Bachelor of Arts in History Online
This innovative history degree develops your research abilities through creative instruction and helps you gain a stronger understanding of how our world may change in the future.
Now lower tuition to make your undergraduate journey even more affordable! $320 per credit hour with Path to Success Scholarship*
Program Overview
Utilize your knowledge of the past to shape your professional future with the online bachelor’s degree in history
Learn to analyze and interpret historical events with the Bachelor of Arts in History online. This modern, creative field of study develops your expertise with historical writing and research, persuasive strategies, and storytelling. Benefit from one-on-one relationships with faculty as you learn to identify important historical events and how they shape the future.
Explore the political, social, and economic development of major world societies throughout history and utilize this knowledge to craft forward-thinking solutions to current global challenges. Your training as a historian empowers you to pursue your passion through creative assignments like researching, writing, and producing your own podcast. The B.A. in History online prepares you for a variety of career opportunities or graduate study.
In this online degree in history program, you will:
- Gain a broad understanding of significant events in world and American history
- Analyze historical events and artifacts using a variety of research methods and pedagogies
- Conduct historical research, formulating research questions, gathering and evaluating evidence, and interpreting historical data to draw reasoned conclusions
- Prepare to apply historical knowledge and skills across various professional contexts, demonstrating the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and solve problems creatively
- Gain a broad understanding of significant events in world and American history
- Analyze historical events and artifacts using a variety of research methods and pedagogies
- Conduct historical research, formulating research questions, gathering and evaluating evidence, and interpreting historical data to draw reasoned conclusions
- Prepare to apply historical knowledge and skills across various professional contexts, demonstrating the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and solve problems creatively
Jobs that use a history degree:
- Lawyer
- Educator
- Researcher
- Writer
- Archivist or Museum Professional
- Business Professional
- Lawyer
- Educator
- Researcher
- Writer
- Archivist or Museum Professional
- Business Professional
Also available:
Northern Kentucky University offers value in a broad range of online undergraduate programs.
Tuition
Benefit from our affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition
The B.A. in History online program tuition is affordably priced and can be paid by the course. NKU offers the same rate to in-state and out-of-state students. Financial aid may be available to eligible students. For additional information, visit the Financial Aid section on our FAQ page.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | University Fee Per Credit Hour |
|---|---|---|
| B.A. in History | $485 | $16 |
| With Path to Success Tuition* | $320 | $16 |
*The Path to Success Scholarship is available to first-time NKU OnlineA students only; existing students may not participate. The Scholarship cannot be combined with any other offer and is not available for the RN to BSN online program. Students who step out of the program for more than a year (thus requiring a new application) will no longer receive the offer; instead, they must pay the tuition or scholarship rate available at the time of new enrollment. Excludes some program-specific fees that will be divided and assessed by credit hour based on the number of hours taken. Tuition and fees subject to change at any time.
Tuition Breakdown:
“Top Public College”
Ranked among the “Top Public Colleges” by Forbes, 2022
Calendar
Discover the important dates you need to know
The B.A. in History is delivered in a convenient online format with 7-week courses that start six times a year. View the full calendar to see other upcoming dates. Find the best start for you, then submit your application, registration, documents, and tuition by the corresponding deadlines.
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/13/25 | 1/3/25 | 1/7/25 | 1/10/25 | 1/13/25 |
| Spring 2 | 3/17/25 | 3/5/25 | 3/10/25 | 3/14/25 | 3/17/25 |
| Summer 1 | 5/12/25 | 4/30/25 | 5/5/25 | 5/9/25 | 5/12/25 |
| Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 6/18/25 | 6/23/25 | 6/27/25 | 6/30/25 |
Now enrolling:
Admissions
Learn what you need to apply to the online Bachelor of Arts in History program
The admission process is the first step toward completing your history online degree program. Please reach out to one of our enrollment specialists for help with any questions you may have.
Admission Requirements:
- Official transcripts from each college attended
- 2.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Online application fee waived for active/veteran military
B.A. in History Online Admission Requirements
Applicants for the B.A. in History online program are evaluated on a holistic basis and must meet the following requirements:
Transfer Admission
Transfer applicants are students who have graduated from high school and have previously attempted coursework for credit (other than college credits taken while in high school) at another accredited college or university.
Students with a minimum 2.0 GPA from an accredited institution and 24 or more transferable credit hours must submit the following:
- Complete online application and pay $40 non-refundable application fee
- If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived. Simply submit the online application without payment of the application fee. The fee will be waived when your credentials are verified. No further action is required.
- Official transcripts from each college attended
Students with a minimum 2.0 GPA and fewer than 24 transferable credit hours are evaluated based on the freshman admission standards and must supply the following:
- Complete online application and pay $40 non-refundable application fee
- If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived. Simply submit the online application without payment of the application fee. The fee will be waived when your credentials are verified. No further action is required.
- Official transcripts from each college attended
- Final and official high school transcript or GED scores
- New transfer students who apply to the University with fewer than 24 college credit hours earned and a 2.75 and greater unweighted high school GPA will be offered admissions regardless of ACT/SAT scores. Please note: Nursing and respiratory care programs require ACT/SAT scores.
- New transfer students with a 2.7499 unweighted high school GPA and less will be required to submit ACT or SAT test scores:
- Required ACT scores:
18 (English, math, reading) - Required SAT scores:
Prior to March 2016: 430 (math, writing); 450 (critical reading)
March 2016 to present: 480 (evidence-based reading and writing); 470 (math)
- Required ACT scores:
Freshman Applicants
A freshman applicant is a prospective student who has not attempted coursework at an accredited college or university (other than college credit earned while in high school or during the summer immediately following high school graduation).
Students who are 21 years or older and have never attended college (other than college credits taken while in high school) must supply:
- Complete online application and pay $40 non-refundable application fee
- If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived. Simply submit the online application without payment of the application fee. The fee will be waived when your credentials are verified. No further action is required.
- Official high school transcripts or GED scores
Students who are under 21 years old and have never attended college (other than college credits taken while in high school) must supply:
- You might qualify to apply Direct Admit to NKU, view the direct admit requirements.
- An online application form
- A $40 nonrefundable application fee
- Official high school transcripts or GED scores
- Freshmen applicants must have at least a 2.0 unweighted high school GPA to be considered for admissions.
- Freshman applicants with a 2.75 and greater unweighted high school GPA will be offered admissions regardless of ACT/SAT scores. Please note: Nursing and respiratory care programs require ACT/SAT scores.
- Freshman applicants with a 2.7499 unweighted high school GPA and less will be required to submit ACT or SAT exam scores:
- Required ACT scores:
18 (English, math, reading) - Required SAT scores:
Prior to March 2016: 430 (math, writing); 450 (critical reading)
March 2016 to present: 480 (evidence-based reading and writing); 470 (math)
- Required ACT scores:
NKUWrite (English and reading) and ALEKS (math) scores are encouraged for placement. Some courses may require placement testing depending on transfer credit or ACT scores. Our Testing Services office can help you schedule these tests.
Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:
Northern Kentucky University
Office of Admissions
Lucas Administrative Center
400 Nunn Drive
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.
Direct Admit for Freshmen Applicants
High school seniors with a current, unweighted GPA of 2.75 or higher can be directly admitted to NKU. No application, essays, or fees are required.
How Direct Admit works:
- Are you a high school senior with an unweighted GPA of 2.75 or higher?
- Will you be a new, first-time freshman?
- Are you a resident of the United States?
If you answered "yes" to all of the above, you are eligible to receive a direct admissions offer from NKU. Once you receive the email from NKU offering you direct admissions, click the embedded link to accept Direct Admit. Your personal NKU enrollment specialist will reach out promptly to begin solidifying your spot at NKU.
Direct Admit is a conditional admission offer for qualified students as determined by your current high school GPA.* Submit your unofficial transcripts to verify your current GPA. Final admission to NKU will be determined by official final transcripts submitted upon your high school graduation. You will work with NKU and your high school counselor to submit all unofficial and/or official final transcripts. Learn more about Direct Admit.
Click the button to begin!
*Conditional based on submission of high school transcript.
If you answered "no" to any of the above questions, we still offer a streamlined path to admissions! Please follow the instructions under "Freshman Applicants" above.
Courses
Browse the coursework for the online history degree
For the B.A. in History online, students must complete a total of 120 credit hours. Students are required to take 18 credit hours of history elective courses at the 300-level or above, 18 credit hours of core courses, and 37 credit hours of general education courses. The remaining hours are to be taken as free electives.
Students may take HIS 102 or HIS 103.
In addition to History core courses, students must also take 18 credit hours of HIS Courses/300 level and above.
Students must take 37 credit hours of general education courses, selected from the following categories. Note: Some general education courses may be part of the major/minor/focus requirements. If so, those courses may be used to count for both general education and the major/minor/focus.
- General Education Courses:
- Communication; Written (3 credits)
- Communication; Written II (3 credits)
- Communication; Oral (3 credits)
- Scientific and Quantitative Inquiry
- Mathematics and Statistics (3 credits)
- Scientific and Quantitative Inquiry
- Natural Sciences with lab (4 credits)
- Scientific and Quantitative Inquiry
- Natural Sciences without lab (3 credits)
- Self and Society
- Cultural Pluralism (3 credits)
- Self and Society
- Individual and Society (3 credits)
- Self and Society
- Individual and Society (3 credits)
- Culture and Creativity (3 credits)
- Culture and Creativity (3 credits)
- Global Viewpoints (3 credits)
Students must take 13 credit hours of free electives. Remember, some of these may have to be at the 300/400 level to reach the required 45 total hours of 300+ work for graduation.
Credit for prior learning acknowledges your experiences and can save you time and money on your degree.
You might be closer to graduation than you think!
