Skip to main content
Liberal Arts Advisement & Careers

History Teaching

Engaging in the Major

As you progress through your course work you will have multiple opportunities to increase your content knowledge and begin developing your skills as a future educator. As a student you also have numerous opportunities to engage with your major in other capacities. Such as taking advantage of study abroad, internships, and participating in various student organizations and clubs.

Resources for Engaging
Competencies and Careers
Course Progression
Admission Requirements
Experiential Learning
Funding & Internships
Campus Resources

Competencies and Careers

Competencies Developed in the Program
Students in the History Teaching program can expect to develop strong Communication, Information Literacy, and Cultural Navigation competencies. Want to know more about these professional competencies? Career Readiness

Common Career Fields
History Teaching directly prepares students for a career as a secondary educator. Students may also consider careers in other areas of education including administration, curriculum development, and instructional coaching. History Teaching majors may also find success in careers in the private sector as trainers, instructional designers, educational consultants and more.

Meet with your advisor!
Would you like to know more about the program to see if it’s a good fit for your goals? Would you like to know more about your career options? Do you have a career option in mind but you’d like resources to help you chart a path toward that goal? Come meet with your Academic and Professional Development Manager, Sarah Sauerbier!

Contact the Liberal Arts Advisement Center to set up an appointment!

Recommended Course Progression

Prerequisite Courses:
Students should take WRTG 150 their first semester if they have not already fulfilled the requirement.

Students should works towards completing the following courses during their first few semesters in the program, HIST 200, 201, 202, 220, and/or 221.

- The History Department encourages students to take HIST 200 before their Sophomore year or by their 2nd semester in the program.

Plan to take HIST 276R by your second or third semester in the premajor.

- Make sure to complete the required background check and fingerprinting at least a month before registration.

2nd to Last Semester

HIST 477 and HIST 478 must be taken concurrently. Students should plan to take both courses in the semester prior to students teaching.

Final Semester

During a student’s final semester they will complete either an internship (Fall only) or student teaching (Fall or Winter).

For an internship students will register for HIST 496R. For student teaching, students will register for HIST 476R.

Both classes are 12 credits and students are expected to have all other coursework completed prior to interning/student teaching.

Admission Requirements

Prerequisites
Students plan to complete the following courses prior to applying to the major program.

- HIST 201
- HIST 202
- HIST 220
- HIST 221
- HIST 276R

Fingerprinting and Background Check

Prior to registering for HIST 276R students must complete a background check and fingerprinting through the Utah State Board of Education.

This document provides information on how to complete this process.

The fingerprinting and background check is good for 3 years, and may need to be redone if it lapses before student teaching.

How to apply?

Students will begin working on their admissions application while in HIST 276R.

The application will be available on Educator and can be submitted.

Please review the following document for program admission and retention requirements.

Grade and GPA Requirements

In order to apply and be retained in the program a student must maintain a GPA of at least a 2.7 or higher.

Students are also required to pass all major coursework with at least a “C” grade or higher.

Experiential Learning

Students will have multiple opportunities for experiential learning built into their coursework, but may desire additional opportunities

Experiential Learning Coursework

  • HIST 276R
  • HIST 397 and/or HIST 399
  • CPSE 402
  • HIST 478
  • HIST 476/496R

Study Abroads

Students are not required to complete a study abroad experience, but are always encouraged to explore opportunities for experiential learning.

- To see a list of currently offered study abroad programs visit the BYU Kennedy Center Website.

Internships

Students are not required to complete an internship, outside of student teaching, but are always encouraged to explore opportunities for experiential learning.

Resources to find internships:

Part-time/Student Job Opportunities

Teaching Assistant

  • Often assist professors with teaching and grading responsibilities. TA’s regularly meet with students to provide course help, hold reviews and labs, and assist in grading.
  • TA’s are required to have taken the course they are assisting with previously, but do not need to have taken it for the same professor they TA for.
  • The best way to find out about TA opportunities is to talk to professors and departments.

Substitute Teaching

  • Can be a great way to develop skills in classroom management, as well as begin to identify potential employers and opportunities.
  • For more information about becoming a substitute in one of our partnership districts please view the following flyer.

Funding & Internships

Where to find scholarships for tuition.
University Scholarships

College Scholarship:

FHSS

Department Scholarships:

Where to find scholarships for experiences (study abroad/internships)

University financial aid options

There are many resources to help you fund your tuition and experiences at BYU. The Financial Aid Office can help!

Campus Resources

  • History Department: For source questions, faculty contacts, and more, contact the History Department
  • Handshake Internship and Job Board: To search internships and jobs that match your interests and skills, use Handshake.
  • Kennedy Center: For International Study programs and funding, contact the BYU Kennedy Center.
  • Career Director: To get help connecting to employers and alumni, meet with Michael Elrod.
  • Course descriptions and offerings: To check out which classes will be offered in the upcoming semester, use the BYU Class Search.

Getting Involved

The following clubs and organizations are a great way to connect with people of similar interests and learn about different opportunities on campus.
data-content-type="external"

Y Teach History Club

overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="external"

Phi Alpha Theta

overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=

FAQ's

  • Due to the prerequisite course work it usually takes students 2 - 3 semesters to apply and be admitted to the program after declaring the premajor.

  • It depends. This major is 70 credits, which means that when combined with GE, and religion requirements, most students are above the 120 credits needed to graduate with a bachelors.

    How long it will take ultimately depends on previous coursework completed, the number of credits you take a semester, and potential plans for study abroad, internship experiences, or minors.

    While it is possible to complete this major in the traditional 4 years, most students take additional spring/summer terms, and/or an additional semester or two.

    If you are curious about your potential timeline, schedule an appointment with your academic advisor Sarah Sauerbier to work on a graduation plan.

  • YES!
    American Heritage
    - HIST 220 will partially count for the Requirement.
    - To complete the requirement students can choose to take either POLI 110, ECON 110, or AHTG 100

    Global and Cultural Awareness
    - SC ED 353

    Advanced Written and Oral Communication
    - HIST 200 and HIST 490

    Civilization 1
    - HIST 201

    Civilization 2

    - HIST 202

  • Unfortunately no, most AP US History and Concurrent Enrollment US History classes are accepted as GE 220, and count towards the American Heritage requirement.

    For the History Teaching Major HIST 220 and HIST 221 must be taken as separate classes in a college or university setting. Equivalent courses taken at another college or university can be transferred for credit.

  • If it is an AIP hold, please meet with your academic and professional development manager, Sarah Sauerbier, to get that hold removed. Contact the Liberal Arts Advisement Center to set up an appointment with her.

Links

Exploring the Major
Engaging in the Major
Looking Forward
FAQs