Law & Public Service
History is one of the strongest pre-law majors. Graduates pursue law school, government service, foreign service, policy work, and careers in the courts and public administration.
History at Batten University is the study of how the world got to be the way it is — through politics, culture, violence, ideas, and the decisions of ordinary people across centuries. The department covers American, European, and global history, with courses that range from ancient empires to the twentieth century's defining catastrophes.
The B.A. in History builds research, writing, and analytical skills that translate broadly — into law, public service, journalism, graduate study, museum and archival work, and more. Students complete a capstone seminar and choose from a wide range of specialized upper-level courses, including topics in genocide, women's history, piracy and empire, and the history of popular music.
The B.A. in History and Social Science is designed for students planning to teach history or social studies at the secondary level. The program meets all content requirements for Virginia teaching licensure in social studies, integrating history with coursework in government, economics, and geography.
Requirements
HIST 101
Explorations in History
4 hrs
American History
One of: HIST 115 · HIST 215 · HIST 225 · HIST 230
4 hrs
European History
One of: HIST 116 · HIST 216 · HIST 250
4 hrs
World History
One of: HIST 117 · HIST 217
4 hrs
Research and Writing Experience
One of: HIST 385 · HIST 386
4 hrs
Public History Exploration
One of: HIST 302 · HIST 303
4 hrs
HIST 401
History Major Capstone Seminar
4 hrs
300-level HIST Electives
Three additional 300-level courses (must include at least two in U.S. history and one in non-Western history; at least two must carry a "W" General Education designation): HIST 302 · 303 · 315 · 316 · 317 · 325 · 330 · 350 · 351 · 355 · 356 · 357 · 358 · 375 · 376 · 380 · 381 · 385 · 386
12 hrs
Total Hours Required
40
*Three additional 300-level courses must include at least two in U.S. history and one in non-Western history. At least two of the courses should carry a "W" General Education designation.
The History and Social Science major meets all content requirements for Virginia teaching licensure in social studies at the secondary level.
HIST 101
Exploration in History
4 hrs
HIST 210
World History to A.D. 1600
4 hrs
HIST 211
World History: The Modern Era
4 hrs
HIST 212
History of the United States
4 hrs
300-level HIST Electives
Four history courses at the 300 level
16 hrs
GEOG 113
Human Geography
4 hrs
MBE 201
Introductory Macroeconomics
4 hrs
POLS 212
Introduction to American Government
4 hrs
POLS Elective
One political science course at the 300/400 level
4 hrs
Total Hours Required
44
American History
One of: HIST 215 · HIST 225 · HIST 230
4 hrs
European History
One of: HIST 116 · HIST 216 · HIST 250
4 hrs
World History
One of: HIST 117 · HIST 217
4 hrs
300-level HIST Electives
Two additional 300-level HIST courses
8 hrs
Total Hours Required
20
Graduate & Dual Degree Pathways
History students have access to guaranteed and preferred admission pathways to law school and graduate theological programs through Batten University's partnership agreements. Contact your advisor for current eligibility requirements and application deadlines.
Appalachian School of Law
Juris Doctor
Dual Degree 3+3Earn a Bachelor's degree from Batten and a JD from Appalachian School of Law in six years.
Regent University — School of Law
Juris Doctor
Dual Degree 3+3Earn a Bachelor's degree from Batten and a JD from Regent University School of Law in six years.
Boston University
School of Theology
Guaranteed AdmissionGuaranteed admission with scholarship consideration to the MDiv or MTS programs. Requires continuous enrollment, GPA requirement, and religious studies coursework.
Duke University
Duke Divinity School
Early AdmissionStreamlined early admission with scholarship opportunities to the MDiv or Master of Arts in Christian Practice programs.
Emory University
Candler School of Theology
Guaranteed AdmissionGuaranteed admission with scholarship opportunities to the MDiv or Master of Religious Leadership. Requires Religious Studies coursework.
Career Outcomes
Education
The History & Social Science B.A. meets Virginia licensure requirements for secondary social studies teachers. History is also a natural path into higher education and graduate study.
Museums, Archives & Public History
Careers in museum curation, archival research, historic preservation, and public history draw directly on the research and interpretive skills built in the major.
Media, Business & Beyond
Strong writing, research, and critical thinking make history graduates competitive in journalism, communications, publishing, nonprofit management, and business.
Faculty
Steve Mansfield
Archivist
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Kenneth R. Perry Dean of the College Emeritus
History at Batten University is the study of how the world got to be the way it is — through politics, culture, violence, ideas, and the decisions of ordinary people across centuries. The department covers American, European, and global history, with courses that range from ancient empires to the twentieth century's defining catastrophes.
The B.A. in History builds research, writing, and analytical skills that translate broadly — into law, public service, journalism, graduate study, museum and archival work, and more. Students complete a capstone seminar and choose from a wide range of specialized upper-level courses, including topics in genocide, women's history, piracy and empire, and the history of popular music.
The B.A. in History and Social Science is designed for students planning to teach history or social studies at the secondary level. The program meets all content requirements for Virginia teaching licensure in social studies, integrating history with coursework in government, economics, and geography.
Requirements
HIST 101
Explorations in History
4 hrs
American History
One of: HIST 115 · HIST 215 · HIST 225 · HIST 230
4 hrs
European History
One of: HIST 116 · HIST 216 · HIST 250
4 hrs
World History
One of: HIST 117 · HIST 217
4 hrs
Research and Writing Experience
One of: HIST 385 · HIST 386
4 hrs
Public History Exploration
One of: HIST 302 · HIST 303
4 hrs
HIST 401
History Major Capstone Seminar
4 hrs
300-level HIST Electives
Three additional 300-level courses (must include at least two in U.S. history and one in non-Western history; at least two must carry a "W" General Education designation): HIST 302 · 303 · 315 · 316 · 317 · 325 · 330 · 350 · 351 · 355 · 356 · 357 · 358 · 375 · 376 · 380 · 381 · 385 · 386
12 hrs
Total Hours Required
40
*Three additional 300-level courses must include at least two in U.S. history and one in non-Western history. At least two of the courses should carry a "W" General Education designation.
The History and Social Science major meets all content requirements for Virginia teaching licensure in social studies at the secondary level.
HIST 101
Exploration in History
4 hrs
HIST 210
World History to A.D. 1600
4 hrs
HIST 211
World History: The Modern Era
4 hrs
HIST 212
History of the United States
4 hrs
300-level HIST Electives
Four history courses at the 300 level
16 hrs
GEOG 113
Human Geography
4 hrs
MBE 201
Introductory Macroeconomics
4 hrs
POLS 212
Introduction to American Government
4 hrs
POLS Elective
One political science course at the 300/400 level
4 hrs
Total Hours Required
44
American History
One of: HIST 215 · HIST 225 · HIST 230
4 hrs
European History
One of: HIST 116 · HIST 216 · HIST 250
4 hrs
World History
One of: HIST 117 · HIST 217
4 hrs
300-level HIST Electives
Two additional 300-level HIST courses
8 hrs
Total Hours Required
20
Graduate & Dual Degree Pathways
History students have access to guaranteed and preferred admission pathways to law school and graduate theological programs through Batten University's partnership agreements. Contact your advisor for current eligibility requirements and application deadlines.
Appalachian School of Law
Juris Doctor
Dual Degree 3+3Earn a Bachelor's degree from Batten and a JD from Appalachian School of Law in six years.
Regent University — School of Law
Juris Doctor
Dual Degree 3+3Earn a Bachelor's degree from Batten and a JD from Regent University School of Law in six years.
Boston University
School of Theology
Guaranteed AdmissionGuaranteed admission with scholarship consideration to the MDiv or MTS programs. Requires continuous enrollment, GPA requirement, and religious studies coursework.
Duke University
Duke Divinity School
Early AdmissionStreamlined early admission with scholarship opportunities to the MDiv or Master of Arts in Christian Practice programs.
Emory University
Candler School of Theology
Guaranteed AdmissionGuaranteed admission with scholarship opportunities to the MDiv or Master of Religious Leadership. Requires Religious Studies coursework.
Career Outcomes
Law & Public Service
History is one of the strongest pre-law majors. Graduates pursue law school, government service, foreign service, policy work, and careers in the courts and public administration.
Education
The History & Social Science B.A. meets Virginia licensure requirements for secondary social studies teachers. History is also a natural path into higher education and graduate study.
Museums, Archives & Public History
Careers in museum curation, archival research, historic preservation, and public history draw directly on the research and interpretive skills built in the major.
Media, Business & Beyond
Strong writing, research, and critical thinking make history graduates competitive in journalism, communications, publishing, nonprofit management, and business.
Faculty
Steve Mansfield
Archivist
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Kenneth R. Perry Dean of the College Emeritus