Tennessee 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.
12 colleges · 617 sections · 12 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
History coursework at Tennessee 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 617 sections across 12 TBR 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motlow State Community College | 74 | 9 | 31 | — | — |
| Pellissippi State Community College | 68 | 9 | — | — | — |
| Nashville State Community College | 59 | 5 | — | — | — |
| Columbia State Community College | 58 | 6 | 18 | — | — |
| Dyersburg State Community College | 55 | 7 | 25 | — | — |
| Chattanooga State Community College | 54 | 7 | 31 | — | — |
| Jackson State Community College | 49 | 6 | 17 | — | — |
| Northeast State Community College | 49 | 6 | 11 | — | — |
| Walters State Community College | 49 | 6 | — | — | — |
| Volunteer State Community College | 44 | 6 | 14 | — | — |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | 34 | 7 | 3 | — | — |
| Cleveland State Community College | 24 | 6 | 7 | — | — |
History Availability Snapshot
How history sections are being offered across 12 colleges in Tennessee this term (617 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person460 (75%)
- online152 (25%)
- zoom5 (1%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)207
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)105
- Evening (5 PM and after)27
- Asynchronous / TBA278
Start dates
Sections begin on 17 distinct dates. 585 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 100 distinct instructors across 12 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Chattanooga State Community College2 programs
Cleveland State Community College2 programs
Columbia State Community College1 program
First Year - Fall Semester - Credit Hours: 16
First Year - Spring Semester - Credit Hours: 15
Second Year - Fall Semester - Credit Hours: 16
- HIST 2310Early World History9 sections
Source: College catalog
Dyersburg State Community College2 programs
Jackson State Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
60 credits- COL 1030College to Career Navigation(3 cr)45 sections
- ENGL 1020English Composition II(3 cr)16 sections
- HIST 2310Early World History(3 cr)4 sections
- HIST 2320Modern World History(3 cr)2 sections
- ENGL 1010English Composition I(3 cr)66 sections
- HIST 2010Early United States History(3 cr)23 sections
- HIST 2020Modern United States History(3 cr)17 sections
- COMM 2025Fundamentals of Communication(3 cr)32 sections
Source: College catalog
Motlow State Community College1 program
GENERAL EDUCATION (41 credit hours)
41 creditsSee catalog for course list
Communications (9 credit hours)
9 creditsHumanities/Fine Arts (9 credit hours)
9 credits- ELEC XXXThree of the following:not offered
- ART 1035Introduction to Art16 sections
- ART 2000Art History Survey I4 sections
- ART 2020Art History Survey II3 sections
- ENGL 2045Introduction to Literature21 sections
- ENGL 2055African American Literature5 sections
- ENGL 2130Topics in American Literature7 sections
- ENGL 2235Topics in British Literature3 sections
- ENGL 2310Early World Literature2 sections
- ENGL 2320Modern World Literature2 sections
- ENGL 2330Topics in World Literature2 sections
- ENGL 2860Introduction to Film5 sections
- ENGL 2900Creative Writing I4 sections
- MUS 1030Introduction to Music21 sections
- MUS 1035History of Jazz2 sections
- RELS 2020Religions of the World1 section
- THEA 1030Introduction to Theatre17 sections
History (6 credit hours)
6 creditsMathematics (3 credit hours)
3 creditsSocial/Behavioral Sciences (6 credit hours)
6 credits- ELEC XXXTwo of the following:not offered
- AAST 2200African American Studies2 sections
- ANTH 1100Introduction to Anthropology1 section
- COMM 1010Introduction to Mass Communications5 sections
- ECON 2100Principles of Macroeconomics12 sections
- ECON 2200Principles of Microeconomics6 sections
- GEOG 1012Cultural Geography7 sections
- GEOG 2010World Regional Geography2 sections
- HPE 2340Wellness Perspectives and Lifestyles3 sections
- POLS 1010Intro to Political Science2 sections
- POLS 1030American Government10 sections
- POLS 2025State and Local Government1 section
- PSYC 1030Introduction to Psychology31 sections
- RELS 2030Religion and Society1 section
- SOCI 1010Introduction to Sociology21 sections
- SOCI 1040Social Problems5 sections
- SOCI 2010Marriage and Family1 section
Natural Science (8 credit hours)
8 credits- ELEC XXXTwo of the following:not offered
- ASTR 1010Solar System Astronomy4 sections
- BIOL 1010Introduction to Biology9 sections
- BIOL 1110General Biology I19 sections
- BIOL 1120General Biology II3 sections
- BIOL 1510Environmental Science I2 sections
- BIOL 2010Human Anatomy and Physiology I11 sections
- BIOL 2020Human Anatomy and Physiology II9 sections
- CHEM 1010Introduction to Chemistry4 sections
- CHEM 1110General Chemistry I13 sections
- CHEM 1120General Chemistry II2 sections
- GEOL 1030Survey of Geology7 sections
- PHYS 2010Non-Calculus Physics I2 sections
- PHYS 2020Non-Calculus Physics II1 section
- PHYS 2110Calculus-Based Physics I3 sections
- PHYS 2120Calculus-Based Physics II1 section
- PSCI 1030Survey of Physical Science1 section
AREA OF EMPHASIS REQUIREMENTS (19 credit hours)
19 creditsForeign Languages (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSemester One (15 Credit Hours)
15 creditsSemester Two (15 Credit Hours)
15 creditsSemester Three (16 Credit Hours)
16 creditsSemester Four (14 Credit Hours)
14 creditsSemester One (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSemester Two (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSemester Three (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSemester Four (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSemester Five (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSemester Six (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Seven (7 credit hours)
7 creditsSemester Eight (6 credit hours)
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Nine (7 credit hours)
7 creditsSee catalog for course list
Semester Ten (4 credit hours)
4 creditsSource: College catalog
Nashville State Community College2 programs
Northeast State Community College2 programs
Southwest Tennessee Community College2 programs
Volunteer State Community College2 programs
Walters State Community College3 programs
Common History courses
- HIST 2010Early United States History(273 sections)
- HIST 2020Modern United States History(148 sections)
- HIST 2310Early World History(83 sections)
- HIST 2320Modern World History(48 sections)
- HIST 2030Tennessee History(31 sections)
- HIST 2060African American History(12 sections)
- HIST 2210Early Western Civilization - On-campus instruction(7 sections)
- HIST 2220Modern Western Civilization - On-campus instruction - Meet in AL204(6 sections)
- HIST 2050Appalachian History(5 sections)
- HIST 2991Real History/Game of Thrones (online, no textbook)(2 sections)
- HIST 2350The Modern Middle East (online, no textbook)(1 section)
- HIST 2600Germany & Holocaust(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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee. 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 Tennessee’s history programs stack up.
Other programs in Tennessee
NursingBusiness AdministrationComputer ScienceAccountingEarly Childhood EducationCriminal JusticeLiberal ArtsEngineeringBiologyPsychologyWelding TechnologyAutomotive TechnologyMathematicsEnglishArt
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.