At the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis, majoring in History means stepping into a discipline that’s as expansive as your curiosity. History has long been one of the most popular majors at top universities and one of the best foundations for careers in business, education, law, public service, and beyond.
As a history student, you’ll explore everything that helps us understand the human experience and how the world came to be: art, literature, statistics, economics, gender, race, warfare, politics, culture, social structures, the environment, technology, and diplomacy.
You’ll study with professors who are nationally and internationally renowned historians whose groundbreaking research is not only reshaping the discipline but influencing public policy, education, and cultural institutions worldwide. These scholars are leading voices in areas like civil rights, environmental history, digital humanities, and global diplomacy—and they’re deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of historians.
Gain a deeper understanding of the breadth and diversity of human experience, which is essential for navigating today’s interconnected world. Learn to research, interpret, and critically analyze complex information while evaluating competing perspectives with confidence. Strengthen your writing and speaking skills and build expertise in collaboration and project management. Explore cutting-edge tools in the digital humanities, from Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping and podcasting to digital storytelling and public history platforms.
Whether you're preparing to attend law school, launch a startup, teach in a classroom, or shape public policy, your history degree from IU equips you with the intellectual tools and professional skills to lead with confidence and purpose.
Your future starts with history
Our graduates go on to do amazing things: working in government agencies, launching startups, leading nonprofits, teaching in classrooms, and reporting for major media outlets. Some pursue advanced degrees in law, public affairs, museum studies, or business.
New and emerging careers for historians include roles in data analysis, digital content strategy, cultural resource management, and historical consulting for media and tech. These paths build on your research, storytelling, and analytical skills in fresh, impactful ways. If you’re ready to explore the world, challenge assumptions, and build a career that makes a difference, history is your launch pad.
Undergraduate
B.A. in History
History helps you understand the world and your place in it. Earning a degree in history means diving into the stories, ideas, and events that shaped how we live today. You’ll explore everything from ancient civilizations to modern movements, learning how politics, culture, science, and beliefs have influenced people across time and around the globe. You’ll also discover that history isn’t just about facts—it’s about asking questions, seeing patterns, and thinking critically about how we understand the past.
With expert professors and a wide range of courses, you’ll study topics like colonial America, Islamic civilization, or global environmental change. Along the way, you’ll build skills in research, writing, and analysis that prepare you for careers in law, business, government, education, and more. Most importantly, you’ll learn to think like a historian—curious, informed, and ready to make sense of a complex world.
Minor in History
A minor in history is a powerful way to deepen your understanding of the world while enhancing the value of your chosen major, whether that be political science, business, environmental science, education, or any other field. History provides essential context and critical thinking skills that enrich your academic experience. By learning to interpret the past, you’ll better understand the forces and decisions that shape today’s challenges, which will help you become a more informed, adaptable, and thoughtful professional.
History courses train you to analyze complex information, evaluate sources, and construct persuasive arguments—skills that are highly transferable across careers. From law and public administration to environmental policy, journalism, and historic preservation, the ability to think like a historian gives you a competitive edge, post-graduation.
Graduate
M.A. in History
The Master of Arts in History at IU School of Liberal Arts offers a flexible path for deepening your expertise with concentrations in U.S. or public history. Whether you're preparing for doctoral study, enhancing your qualifications in education or library science, or pursuing personal enrichment, this program helps you build advanced research and communication skills while mastering historical methods and interpretation.
If you're focused on U.S. history, you'll gain a deep understanding of the nation's development and its impact on contemporary society—preparing you for careers in education, research, public service, and cultural institutions that value historical insight.
If you're interested in public history, you'll find strong preparation for careers in museums, historical societies, preservation organizations, and government agencies—especially with the campus’s proximity to many of these institutions.
For educators, the Master of Arts for Teachers (MAT) in History is a stackable option designed to help you meet Higher Learning Commission standards for teaching dual-credit history courses.
You’ll graduate with the ability to conduct original research, communicate with clarity, and contribute meaningfully to the field of history.
History is the study of the deep connections between our present and our past—between who we are today and who we’ve been as communities, cultures, and nations. With a concentration in U.S. history, you'll explore the complex interplay of political, economic, social, cultural, scientific, and philosophical forces that have shaped human experience, with a strong focus on the American story.
Through coursework, you'll examine the founding of the United States, the development of its democratic institutions, the struggles for civil rights, and the impact of global conflicts. You'll also engage with history as a living discipline—one that evolves through new discoveries and shifting perspectives.
This program helps you build expertise in historical interpretation, research, and communication, while deepening your understanding of the forces that continue to shape American society.
If you're passionate about bringing history to life for public audiences, the concentration in public history offers a dynamic, hands-on path to a meaningful career. This two-year, 30-credit program blends traditional graduate training in history with specialized coursework in public history theory, methods, and practice.
You'll gain real-world experience through internship placements with leading institutions across Indianapolis—a city rich in historical resources and professional opportunities. Long-standing partners include the Indiana Historical Society, State Archives, Medical History Museum, and the National Council on Public History, among many others.
On campus, you'll benefit from connections to the Museum Studies Program, and documentary editing projects focused on figures like Frederick Douglass and George Santayana. You can also enhance your credentials by adding a Museum Studies certificate or pursuing a dual degree in Library and Information Science.
This concentration prepares you to work in museums, historical societies, archives, preservation groups, government agencies, corporations, law firms, and as a historical consultant—wherever history needs to be interpreted, preserved, and shared with the public.
For more information, contact the Public History program director, Rebecca Shrum.
IU Indy offers the IU Online Master of Arts for Teachers (MAT) in History—a flexible degree designed for high school and community college educators aiming to teach dual-credit courses or transition into college-level instruction. The program combines educational theory with historical depth, helping you master effective teaching strategies, explore major historical themes, conduct meaningful research, and develop original, well-supported arguments.
The program helps meet the Higher Learning Commission’s requirements, which include either a master’s degree in history or a master’s in another field plus 18 graduate credit hours in history.
Dual Degree: Master of Library Science and Master of Arts in History
If you're drawn to uncovering stories from the past, preserving cultural heritage, or managing historical collections, this dual degree program is a powerful way to turn that passion into a profession. With growing interest in public history, genealogy, historic preservation, and museum and archive administration, there's a clear need for professionals who can navigate both historical research and the tools of modern information management.
This program combines library science and history into a streamlined path that saves time and credit hours while expanding your expertise in both areas. It equips you with the skills needed to organize, preserve, and interpret the past—ideal for careers in museums, archives, historical societies, and public history projects.
For more information on those requirements, go to Master of Library and Information Science in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering. Expand your skills without putting your life on hold, by earning our Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree online.
Graduate Non-Degree Program
Curious about graduate study but not ready to commit? The Graduate Non-Degree (GND) program at IU Indy offers a flexible, low-pressure way to explore graduate-level history courses. If you have a bachelor’s degree, you can take graduate-level history courses and later apply up to three of those courses toward the M.A. if accepted. Apply at least a week before the semester starts to reserve your spot—processing takes about one week. Learn more at the Graduate Non-Degree Program website.
Graduate Certificate in History
If you're looking to deepen your understanding of history while building skills that translate directly into the classroom or professional settings, the IU Online Graduate Certificate in History offers serious career value. You’ll receive graduate-level instruction across a range of historical subjects while helping you sharpen your ability to interpret, research, and communicate with clarity and purpose.
The Graduate Certificate in History is also designed for teachers and instructors who want to teach dual-credit history courses and need to meet Higher Learning Commission qualification standards. These standards require teachers wanting to teach dual-credit courses in history to hold either a master's degree in history or a master's degree in another discipline (such as education), plus at least 18 credit hours of discipline-specific graduate coursework. For more information, please email teamgrad@iu.edu.
Interested in Classical Studies?
Looking to delve deeper into the rich, complexhistory of the ancient world and its lasting impact on today’s society?Classical Studies is a fascinating related interdisciplinary field that offers undergraduates a rewarding Minor in Classical Studies—whereyou’llexplore influential texts, enduring ideas, and diverse cultures that continue to shape modern thought, institutions, and global identity.
More information
For questions about any of these academic offerings, contact the Department of History chair, Daniella Kostroun.
Explore degrees, minors, and certificates
Undergraduate majors
Every student in the School of Liberal Arts must complete a major to graduate.
IU School of Liberal Arts students are not required to complete a minor, but it can be a way to pursue a secondary interest. Any IU Indy student is invited to earn a minor in the IU School of Liberal Arts.
IU School of Liberal Arts offers graduate programs to help you continue your education, develop specialized experience, and advance in—or even change—your career.
College is more than going to class and taking exams. It’s about discovering who you are, building connections, and having fun along the way. In other words, get involved!
Living and learning in Indianapolis means you’re surrounded by real-world opportunities. You’ll gain more experience, connections, and confidence when it’s time to land that first job.
