New York 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 · 51 sections · 50 unique courses · Spring 2026 · Updated today
History coursework at New York 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 51 sections across 6 CUNY 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queensborough Community College | 16 | 16 | 6 | — | — |
| Kingsborough Community College | 12 | 12 | 7 | — | — |
| Borough of Manhattan Community College | 7 | 7 | 6 | 43 | — |
| Bronx Community College | 7 | 7 | 1 | — | — |
| Eugenio María de Hostos Community College | 6 | 6 | 3 | — | — |
| Stella and Charles Guttman Community College | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
History Availability Snapshot
How history sections are being offered across 6 colleges in New York this term (51 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person25 (49%)
- online24 (47%)
- hybrid2 (4%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)23
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)10
- Evening (5 PM and after)1
- Asynchronous / TBA17
Start dates
Sections begin on 3 distinct dates. 49 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 37 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.
Borough of Manhattan Community College1 program
Degree Requirements - Associate of Arts
60 creditsSee catalog for course list
General Education Requirements - Common Core
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Major Requirements - Core
- HIS 275History Research and Writing Methods(3 cr)1 section
- HIS 101Western Civilization: From Ancient to Early Modern Times(3 cr)1 section
- HIS 102Western Civilization: The Emergence of the Modern World(3 cr)1 section
- HIS 115World History I(3 cr)1 section
- HIS 116World History II(3 cr)not offered
- HIS 120Early American History: Colonial Period to Civil War(3 cr)1 section
- HIS 125Modern American History: Civil War to Present(3 cr)1 section
Major Requirements - Electives
9 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Common History courses
- HIST 127US Civil War to Present(2 sections)
- HIS 10History of the Modern World(1 section)
- HIS 101Western Civilization(1 section)
- HIS 102Western Civilization(1 section)
- HIS 11Intro to the Modern World(1 section)
- HIS 1100US HIS I: Pre-Colon-Civll War(1 section)
- HIS 115World History I(1 section)
- HIS 120Early American History(1 section)
- HIS 1200US HIS II: Post Civil War-Pres(1 section)
- HIS 125Modern Amer Hist(1 section)
- HIS 1500Era of the Civil War 1828-1877(1 section)
- HIS 1900His US Civil Rights & Movement(1 section)
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 York 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 York. 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 York’s history programs stack up.
Other programs in New York
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.