Illinois Community Colleges
History Programs
History coursework at community colleges in this state. U.S., world, and topical history sequences for transfer-track liberal-arts students.
14 colleges · 145 sections · 61 unique courses · Fall 2026
History coursework at Illinois community colleges serves two student groups: liberal-arts transfer students completing their gen-ed history requirements, and history majors finishing their first two years before transferring to a four-year history program. The 145 sections across 14 Illinois Community Colleges colleges this term cover US history surveys, world civilizations, and topical electives.
Like other transfer-oriented humanities programs, the value isn't in the associate as a terminal credential — it's in the credit transfer + smaller class sizes + lower tuition for the same content. Students serious about history careers (teaching, archival, academic) continue to bachelor's and often graduate programs; the CC associate is step one of a longer path.
Colleges offering History
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McHenry County College | 25 | 6 | 14 | — | — |
| Oakton College | 21 | 14 | 11 | — | — |
| Triton College | 15 | 6 | 9 | — | — |
| Waubonsee Community College | 14 | 7 | 7 | — | — |
| Danville Area Community College | 13 | 5 | 5 | — | — |
| Parkland College | 13 | 8 | 9 | — | — |
| Shawnee Community College | 8 | 4 | 3 | — | — |
| South Suburban College | 8 | 5 | 3 | — | — |
| Kankakee Community College | 7 | 5 | — | — | — |
| Morton College | 6 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Lincoln Trail College | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Olney Central College | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Wabash Valley College | 3 | 1 | — | — | — |
History Availability Snapshot
How history sections are being offered across 14 colleges in Illinois this term (145 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person73 (50%)
- online61 (42%)
- hybrid11 (8%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)56
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)16
- Evening (5 PM and after)3
- Asynchronous / TBA70
Start dates
Sections begin on 13 distinct dates. 42 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 39 distinct instructors across 14 colleges.
Common History courses
- HIS 170U.S. HISTORY I(9 sections)
- HIS 172U.S. HISTORY II(9 sections)
- HIS 112United States History from 1877(7 sections)
- HIS 111United States History to 1877(6 sections)
- HIS 2101U.S. HISTORY TO 1877(6 sections)
- HIS 0214History of United States to 18(5 sections)
- HIS 141WOMENS HISTORY(5 sections)
- HIS 151History of the U.S. to 1877(5 sections)
- HIS 101Hist of Western Civ I(4 sections)
- HIS 104Modern Western Civilization(4 sections)
- HIS 121Hist of Western Civil to 1700(4 sections)
- HIS 131WESTERN CIV I(4 sections)
Frequently asked questions
- Is a history major worth pursuing if I'm starting at community college?
- It can be, if you have a clear post-bachelor's plan. History majors land in teaching, law, journalism, publishing, museum work, and government — the major teaches research and writing skills employers value, but the credential alone doesn't open doors. The CC associate is a cost-effective way to complete the first two years; the bachelor's, and often a graduate or professional degree, do the actual career-positioning.
- Do US history and world history requirements transfer between schools?
- Yes — these are general-education staples that articulate cleanly across Illinois public colleges. Specialized history electives (regional, topical) may transfer as upper-division-history-elective credit rather than counting toward a specific major requirement; the structured AA-in-history pathway minimizes this risk.
- What jobs are available with a history associate alone?
- Few that specifically use the history content — entry-level office work, retail management, customer service. The skills built (research, writing, analysis) transfer to many entry roles, but the credential signaling is weaker than career-track associates. Most history students continue to a bachelor's; the associate is step one.
- Can I become a history teacher with just an associate degree?
- No. K-12 social studies teaching requires a bachelor's plus a teaching certification in Illinois. Postsecondary history teaching at community colleges and four-year programs requires at least a master's, usually a Ph.D.
Compare History programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Illinois’s history programs stack up.
Other programs in Illinois
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.