Virginia 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.
23 colleges · 644 sections · 23 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
History coursework at Virginia 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 644 sections across 23 VCCS 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia Community College | 172 | 15 | 66 | — | — |
| Tidewater Community College | 120 | 9 | 69 | — | — |
| Germanna Community College | 43 | 9 | 24 | — | — |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | 39 | 8 | 14 | — | — |
| Brightpoint Community College | 34 | 7 | 22 | — | — |
| Reynolds Community College | 32 | 6 | 20 | — | — |
| Blue Ridge Community College | 19 | 7 | 10 | — | — |
| Central Virginia Community College | 19 | 5 | 7 | — | — |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | 19 | 4 | 10 | — | — |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | 19 | 8 | 9 | — | — |
| Virginia Western Community College | 19 | 4 | 10 | — | — |
| Camp Community College | 16 | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| New River Community College | 15 | 4 | 6 | — | — |
| Mountain Empire Community College | 11 | 4 | 9 | — | — |
| Danville Community College | 10 | 5 | 7 | — | — |
| Rappahannock Community College | 10 | 4 | 5 | — | — |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | 10 | 4 | 8 | — | — |
| Patrick & Henry Community College | 9 | 3 | 5 | — | — |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | 8 | 3 | 6 | — | — |
| Southside Virginia Community College | 7 | 4 | 3 | — | — |
| Wytheville Community College | 6 | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Eastern Shore Community College | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — |
History Availability Snapshot
How history sections are being offered across 23 colleges in Virginia this term (644 sections total).
Delivery format
- online306 (48%)
- in person243 (38%)
- hybrid80 (12%)
- zoom15 (2%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)188
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)115
- Evening (5 PM and after)44
- Asynchronous / TBA297
Start dates
Sections begin on 23 distinct dates. 202 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Northern Virginia Community College2 programs
Common History courses
- HIS 121United States History to 1877(219 sections)
- HIS 101Western Civilizations Pre-1600 CE(119 sections)
- HIS 122United States History Since 1865(105 sections)
- HIS 111World Civilizations Pre-1500 CE(73 sections)
- HIS 112World Civilizations Post-1500 CE(56 sections)
- HIS 102Western Civilizations Post-1600 CE(39 sections)
- HIS 141African-American History I(8 sections)
- HIS 281History of Virginia(4 sections)
- HIS 127Women in American History(3 sections)
- HIS 276United States History Since World War II(3 sections)
- HIS 183Survey of Museum Practice(2 sections)
- HIS 231Introduction to Latin American History(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 Virginia 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 Virginia. 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 Virginia’s history programs stack up.
Other programs in Virginia
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.