Undergraduate History | Faculty of Arts

Program overview

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Our undergraduate programs will provide you with solid and transferable skills while enabling you to pursue your passion for history. Our very flexible course offering is structured around two complementary components: understanding the history of past societies and practising the historian’s craft. Starting in the first year, you will practise history by using historical documents of all kinds: texts from past centuries, monuments, paintings, films, unusual or symbolic objects and digital documentation.

You will develop critical and analytical skills as well as competencies in research and writing sought after by employers.

Why choose this program

Comprehensive Training in History: Gain a deep understanding of past societies from the Middle Ages to the present, coupled with practical skills in historical analysis and research, equipping you for a variety of career paths.

Flexible Curriculum: Tailor your studies to your interests with a wide range of courses and the opportunity to combine history with complementary disciplines like medieval and renaissance studies, African history, environmental studies, anthropology, or public administration.

Skills Development: Develop critical thinking, analytical, research and writing skills that employers value highly, preparing you for success in a variety of professional settings.

Diverse Career Pathways: Explore career opportunities as a historian, history teacher, public servant, museum curator, policy analyst or heritage interpreter, with potential co-op placements in prominent organizations such as Canadian Heritage and Parks Canada.

Program structure

Get a glimpse into how uOttawa’s History program is structured and the courses you’ll have the opportunity to take.

Understand program path and options

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Browse program options

4 years120 units

Honours BA in History

The Honours BA in History will lead you to understand and practice history from the Middle Ages to the present while developing superior competencies in research, methodology, writing, critical analysis, cogent interpretation of information, and effective communication.

Program structure

Course sequence

4 years120 units

Joint Honours BA in History and Political Science

As a Joint Honours BA in History and Political Science student, you will combine the breadth and depth of our historical training with the conceptual framework of Political Science. In this program, you will be provided with access to a sophisticated skillset that many employers seek.

Program structure

Course sequence

42 units

Major in History

In the Major in History program,you will have the opportunity to understand and practice history for various times and places developing basic competencies in research, methodology, writing, critical analysis, cogent interpretation of information, and effective communication.

Program Structure

Course Sequence

30 units

Minor in History

The Minor in History will initiate you to the discipline of history and provide the historical perspective and analytical skills necessary to enrich your training in other fields.

Program Structure

Course Sequence

Admission requirements and deadlines for History

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After your studies

After completing an undergraduate degree in History, you can choose between continuing your studies or entering the workforce.

Many students decide to pursue graduate studies, such as a Master’s degree in History, to deepen their knowledge and develop advanced research, writing, and analytical skills. The MA program offers flexible options tailored to your interests and career goals, including a thesis-based stream for those interested in in-depth research or a research paper option. Both paths can also be combined with a co‑op option, allowing you to gain practical work experience during your studies. Specialized programs, such as Medieval and Renaissance Studies or Women’s Studies, are also available for students looking to focus their expertise. For those interested in pursuing academia or high-level research, a PhD in History offers further specialization and prepares students for careers in research, teaching, or advanced professional roles.

Alternatively, you can move directly into the job market. Your degree can lead to a variety of careers in fields such as Historian in various professional contexts, History Teacher, Public Servant (Researcher, Political Adviser, Program Officer), Museum Curator, National and International Policy Analyst, Heritage Interpreter. These opportunities allow you to apply your skills in synthesizing complex information, critical analysis, and evidence-based storytelling in real-world settings.

Whether you choose further studies or enter the workforce, your degree provides a strong foundation to build a career in History.

Potential Career Paths

Career development and experiential learning

Apply concepts you learn in class through paid work terms. You’ll get not just a degree showing that you participated in a co-op program but also approximately 16 months of experience in your field of study and a network of valuable contacts.

Learn more about co-op requirements for the program of History

Tuition and fees

Learn about the costs associated with your program and explore the scholarships and funding options available to help support you along the way.

Tuition fees

Scholarships and bursaries

Student experience

SAFA

SAFA represents the interests of undergraduate students of the Faculty of Arts within the UOSU, the Faculty, the University, the community, and the provincial and federal governments. The students’ association also works to foster a sense of community through social, academic, and cultural events, while at the same time offering a variety of services to its members.

Strata

Organized by, and for, graduate students, Strata is the arena where the next generation of historians engages in dialogue, debate, and refines their research. By submitting to the rigorous peer-review process, you develop the skills essential for an academic career. Whether as an author or as member of the editorial board, Strata is a space to test your ideas, contribute to the conversations driving your field, and build your reputation as a scholar.

Colloque Pierre Savard Conference

The Pierre Savard Conference is organized annually by the History Graduate Students Association. It offers graduate students the opportunity to share their research with peers while gaining experience in academic communication. The Pierre Savard Conference is open to all historical topics, regardless of discipline.