History Major in Pennsylvania
Discover the past and shape the future with the History program at a Christian, faith-based institution. Ideal for curious students, this program prepares you for careers in education, law, museums or public service. Embrace a journey through time while integrating faith and learning.
100%
of first-year
students receive financial aid
students receive financial aid
98%
of the class of 2025 were
employed or in a graduate program
within 6 - 9 months after graduation
employed or in a graduate program
within 6 - 9 months after graduation
12:1
student to faculty ratio
Study History at a Christian University
Explore history with a vibrant community of teachers and scholars who are passionate in teaching the past. In the tradition of the Christian liberal arts, the history program provides a wide range of course offerings in American, European, Non-western, and Public History. In our program, you'll find enrichment opportunities such as working with professors on historical research, interning with museums and historical archives, participating in archaeological investigations, studying abroad, teaching in local schools, and developing skillsets through digital and public history projects. Whatever your career path, we'll work with you to creatively connect the past to the present.
As a history major or minor at Messiah University, you’ll be able to:
- Intern with state and federal government offices, archives, public history organizations, museums, institutions of historic preservation and law firms.
- Prepare for a career in teaching by pairing a history major with a social studies certification.
- Study historical archaeology and participate in archaeological explorations in Pennsylvania and the Mediterranean. Messiah is one of the few Christian universities to offer opportunities in archaeological fieldwork!
- Participate in Messiah's cutting-edge public history programming.
- Study abroad and visit cities rich in history like Barcelona, Paris, Rome and Athens. Or, consider studying in our nation’s capital.
- Complete undergraduate research supervised by a faculty member that can also be disseminated through honor's presentations, the Spring Humanities Symposium, conferences and workshops.
- Delve into our library’s substantial history collection, computer-based bibliographic and statistical resources, up-to-date set of major monographs in each historical field and a far-reaching interlibrary loan system.
- Complete a minor in English, politics, economics, languages, journalism, communication or business.
- Pair this major with a B.A. in business administration as a secondary (double) major.
- Take challenging and thought-provoking courses such as the Age of Hamilton, Archaeology of Greece, Women and Gender in American History, Ancient Rome, among others.
- Join Phi Alpha Theta, one of the oldest national honor societies in America, or the History Club.
- Learn to practice historically-informed ways of thinking about the world, looking at the root, causes and contexts.
- Work with students from other disciplines on the Digital Harrisburg Initiative, a series of public history projects devoted to telling the stories of Harrisburg.
Throughout your time in our history program, you’ll prepare for a rewarding career in teaching, government, law, business, museums and archives, historic preservation, public history, journalism and more. And, by learning about history in the Christian liberal arts tradition, you’ll cultivate important skills such as critical thinking, excellent writing and methods of research.
As a graduate of the history program, you will be equipped to secure positions such as:
- Historian
- Archivist
- Archaeologist
- Lawyer
- Secondary school teacher
- Museum curator
- Public history professional
- Public policy analyst
- Librarian
- Information specialist
- Data analyst
- User experience (UX) designer
- Journalist
- Pastor
- Non-profit executive
- Business executive
For more information on career planning for the history program, visit the Messiah University Career and Professional Development Center.
Messiah’s nationally recognized program places students in a variety of history internships. A few examples include:
- Cumberland County Historical Society
- Pennsylvania State Archives (Harrisburg)
- York County History Center
- U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center
- Library of Congress
- Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
- The Hershey Story Museum
- Gettysburg National Military Park
- African-American Historical Museum
- Office of former U.S. senator Rick Santorum
- National Baseball Hall of Fame
- Litigation division of CIA
- Students completing the social studies teaching certification complete the required student teaching experience during their senior year.
Your history degree coursework covers a wide range of historical periods and subjects around the world, ranging from American history, to the history of Europe, ancient Rome, and India. Many students explore these countries firsthand by participating in a cross-cultural course or a semester-long study abroad experience. Some even complete archaeological work in Greece.
Closer to home, you’ll delve into the history of nearby Harrisburg, Pennsylvania through Urban History and Public History courses. You’ll work with local community partners on histories of the region and the Digital Harrisburg project. You may even find yourself creating a digital historical map, an app, or a public history campaign.
The history major also allows room for you to pursue additional studies. Many students complete a second major or a minor, and you’ll also be required to complete an experiential learning experience, which could include a research project, student teaching, an internship or one of the study abroad experiences listed above.
Programs related to History
In the History program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Course options for History:
History (B.A.)
History (B.A.) with Secondary Social Studies Teaching Certification
History Minor
Careers and outcomes
Where our grads work
Graduates of this program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
Where they work
- Perry Ellis
- World Vision
- Carlisle Area High School
- National Canal Museum
- Salford Mennonite Church
- Eastern Kason Corp
- Stewartstown U.M. Church
- Maryland State Archives
- Drew University Book Store
- Royal Nissan
- BIC Church Offices
- Americorp Habitat for Humanity NYC
- Middletown High School
- Fastenal Company
- LCI Kids Club
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Solomon Schecter School of Manhattan
- BAR Financial
- LLC
- Dauphin County Schools
- Dolgeville Central School
- Raystown Developmental Center
- St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Commerce Bank
- Westminster West Middle School
- McDaniel College
- Uganda Studies Program
- Museum Dept. of Cumberland Co. Historical Society
- Messiah University
- Evangel Christian High School
- Americorps VISTA
- CB Richard Ellis
- Milton Hershey School
- East Pennsboro School District
- Private Christian School
- Kaplan Career Institute
- Mount Pleasant Baptist Church
- General Dynamics
- Washington County Free Library
- Urbana Free Library
- Richfield Springs Central School
- Harrisburg School District
- Hummelstown Sun
- CURE International
- York County Historical Society
- Sandy Spring Museum
- Philhaven Hospital
- First Baptist School
- International Cooperating Ministries
- Lezha Academic Center
- Garden Spot Middle School
- Provident State Bank
- Swarthmore College
- National Civil War Museum
- The Grove School
What they do
- Admissions coordinator
- Archival associate
- Assistant curator
- Teacher
- Interpretive staff coordinator
- Lawyer
- Librarian
- Project manager
- Reporter
- Salesperson
- Account executive
- Copywriter
- City planner
- Operations analyst
- Fundraiser
- Program analyst
- Public affairs officer
- Social research analyst
- Archivist
- Biographer
- Demographer
- Pastor
- Historical society administrator
- Exhibit designer
- Historic preservation specialist
- Museum technician
Graduate school
- Duke University
- Harvard University
- Lehigh University
- Penn Sate University
- Princeton Theological Seminary
- Syracuse University
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Temple University
- University of Delaware
- University of Illinois
- University of Hawaii
- Loyola-Chicago
- University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Toronto
- University of Virginia
- Villanova University
- Winterthur Museum Program
- Yale University
- University of Massachusetts
- Taylor University
- University of Leicester
- University of Pennsylvania
- Baylor University
- Lutheran Theological Seminary
- Frostburg State University
- NYU Steinhardt
- George Washington University
- Duquesne University School of Law
- Drexel University
- Bloomsburg University
- Messiah University
- Syracuse University
98% of the Class of 2025 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Our Alumni
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
MEET ALUMNI FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.
Earn your teaching certificate
If you are interested in becoming a history or social studies teacher at the secondary level (grades 7–12), you can also apply to Messiah’sTeacher Education Program. Combining your history degree with the teacher education requirements for the state of Pennsylvania, you’ll earn certification in social studies. History major courses are supported by courses in economics, politics, anthropology, sociology and more to prepare you to be a competent and confident social studies teacher.
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