BA Degree Program Overview

Graduating with a bachelor of arts (BA) degree in History from Cal State East Bay gives you the skills and knowledge to move into a wide choice of careers in the fields of education, law, business, public service, historic preservation, library science, publishing, digital media, and communication. Our recent Cal State East Bay History graduates have successfully moved into all of these fields, sometimes with the BA alone, and in other cases with advanced, specialized degrees.

The History BA degree is a flexible, foundational liberal arts degree. Our graduates possess exceptional skills in analysis, research, interpretation, and written and oral communication. Cal State East Bay History majors are also culturally sensitive, careful thinkers, who work successfully in collaboration with others and with a powerful sense of ethics, derived from historical study.

Our graduates teach in schools across the greater Bay Area, and at all levels of education, including K-12, community colleges, and colleges and universities. History graduates also work in notable Bay Area companies and start-ups, including Tesla, as data specialists, and in digital technology and media. Cal State East Bay history graduates frequently pursue careers in law, government, and business--fields in which critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and judgment are imperatives.

An up-to-date, detailed guide, Careers for History Majors, by the American Historical Association, offers insight into diverse career fields our graduates can pursue. The guide also shares recent salary data and connects the academic study of History to skills and dispositions sought by employers. It is very helpful to read while preparing a resume, cover letter, or professional profile for a job search after graduation.

The History major concentrations at Cal State East Bay are thematic, so that students can study the historical roots of urgent questions today, comparatively. Students select one of these themes at the time that they apply to Cal State East Bay. It is easy to switch your concentration, if you find yourself gravitating to courses in another area.

Starting in fall 2023 each of the History Major Concentrations will also be available as online degree completion programs for transfer students.

We explain each of our three concentrations here:

Our BA degree at Cal State East Bay also invites History majors to take innovative courses in applied history, so that students can practice career-based skills in collaboration with others. Our applied courses delve into digital tools and communication, teaching, and public history and publishing. History labs, another unique feature of our program, allow students to consider more specific careers. Often taught be senior career professionals, these labs address careers in law, land conservation and stewardship, film, and digital media, among others.

The History faculty at Cal State East Bay are dedicated advisors. We assist you in selecting classes each semester, developing and refining your professional goals, and making sure you make it to the finish line, graduation.

Additionally, the History Department annually awards approximately $20,000 in scholarships and recognition for excellence and effort in our programs. More information about our scholarships and awards can be found here. These awards can assist students in offsetting the cost of the college degree. We are very fortunate in having a committed group of donors known as the Friends of History who are eager to support Cal State East Bay History majors.

Please find additional information about our BA degree program through links to our complete program descriptions, graduation roadmaps, and class schedules.