History
Department of History
Administration
Chair: Brian Q Cannon
Department Information:
2130 JFSB
801-422-4335
hist_sec@byu.edu
Advisement Center:
1041 JFSB
801-422-3541
liberalarts@byu.edu
Admission to Degree Program
All degree programs in the Department of History are open enrollment. However, special limitations apply for teaching majors.
The Discipline
History stands at the heart of a liberal arts bridge between the humanities and social sciences. Historical understanding is thus basic to the life of an educated human being. As such, it is the ideal major for the student who wants the broad educational background for entrance into professions such as law, government service, or business, or who wants a liberal arts education. History can also be valuable training for someone who plans to teach.
Career Opportunities
In recognition of the broad range of uses to which historical education can be put, the field of public history has emerged in recent years. Today people whom others would consider bankers, lawyers, corporate executives, or public servants view themselves as historians—public historians. They are the people with analytical skills provided by their historical education who work outside the university but who consider themselves historians by virtue of the value of the training they have received. A significant percentage of the jobs listed by firms and agencies with BYU's Employment Office specify no major. Many of these will be taken by public historians anxious to serve their employers with the valuable skills learned in their history major.
Graduation Requirements
To receive a BYU bachelor's degree a student must complete, in addition to all requirements for a specific major, the following university requirements:
The University Core, consisting of requirements in general and religious education.
At least 30 credit hours must be earned in residence on the BYU campus in Provo as an admitted day student
A minimum of 120 credit hours
A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
Be in good standing with the Honor Code Office
Students should see their college advisement center for help or information concerning the undergraduate programs.
