Undergraduate Program

Here in the Department of History, we think critically about the present through the lens of the past. 
In our program, you will acquire skills that help you meet goals in your career and beyond. Come join us!

Fall 2026 Course Offerings

• HIST Core and 2000-Level Courses Fall 2026
• HIST Capstone courses Fall 2026
• HIST Upper-Division Courses Fall 2026

We offer big surveys and small seminars. Classes meet on campus but will also take you to museums, archives, and libraries in Houston. Assignments may range from producing a podcast for a public audience to contributing to Houston History to writing a grant proposal. Your Capstone Course research will allow you to delve into a topic that fascinates you, or you can devote a year of research to a Senior Honors Thesis project. Because we focus on critical thinking, reading, and writing, history courses are exceptionally useful today.

What Can You Do with Your History Degree?

A deep curiosity about the past motivates our students. History majors and minors are everywhere, with careers in education, government, law. medicine, journalism, the arts, business, science, libraries and museums. The major and minor in History at the University of Houston focus on portable skills like writing, critical thinking, and research. Students build networks through program partnerships and internships as well as strong faculty mentorship. History undergraduates learn to ask important questions and seek valuable information, both in their careers and their communities.

• Going to law school? Take our Law and Public Policy track to prepare.
• History majors and minors find careers in federal, state, and local government and the public sector. Historians also serve in the United States Armed Forces.
• See yourself at a museum or historical site? Our track in Public History and highly regarded Center for Public History can help you make that happen.
• Large businesses and organizations often employ a corporate historian.
• Interested in energy consulting or sustainability? Our Energy and Environment track will put you in classes with faculty specialized in these areas.
• Our History of Science, Medicine, and Technology track supports applicants to medical school and students interested in technological research.
• Our minor in Latin American Studies is for students in History as well as business, hospitality, social sciences who seek a broader understanding of this region.
• Thinking about graduate school? Become a professor, consultant, librarian, archivist, or a genealogist with a graduate degree in History.
• History majors and minors make great educators. Our graduates provide information that matters to people who need it.

Through our professional tracks in history, those pursuing the BA in History can concentrate on one of the four areas (Energy and Environment; Law and Public Policy; Public History; Science, Medicine, and Technology) within the existing major requirements.

The Difference Faculty Mentorship Makes

Our faculty researchers mentor undergraduate students and guide them as they do research, both within and beyond their classes. History students regularly participate in University-wide initiatives to fund undergraduate research. In our major and research initiatives, students connect with local organizations and projects that focus on Houston history, while drawing out global connections. The Center for Public History and other grant-funded research projects regularly support paid student internships and publication opportunities. Depending on your research interests, our faculty can train you to use many tools in our practice, digging into archives or creating digital modes of historical storytelling. 

"The mentor relationship that I have built with Dr. Debbie Harwell has been one of my most treasured experiences since beginning my journey as a history student here at the University of Houston. As a first-generation college student interested in humanities research, the transition from community college to a university setting was initially very daunting. Working with Dr. Harwell, however, has assuaged all of those fears. Her kindness, support and boundless wealth of knowledge have exposed me to research opportunities and fields of inquiry I had previously not thought possible. I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Harwell for her warmth and support, both of which will continue to inspire me well after I complete my undergraduate career."

A'viyon Robinson, History Major, Class of 2027

"A'viyon transferred to UH and showed an interest in getting involved from the moment she arrived on campus for orientation. She joined the Houston History staff and has taken two classes with me where she has demonstrated her passion for telling history. It is such a pleasure working with her as she sharpens her skills as a historian by conducing oral histories and writing and editing articles for the magazine. Mentoring students like A'viyon on our public history projects is one of the most rewarding and fun things I do."

Dr. Debbie Harwell, UH PhD in History 2018, Instructional Associate Professor and Editor of Houston History Magazine

Get in Touch!

Reach out to our student advisor or our professors to learn why being a history major is meaningful and why history matters. For campus events, movies, guest speakers, lectures, and more, follow us on Instagram and Facebook!