New Jersey 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.
6 colleges · 195 sections · 45 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
History coursework at New Jersey 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 195 sections across 6 NJ County 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen Community College | 46 | 18 | 19 | — | — |
| UCNJ Union College | 43 | 12 | 18 | 15 | — |
| Hudson County Community College | 41 | 9 | 15 | — | — |
| Rowan College at Burlington County | 30 | 9 | 18 | — | — |
| Atlantic Cape Community College | 19 | 7 | 7 | — | — |
| Raritan Valley Community College | 16 | 7 | — | — | — |
History Availability Snapshot
How history sections are being offered across 6 colleges in New Jersey this term (195 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person118 (61%)
- online58 (30%)
- zoom19 (10%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)61
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)39
- Evening (5 PM and after)12
- Asynchronous / TBA83
Start dates
Sections begin on 11 distinct dates. 37 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 68 distinct instructors across 6 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Bergen Community College1 program
First Semester
Subtotal: 16 Credits
16 creditsSee catalog for course list
Second Semester
Subtotal: 15 Credits
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Subtotal: 16 Credits
16 creditsSee catalog for course list
Subtotal: 13 Credits
13 creditsSee catalog for course list
Subtotal: 9 Credits
9 creditsSee catalog for course list
History Core Survey *
- ELEC XXXornot offered
Subtotal: 6 Credits
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Subtotal: 9 Credits
9 creditsSee catalog for course list
Subtotal: 6 Credits
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology
Subtotal: 12 Credits
12 creditsSee catalog for course list
Subtotal: 3 Credits
3 creditsSee catalog for course list
Subtotal: 45 Credits
45 creditsSee catalog for course list
Subtotal: 6 Credits
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Common History courses
- HIS 101U.S. History I(30 sections)
- HIS 105Afro-American History I(18 sections)
- HIS 102U.S. History II(15 sections)
- HIS 106World History II(13 sections)
- HIS 103Ancient & Medieval Foundations(9 sections)
- HIS 220World History I(9 sections)
- HIS 201US History to 1865(8 sections)
- HIS 221World History II(8 sections)
- HIST 101WORLD CIVILIZATION I(7 sections)
- HIS 111US Hist to Reconst(5 sections)
- HIS 112US Hist Since Reconst(5 sections)
- HIST 102WORLD CIVILIZATION II(5 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey. 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 New Jersey’s history programs stack up.
Other programs in New Jersey
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.