Academic Catalog

History, Associate in Arts

Program Description

The Associate of Liberal Arts (AA) with an option in History offers students the first two years of foundational courses that allow students to transfer into a baccalaureate program in History, which will prepare them for careers in education, research writing, historical analysis, law, and publishing.   

Transfer Information

Students pursing the Liberal Arts degree - History Option can transfer into majors such as History, Art History, or History-Education. Many four-year colleges require coursework in western or world civilization and United States history as well as foreign language, political science, geography, anthropology, and/or sociology courses. Students are encouraged to work closely with OCC faculty and Advising Transfer Services. Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution in NJ can explore the “Transfer Programs” feature on NJ Transfer www.njtransfer.org.

Career Information

The Associate of Arts degree is designed to provide students with the coursework needed to transfer to a four-year institution and pursue a bachelor’s degree in history. The curriculum provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a pathway to history with education, writing/editing/journalism, parks and recreation, pre-law, historian, museum curator, and politician. OCC students can also utilize Focus2 Career, a resource provided by OCC, to explore degree programs and corresponding careersTo get started, log in through Ocean Connect.

Students are encouraged to keep track of degree requirements by using the “My Progress” screen on Student Planning. Student Planning can be accessed via logging into Ocean Connect.

Program Requirements 

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterCredit Hours
Communications  
ENGL 151 English I 3
ENGL 152 English II 3
COMM 154 Fundamentals of Public Speaking 3
History  
HIST 171 Western Civilization to 1650 3
HIST 172 Western Civilization from 1650 3
Humanities  
Humanities Gen. Ed. Requirement 1 3
Humanities Gen. Ed. Requirement 1 3
Humanities Gen. Ed. Requirement 1 3
Social Science  
Social Science Gen. Ed. Requirement 1 3
Social Science Gen. Ed. Requirement 1 3
Diversity  
Diversity Gen. Ed. Requirement 1 3
Mathematics-Science- Technology  
Mathematics or Lab Science Gen. Ed. Requirement 1 & 2 12
Program Requirements  
Any STSC - Student Success Seminar course 3 2
HIST 173 United States History to 1877 3
HIST 174 United States History from 1877 3
History Program Electives 1 6
Elective 1
 Credit Hours60
 Total Credit Hours60

History Program Electives

HIST 175History of New Jersey3
HIST 176United States Military History: Colonial to 19753
HIST 179America in the 1960s3
HIST 181World Civilization to 16603
HIST 182World Civilization From 16603
HIST 185Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization3
HIST 191African-American History3
HIST 230America and the West After World War II3
HIST 271History of England3
HIST 272History of Russia3
HIST 275History and Culture of China3
HIST 278History of the Arab World Since World War I3
HIST 280Modern Latin American History3
1

Course selections should be based on the requirements of the intended transfer to a four-year institution. Students should speak to their advisor for clarification.  

2

Students must select one math course, one lab science course, and one technology course and complete the 12 cr. requirement with any additional math or science course from the list of Approved General Education Courses. Students may attempt to “test out” of the technology requirement.  If they succeed, they must take an additional course(s) in math or science from the List of Approved General Education Courses.

3

A variety of STSC -Student Success Seminar courses are available. Please speak to your academic advisor for assistance when selecting.