The study of history is a rewarding experience for learners studying for a wide range of majors. It’s a multifaceted deep dive into the human experience, revealing the good, the bad, and the ugly from centuries past.
As George Santayana said in 1905 in his work, The Life of Reason, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”[1] We rely on historians to keep this principle in focus.
The best way to navigate history course requirements in college will vary, depending on whether you’re fulfilling general education (gen ed) requirements or major-specific requirements. There may be a general credit threshold, specific classes required for your degree in order to graduate, or a broad range of history classes needed to complete a history-focused degree. Here’s what you need to know!
What History Credits Do You Need in College?
There are three types of history credits required in college, including Gen Ed or core requirements, distribution requirements, and history major or minor requirements. Each spans a different scope and depth of study, based on educational needs.
Your gen ed history credits usually fall under social sciences, and these are the classes every student must take, irrespective of their major or minor. These represent survey or introductory courses that fulfill broad or common degree requirements and have no prerequisites.
Gen ed history examples include:
- U.S. History I
- U.S. History II
- World History I
- Civics and Government
- U.S. Government
These courses give a foundational understanding and general overview of topically relevant material. These courses rely heavily on lectures covering a wide range of eras, aiming to develop a basic understanding of big-picture concepts, figures, and timelines.
In these gateway courses, learners learn to think like a historian and prioritize data interpretation and analysis over rote memorization.
History Credit Requirements by Degree Program
For history majors, more history-specific credits will be required. Most bachelor’s degree programs in this field require 120 to 130 total credits, with at least 30 credits in history.
These will represent the full range of broad, survey classes, all the way up to upper-division courses with a narrow focus on a specific era or region of history relevant to the student’s degree. Classes for history-focused degrees will include historical methodology, upper-level thematic courses, anthropology, research methods, data analysis, and diplomatic history.
Examples of majors or minors that may need additional history credits include:
- Humanities
- Social Science
- Anthropology
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Political Science
- International Relations
- Museum Studies
- Journalism
- Communications
- Archeology
Career paths these majors typically follow include teachers, historians, archivists, law and advocacy, librarians, journalists, research analysts, and more. How each of these careers would use specialized history courses varies from a history of disciplines and archival preservation to historical interpretation or influencing public administration and policy.
Special history topics or niche history examples might include:
- Civilization of Ancient Greece and Rome
- The First World War
- History of Africa
- Eastern Europe: Ukraine and Russia
- History of the Lands of the Bible
What About Distribution Requirements?
Distribution requirements apply primarily to history-specific degrees that need a more comprehensive understanding of history. This may require learners to take a broad range of courses spanning several eras and regions to ensure they build a comprehensive historical understanding.
An example would be that they may have to take classes like World History II, Eastern Europe: Ukraine and Russia, and Ancient Egypt, rather than only taking classes related to an area of personal interest, like The First World War, The Second World War, and History of European Military Conflict. History classes that meet Distribution Requirements help develop stronger, better-informed history professionals.
How to Choose the Right History Course for You
Try to always align your course selection back to your major, minor, or desired career. Opt for what’s most relevant to your long-term goals and double dip if you can fill multiple requirements at once. Meaning, one course may fulfill overlapping requirements without needing additional credits.
Determine the course load you can realistically work with (reading, writing, classes, assignments, etc.). This is especially critical for working professionals and those going back to school as adults for career changes or development. Review past class syllabi and see what to expect.
Other considerations for choosing the right history course for you:
- Follow personal interests whenever possible
- Do you prefer thematic or chronological learning?
- Identify included skill development that would benefit you later (analysis, debate, primary sourcing, etc.)
- Online vs in-person classes (work at your own pace or get stuck in a rigid schedule)
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7 Ways to Complete History Credits
Anyone can take college classes for credit at a two or four-year institution. This is the traditional path to earning your desired degree. Aside from this traditional path, learners can also try these:
Prior Learning Assessments (PLA)
If you’re returning to school after a break, you may be able to leverage the experience gained through work, training, or other experiences and skip gen ed or other introductory courses to accelerate timelines and cut back on the cost of college classes.
Take AP (or equivalent) In High School
Some colleges will grant credits based on high AP exam scores, allowing learners to skip some classes. This helps reduce costs and gives admissions departments confidence in a student’s demonstrated capabilities.
Take CLEP Exams
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) allows you to cash in on acquired skills and test out of some college credits to bypass unnecessary coursework. The test proves competency across gen ed and other courses, passing your scores on to your school of choice.
Dual Enrollment Programs
Earn transferable college credits while in high school by taking history classes online or through your local community college. This reduces college tuition costs and may open new opportunities for history classes not available in high school.
Summer Courses
Completing coursework over the summer is a condensed path to earn credits quickly with a lighter academic workload. You can catch up or get ahead, in person or online, and get ready for the next term in the fall.
Online Courses
Online programs offer ultimate flexibility, allowing you to learn and complete courses at your own pace, on your own schedule. This option is great for working professionals, those with family obligations, or those living in remote areas.
Online Credit Transfers
Gen ed history courses and others transfer as equivalent credits to meet educational requirements. The content in each class is important, but this path can save time and money by overlapping course material without retaking a similar class at your school of choice.
Some learners supplement community college classes with online credit courses to graduate faster and save on tuition. Consult with an academic advisor or mentor to identify the right alternative path to your degree based on your goals.
3 Tips For Strategic History Requirement Planning
- Complete Gen Ed Courses Early: Introductory surveys and core history classes should be completed as quickly as possible, so you can easily balance your future workload of research-intensive seminars and analytical requirements later.
- Utilize History Electives When Possible: Some learners can use history-focused electives to pursue their thematic, era, or region-based interests while also fulfilling credit requirements. (Examples include classes with an emphasis on legal, environmental, political, or social history themes.) This also makes learning more enjoyable and can improve knowledge retention.
- Transfer Online Credits For An Accelerated, Affordable Option: Supplement community college classes with online credit courses to reduce tuition costs and accelerate graduation or transfer timelines to a four-year institution.
Why Online Credit Transfer May Be The Best Option For Navigating History Requirements
Every person’s path to graduation will look different. However, online credit transfer programs help you eliminate gen ed classes from your future course load. This frees up your academic or professional schedule and saves money on tuition.
Sophia students can save up to 92% on the cost of their gen eds*, and the learning flexibility is unmatched.
*Disclaimer: Assumes successful course transfer. Based on data published in 2025 College Board Trends and Pricing Report. Calculated using base subscription price of $99/month. Savings will differ depending on the number of Sophia courses you take, the time it takes to complete, and the price per course at your institution.
With Sophia, there are no fixed semesters, no scheduled class times, and no assignment deadlines. You start when you’re ready and move at a pace that works for you. Some learners complete an entire course in a week or two, while others spread it out across a few more weeks.
Online courses that are designed for credit transfer give you control over your education and your graduation timeline. Start your free trial with Sophia Learning today and get started right away.
[1] “Those Who Cannot Remember the Past Are Condemned to Repeat It.”–George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905. Smithsonian American Art Museum, https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/those-who-cannot-remember-past-are-condemned-repeat-it-george-santayana-life-reason-1905
