Michigan 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.
5 colleges · 69 sections · 22 unique courses · Fall 2026
History coursework at Michigan 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 69 sections across 5 MCCA 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.
Earnings & outcomes for History graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 5401 — History. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering History
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid Michigan College | 20 | 6 | 11 | — | — |
| Lansing Community College | 19 | 7 | 9 | 10 | — |
| Muskegon Community College | 18 | 9 | 10 | — | — |
| Southwestern Michigan College | 8 | 5 | 2 | — | — |
| Montcalm Community College | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | — |
History Availability Snapshot
How history sections are being offered across 5 colleges in Michigan this term (69 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person30 (43%)
- online26 (38%)
- zoom8 (12%)
- hybrid5 (7%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)25
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)10
- Evening (5 PM and after)1
- Asynchronous / TBA33
Start dates
Sections begin on 10 distinct dates. 65 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 31 distinct instructors across 5 colleges.
Common History courses
- HIS 101Iss in West Civ I(10 sections)
- HIST 212U.S. History: 1877 to Present(8 sections)
- HIST 201U.S. to 1877(7 sections)
- HIST 102Western Civiliz-1500 to Pres(6 sections)
- HIST 211U.S. History to 1877(6 sections)
- HIS 211Hist of the U.S. I(4 sections)
- HIST 251United States History Since 1865(4 sections)
- HIS 102Iss in West Civ II(3 sections)
- HIST 101Western Civilization to 1500(3 sections)
- HIST 202U.S. From Reconstruction-Pres(3 sections)
- HIST 220Michigan History(3 sections)
- HIST 150World History to 1500 CE(2 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 Michigan 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 Michigan. 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 Michigan’s history programs stack up.
Other programs in Michigan
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.