Major map:
History
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - View all program options
Learn how to get the most out of your degree and prepare for your future career.
Historians study how societies change over time and how the past has shaped the world today. Our award-winning teachers focus on an array of topics from ancient times to the present, including the history of health and medicine; environmental history; Indigenous, colonial, and postcolonial history; the history of religion, politics, war, and diplomacy; the history of gender and sexuality; even the history of witchcraft, magic, and the occult. Courses typically cover one or more local, regional, national, or continental contexts.
Not a USask student?
Learn more about studying History at USask and apply for admission.
Explore your major
Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue or meet with an academic advisor to understand all program requirements.
The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.
You choose
- Two courses (6 c.u.) from a variety of 100-level History courses
- From a variety of courses to fulfill your degree requirements
Academic tips
- Explore information about your program in the course and program catalogue
- Meet with an academic advisor for help choosing your courses and planning your degree
- Visit the student Learning Hub for help developing your academic skills
- Review the History course handbook and Why Study History
What will I learn?
- Develop the ability to read and think critically, write effectively and originally, express ideas, and advance arguments orally
- Appreciate the variety and diversity of the past
- Find meaning in past events which inform the present
- Acquire a "common store" of culturally important knowledge
- Appreciate history as an evolving discipline which constantly generates new insights
understand how Canada and the world became as they are today
Gain relevant experience
- Enroll in a First Year Research Experience (FYRE) course to have a meaningful research, scholarly, or artistic experience
- Consider enrolling in an experiential learning course
- Familiarize yourself with study abroad programs to make informed decisions in your later years of study
Create local and global connections
- Before you register in your first-year courses, sign up to be a part of a Learning Community
- Join the History Undergraduate Students' Association (HUSA)
- Get to know your faculty and their research interests
- Get involved in your campus community through student groups, campus rec, and USask events
- Visit the USask Community Centre to make connections and build community
Get career ready
- Meet with a career educator at Career Services to explore your career possibilities
- Take a career assessment to learn more about your strengths, personality, interests, and values
- Create your résumé and cover letter to take advantage of part-time and summer job opportunities
- Develop your LinkedIn profile to begin building your professional brand
Featured courses
- HIST 165.3 History Matters Health and Society
- HIST 195.3 History Matters Indigenous Perspectives on Canadian History
- HIST 208.3 The Roman Republic Growth of a Mediterranean State 753 to 27 BCE
- HIST 296.3 Japanese History from 1600 to Yesterday
- HIST 319.3 War in German History from Luther to Clausewitz
Explore your major
Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue or meet with an academic advisor to understand all program requirements.
The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.
You choose
- Two to four courses (6 c.u. - 12 c.u.) from a variety of 300-level History courses
- Two to four courses (6 c.u. - 12 c.u.) from a variety of 400-level History courses
- From a variety of courses to fulfill your degree requirements
Academic tips
- Check DegreeWorks or meet with an academic advisor to ensure your degree is on track
- Apply for scholarships and awards designated for History majors
- Declare your major in the PAWS
- Work with a Writing Centre tutor to continue developing essay composition skills and honing your writing style
- Consider applying to the History Honours program
Add to your major
Choose from a variety of certificates and minors to complement to your major.
- Business
- Classical and Medieval Latin
- Creative Writing
- Global Studies
- Labour Studies
- Medical Languages
- Queer Theory, Gender Diversity, and Sexualities Studies
- Study of Indigenous Storytelling
- wîcêhtowin Theatre program
- Classical, Medieval and Renaissance Studies (minor)
- Women's and Gender Studies (minor)
Gain relevant experience
- Get involved in Department of History’s Co-Lab for Community Engaged Research or the Historical Geographic Information Systems Lab (HGIS Lab)
- Explore undergraduate research opportunities with faculty
- Explore study abroad options or gain support as an international student through the International Student and Study Abroad Centre (ISSAC)
- Become a peer mentor with the College of Arts and Science or Peer Health
- Sign up for a Student Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)
- Get involved in research by applying for a research assistantship
- Consider taking a leadership role with the History Undergraduate Students' Association (HUSA)
Create local and global connections
- Join the History Undergraduate Students' Association (HUSA)
- Engage with your community through volunteering
- Meet with new people and grow your cultural understanding through Building Bridges and Global Connections
Get career ready
- Discover job opportunities, explore career options, and meet professionals at Career Services events and career fairs
- Expand your professional network on LinkedIn
- Explore experiential learning opportunities to gain relevant experience and skills
- Get a better understanding of your career possibilities through career informational interviews
- Conduct occupational research through Job Bank and LinkedIn
USask Student Competencies
USask Student Competencies are the knowledge, skills, and attributes developed and leveraged to achieve success in your learning and work:
- Engaging in our intercultural society
- Nurturing successful relationships
- Leveraging technology
- Adaptive design and problem solving
- Communicating meaningfully
- Cultivating well-being
Explore your major
Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue or meet with an academic advisor to understand all program requirements.
The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.
You choose
- Two to four courses (6 c.u. - 12 c.u.) from a variety of 400-level History courses
- From a variety of courses to fulfill your degree requirements
Academic tips
- Consider further study and learn what a graduate studies program can offer
- Consider applying for the History Honours program
Gain relevant experience
- Get involved in Department of History’s Co-Lab for Community Engaged Research or the Historical Geographic Information Systems Lab (HGIS Lab)
- Consider running for a leadership position with the Arts and Science Student Union (ASSU) or the USask Students' Union (USSU)
- Get involved in research by applying for a research assistantship
- Continue looking for undergraduate research opportunities on faculty projects
Create local and global connections
- Join the USask Alumni and Friends community
- Join the History Undergraduate Students' Association (HUSA)
Get career ready
- Update your résumé, cover letter or CV to apply for jobs
- Attend Careers Day to meet with employers and make connections
- Book a Mock Interview appointment with Career Services to prepare for your interview
- Explore experiential learning opportunities to gain relevant experience and skills
- If you are new to Canada, take time to learn about how to search for a job in Canada
USask Student Competencies
USask Student Competencies are the knowledge, skills, and attributes developed and leveraged to achieve success in your learning and work:
- Engaging in our intercultural society
- Nurturing successful relationships
- Leveraging technology
- Adaptive design and problem solving
- Communicating meaningfully
- Cultivating well-being
Possible destinations
People with a history degree take their knowledge and skills into many different industries and occupations. Note that some of the career paths listed here require further education and training.
Career paths
- Anthropologist
- Appraiser
- Archaeologist
- Archivist
- Bilingual Tour Consultant
- Cataloguer
- Cultural Advisor
- Curatorial Assistant
- Election Officer
- Gallery Assistant
- Government Researcher
- Historian
- Historic Preservationist
- Historical Artifact Conservator
- Information Broker
- Interpretive Guide
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Librarian
- Linguist
- Lobbyist
- Municipal Administrator
- Museum Curator
- Museum Interpreter
- Paralegal
- Production Researcher
- Research Assistant
- Social Scientist
- Technical Writer
- Tour Guide
- University Professor
After trying out several different courses, I found myself most intrigued by history as it gave me the opportunity to be curious and dive into a variety of my interests. My experience presenting in the history honours colloquium, and working as an undergraduate researcher at the Department of History's Co-Lab: Centre for Community-Engaged and Collaborative Historical Research and The HGIS Lab were incredibly valuable components of my academic journey where I developed advanced skills in research, communication, critical analysis and geographic information systems. These experiences have truly shaped me into the person I am today and given me transferable skills that I can apply to many future career paths.
—Aqsa, Bachelor of Arts in History '25
Where do USask English alumni work?
- Contentworks Inc.
- Government of Saskatchewan
- Parks Canada
- Public Services and Pronouncement Canada
- Remai Modern
- Saskatoon Public Library
- The Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation
- Tourism Saskatoon
- University of Manitoba
- University of Saskatchewan
- Western Development Museum
- Wilfrid Laurier University
Explore Canadian salaries for various occupations using the Job Bank Career Planning Tool
"If I had to describe the Department of History in only one word, it would be 'community.' The Department is home to the kindest, most supportive, and most enthusiastic instructors. History courses provide students with the opportunity to learn vital research skills through engaging with important questions about the past, while developing their critical thinking skills for our rapidly changing world. These skills have helped me in seeking work and volunteer opportunities, both on and off campus."
—Owen, fourth-year History (Honours) student
"I believe that learning history is necessary to engage with our present and imagine our futures. Similarly, gender, sexuality, and social justice are such important conversations in our world. Being a queer settler, and young woman who identifies as a feminist, these topics are also deeply personal to me. My programs have taught me how to thoughtfully analyze, explore diverse perspectives, nuance ideas, as well as challenge the status quo. It is my hope that I will be able to utilize my degrees to give back to community, and work on social justice issues impacting our world."
—Emma, Bachelor of Arts in History and Gender, Sexuality, and Social Justice Studies (Double Honours) '26