Pennsylvania 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.
10 colleges · 224 sections · 60 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
History coursework at Pennsylvania 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 224 sections across 10 PA CCs 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County Community College | 37 | 7 | 18 | — | — |
| Northampton Community College | 35 | 9 | 18 | — | — |
| Community College of Allegheny County | 32 | 10 | 17 | — | — |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | 28 | 10 | 10 | — | — |
| Delaware County Community College | 23 | 7 | 11 | — | — |
| Community College of Philadelphia | 22 | 10 | 13 | — | — |
| Luzerne County Community College | 19 | 8 | 6 | 6 | — |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | 18 | 8 | 12 | — | — |
| Reading Area Community College | 5 | 2 | 3 | — | — |
| Westmoreland County Community College | 5 | 5 | 5 | — | — |
History Availability Snapshot
How history sections are being offered across 10 colleges in Pennsylvania this term (224 sections total).
Delivery format
- online108 (48%)
- in person97 (43%)
- hybrid14 (6%)
- zoom5 (2%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)74
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)42
- Evening (5 PM and after)11
- Asynchronous / TBA97
Start dates
Sections begin on 20 distinct dates. 89 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 74 distinct instructors across 10 colleges.
Common History courses
- HIS 101W Civ Thru 1500(24 sections)
- HIST 113American History I(15 sections)
- HIS 110American Hist I(13 sections)
- HIS 102W. Civ since 1500(12 sections)
- HIST 103US Hist: 20th Cent and Beyond(10 sections)
- HIS 205History of U.S.: From 1877(9 sections)
- HIS 123US to Reconstruction(8 sections)
- HIST 101US Hist: Col. Am. to Rev. Era(8 sections)
- HIST 121World History: Distant Past(8 sections)
- HIS 104Us His Frm Erly 1865(7 sections)
- HIS 203African-Amer Hist 1(7 sections)
- HIS 201African American History(7 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania’s history programs stack up.
Other programs in Pennsylvania
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.