Program Overview
Dive into the greatest story of all time — the story of humanity. Experience the thrilling chapters of the human chronicle come to life as you earn your Bachelor of Arts in History. Discover how people made sense of their world and how their experiences, actions, and beliefs help us to make sense of ours. At UNE, you will chart a course through the past while developing 21st-century skills that prepare you for an exciting future.
Why UNE for History
Whether you’re working side-by-side with your professors as a research assistant or embarking on your own historical investigations, at UNE you’ll be making history in no time.
- Take advantage of UNE’s impressive archival collections
- Enjoy small class sizes and close working relationships
- Travel the globe to places of historical interest
- Polish your skills — and your resume — with intriguing internships
- Join the unique HuMed program to prepare for medical school while pursuing your passion for history
Academics
Examples of Available Courses
There are many ways you can navigate the History major. The following are just some examples of the exciting courses that you can take:
- History of Drugs in the Americas
- War Letters
- Sex and the City
- Drink! A History of Liquid Refreshment
- Holocaust in History and Memory
- Terrorism in Latin America
- Latin American History Through Film
Curriculum
| CAS Core Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| Total | 42–46 |
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
| HIS 150 – Telling Tales of the Past | 3 |
| HIS 290 – History Hands on Topics or HIS 291 – War Letters or HIS 292 – Mourning the Dead or HIS 295 – Medicine and the Media | 3 |
| HIS 222 – U.S. History: Contact-Civil War | 3 |
| HIS 223 – U.S. History: Reconst-Present | 3 |
| HIS 395 – What Really Happened? | 3 |
| Choose One (1) History Track | 21 |
| Total | 36 |
| Open Elective Courses (as needed to reach 120 credits) | Variable |
| Minimum Required Total Credits | 120 |
History Track Options
| History Track | Credits |
|---|---|
| LIL 420 – Arts & Humanities Capstone | 3 |
| Twelve (12) credits of elective courses from List A with at least six (6) credits at 300/400 level | 12 |
| Six (6) credits of elective courses from List A or List B | 6 |
| History Education Track | Credits |
| PSC 101 – Intro to American Politics | 3 |
| PSC 210 – Constitutional Law | 3 |
| LIL 420 – Arts & Humanities Capstone or EDU 498 – Secondary Internship & Seminar | 3 |
| Six (6) credits of 300/400 level elective courses from List A | 6 |
| Six (6) credits of elective courses from List A or List B | 6 |
Elective Course Options
| List A Elective Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| HIS 106 – Women, Health, and History | 3 |
| HIS 199 – Expl: Topics in History | 3 |
| HIS 204 – Growing Up Female | 3 |
| HIS 230 – From Togas to Black Rats | 3 |
| HIS 231 – Reformations, Revolutions | 3 |
| HIS 240 – Latin Amer His I: Colonial Lat | 3 |
| HIS 241 – Latin Amer His II: Modern Latin | 3 |
| HIS 250 – American Women’s History I | 3 |
| HIS 251 – American Women’s History II | 3 |
| HIS 266 – Hist of Drugs in the Americas | 3 |
| HIS 276 – History Human Trad I | 3 |
| HIS 278 – Human Traditions | 3 |
| HIS 280 – History Internship | 3 |
| HIS 290 – History Hands On Topics | 3 |
| HIS 291 – War Letters | 3 |
| HIS 292 – Mourning the Dead | 3 |
| HIS 299 – History Topics | 3 |
| HIS 312 – College Girls | 3 |
| HIS 318 – Histories of London | 3 |
| HIS 337 – Topics in Women’s History | 3 |
| HIS 341 – Bestsellers & the Big Bad City | 3 |
| HIS 343 – Modern Tourism | 3 |
| HIS 344 – Postwar: Europe After WWII | 3 |
| HIS 349 – Hist of Gender/Sexuality in LA | 3 |
| HIS 351 – History of Modern Mexico | 3 |
| HIS 370 – Slaves/Citiz: Afr in New World | 3 |
| HIS 397 – History Independent Study | 1–12 |
| HIS 399 – Topics in History | 3 |
| HIS 400 – Topics in History | 3 |
| HIS 404 – Directed Readings in History | 3 |
| HIS 410 – Advanced Humanities Seminar | 3 |
| HIS 420 – History Internship | 3 |
| HIS 497 – History Independent Study | 1–12 |
| ARH 210 – Art History Survey I | 3 |
| ARH 211 – Art History Survey II | 3 |
| ARH 260 – Renaissance & Baroque Art | 3 |
| ARH 270 – Art in the Modern World | 3 |
| ARH 333 – Moroccan Theatre/Social Ch | 3 |
| List B Elective Courses | Credits |
| CMM 135 – Evolution of Television | 3 |
| CMM 170 – Evolution of Documentary Film | 3 |
| EDU 438 – Teaching Sec Social Studies | 3 |
| EDU 498 – Secondary Internship & Seminar | 12 |
| ENG 216 – Criminals, Idiots & Minors | 3 |
| ENG 220 – History of the English Language | 3 |
| ENG 412 – Humanities Seminar: Slavery | 3 |
| LIL 120 – Intro to Arts & Humanities Sem | 3 |
| MUS 220 – History of Jazz | 3 |
| WGST 276 – Women in the Ancient World | 3 |
| WGST 278 – Women in the Modern Worlds | 3 |
| WRT 317 – Proposal and Grant Writing | 3 |
To learn more about the program see the Academic Catalog.
Changes were made to this program in an addendum to the 2022/23 academic calendar. Please see the 2022–2023 Catalog Addendum (PDF) for the most recent information. As always, it is recommended that students seek the guidance of Academic Advisors for course and program planning. In this way, you will be able to access all the most up-to-date information available.
Secondary Education Certificate
If your goal is to be a middle school or high school social studies teacher, we offer the secondary education courses you need to meet the standards for State of Maine certification (grades 7-12) upon graduation.
Pre-Law Emphasis
If you are considering law school, you should consult with faculty in the History program to design an appropriate course of study. The Pre-Law Emphasis ensures that you develop a foundation in the liberal arts that will prepare you for law school and success in the legal profession.
Honors Program
We offer qualified students the option of graduating with Honors. This includes significant research, scholarship or creative activity under the direction of a faculty member. Interested students should consult with their advisor.
UNE History Students Create War Letter Exhibit
UNE undergraduate history students debuted an exhibit titled, “Write Again Soon: Letters from World War II,” at the Biddeford Campus’ Jack S. Ketchum Library. The exhibit features images and letters from World War II, with interpretive text researched and written by students. The exhibit brings to life stories found within the collection, remembering those who lived through war and honoring their sacrifice.
Careers
The skillset you develop as a History major includes critical thinking, communication skills, the ability to adopt different perspectives, and life skills acquired from internships and faculty/peer relationships. You might be surprised where these skills take you.
Our graduates have pursued many fascinating professions, including
- Businessperson
- Doctor
- Lawyer
- Archivist
- Teacher
- Artist
- Museum Professional
- Published Author
Career Advising
Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.
Facilities
Libraries
Our two libraries — the Ketchum Library on the Biddeford Campus and the Abplanalp Library on the Portland Campus — offer more than 135,000 print volumes, more than 375,000 e-books, and 80,000 full-text journals. As a student researcher, you have the opportunity to display your work in highly-visible exhibit space.
Maine Women Writers Collection
As a History student, you have the opportunity to explore our Maine Women Writers Collection, which is housed in the Abplanalp Library. This one-of-a-kind collection provides a unique perspective into the literary, cultural, and social history of Maine and New England women.
Bush Legacy Collection
Our George and Barbara Bush Center presents another treasure trove of rare historic documents and artifacts. The Bush Legacy Collection houses materials related to the life of George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, focusing on his family’s New England heritage.
The Randall J. Cushing Collection
The Bush Center also houses other collections of historic significance, like The Randall J. Cushing Collection of World War I and World War II Letters, which is a compilation of correspondences sent home from various soldiers to their loved ones between 1914 and 1963.
Experiential Learning
The History major emphasizes hands-on, real-world learning, providing you with experiences that will set you apart in numerous professional fields. You may curate a museum exhibit, conduct an independent study, or learn how to handle old documents and artifacts. At UNE, you don’t just learn history — you do history.
Research
- Become a research assistant
- Engage in your own scholarship
- Develop skills applicable to virtually any field
Find out more about opportunities for undergraduate student research and scholarship, including the LASKA Scholarship, a $2,000 scholarship funded by the New England History Teachers Association.
Internships
- Explore career options
- Network with professionals
- Gain valuable learning/work experience in the field
- Intern near campus during the academic year or in your hometown over the summer
Internship sites include
- Libraries
- Museums
- Politicians’ Offices
- Multinational Corporations
- Historical Societies
- Law Offices
For more information, contact the College of Arts and Sciences Internship Office History contact Cynthia Simon at (207) 602-2540 or csimon@youlyuoq.com.
Beyond the Classroom
Clubs and Organizations
As a History student, you have the opportunity to participate in student organizations geared toward people with a passion similar to your own, including the History Club, and — if you have a 3.1 GPA or higher in history courses and a 3.0 GPA overall — Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honors society.
History Student of the Year
This award is presented each spring to the most outstanding History major or minor, by faculty vote.
The Human Nature Project
The Human Nature Project is a UNE initiative to foster research and education into the interdisciplinary nexus of cognitive science and evolutionary studies. Cognitive science studies the mind and its processes. Evolutionary psychology aims to understand the human mind and behavior in the context of its biological origins. The Human Nature Project provides a platform for sustained dialog between these disciplines.