Colleges and universities that have large, sprawling campuses and a high student count are not for everyone. According to U.S. News & World Report, one of the more popular reasons for wanting to attend a small college—in addition to the small class size—is that the teaching is done by professors who tend to be more dedicated to their profession and with whom you will be able to collaborate more.
If you are interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree in history but would prefer the intimacy of a small college, there are many affordable options. Take a look at some of the small colleges that provide outstanding history education for an affordable price.
Berea College
$0
Berea University is a nationally recognized institution that has been ranked first place by Washington Monthly, for the second time, as the country’s premier liberal art college and as the Best Bang for the Buck Colleges in the South. It is also the only top college to provide enrolled students with a no-tuition promise. This means that you will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in History with no debt.
The undergraduate history degree coursework includes classes that explore American, African-American, Asian and Middle East histories. There are also classes that focus on historical topics related to the pre-1700s. In order to graduate, you will be required to successfully complete a senior capstone course titled “Senior Seminar in Global History.” All of the classes have a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, allowing you to receive personalized instruction from the faculty.
As a history major, you will have access to many learning opportunities, such as:
- Gaining practical experience in the Special Collections and Archives department of the university library, preserving, arranging and describing archives and manuscript materials related to Southern Appalachia and Berea College
- Working with images and artifacts and participating in paid internships at the Artifacts and Exhibits Studio in the Appalachian Center
- Becoming members of the History and Political Science Club, which holds intellectual and social gatherings and arranges trips and speaking events with distinguished speakers
Midwestern State University
$7,424
The history department at Midwestern State University features a curriculum that offers classes and programs in Latin American, European and United States histories. The upper-level history classes are small enough that the faculty will be able to work with you on a one-on-one basis.
Bachelor degree requirements include the completion of 30 semester hours of history courses. A small sample of the classes include:
- Ancient Greece and Rome
- Early Russia and Tsardom
- The Modern Russian State and Empire
- Latin American History, Colonial Period
- Latin American History, Republican Period-Nineteenth Century
- Australia and the World
- History of Mexico
There are several organizations you can participate in to supplement the history coursework you take, and they include the Agricultural Historical Society and the American Historical Association. You can also apply for both fellowship programs and scholarships to help offset the already low tuition costs.
University of Minnesota-Morris
$12,016
The University of Minnesota in Morris is a well-regarded research and liberal arts institution that requires history majors to study a wide range of time periods and cultures. The curriculum for an undergraduate degree in history includes the examination of:
- Latin American history
- Native American history
- Gender studies
- Asian history
To obtain a Bachelor of Arts in History, one of the requirements is to successfully complete 40 history credits. You will enjoy small classes similar to what you would find at a private school. In fact, upper-division history classes are restricted to just 15 to 25 students. Ninety-nine percent of the faculty have obtained the highest degree in their field.
History majors work closely with the faculty on independent studies and undergraduate research projects. You will have access to the West Central Historical Research Center, which holds one-of-a-kind historical documents and artifacts pertaining to western Minnesota and the nearby regions. You will be able to teach overseas and participate in international internship programs in countries like Japan, the Czech Republic, Spain, Norway, Ireland, and Scotland.
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