate History Journal or Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Present your capstone project at the Senior Symposium.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Start connecting with alumni groups such as the UC Berkeley History Alumni Network.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Get ready for Berkeley with RHETOR 100 Writing at the University.
- Thinking about a PhD? Apply to the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship before your first semester.
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course like HISTORY 137AC.
- Go abroad through Berkeley Study Abroad or UCEAP.
- Get hands-on research experience in the Othering & Belonging Institute Summer Fellowship.
- Look into a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate—check out programs in Journalism and Race and the Law.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about History or choosing a major?
The Department of History offers undergraduate advising for students interested in a major or minor in History. The Undergraduate Advisor provides guidance on declaring the major, tracking academic progress, navigating administrative concerns, and exploring graduate programs or enrichment opportunities. Faculty advisors are also available for mentorship, assisting with thesis topics and academic pursuits. Advising sessions are offered both in person and virtually, with specific office hours available each semester. For advising contacts and hours, visit history.berkeley.edu or email history-undergradadvisor@berkeley.edu.
The College of Letters & Science helps students with non-major-specific academic topics, including major exploration, general program planning, and finding campus resources. L&S College Advisors are available for in-person and virtual meetings. Visit lsadvising.berkeley.edu or email asklns@berkeley.edu.
Related Programs
Looking for programs similar to History? UC Berkeley also offers the following major, minor, or certificate programs
