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Assistant professor of history education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an assistant professor of history. Assistant professors of history usually study history, area studies, or political science. 57% of assistant professors of history hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 141 real assistant professor of history resumes to see exactly what assistant professor of history education sections show.

The most common colleges for assistant professors of history are the Michigan State University and the Michigan State University.

There are also many online assistant professor of history courses to help get the education required to be an assistant professor of history.

What education do you need to become an assistant professor of history?

What degree do you need to be an assistant professor of history?

The most common degree for assistant professors of history is bachelor's degree, with 57% of assistant professors of history earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 22% and master's degree degree at 19%.
  • Bachelor's, 57%
  • Master's, 22%
  • Doctorate, 19%
  • Associate, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 0%

What should I major in to become an assistant professor of history?

You should major in history to become an assistant professor of history. 56% of assistant professors of history major in history. Other common majors for an assistant professor of history include area studies and political science.

Most common colleges for assistant professors of history

Assistant professors of history often get their degrees at Michigan State University, University of California, Berkeley, and Northwestern University. Here are the most common colleges for assistant professors of history in the US based on their resumes.
Assistant professor of history common collegePercentages
Michigan State University10.81%
University of California, Berkeley8.11%
Northwestern University8.11%
University of California - Los Angeles5.41%
Howard University5.41%

Best majors for assistant professors of history

RankMajorPercentages
1History55.7%
2Area Studies7.4%
3Political Science5.7%
4Education4.1%
5Fine Arts3.3%

Best colleges for assistant professors of history

The best colleges for assistant professors of history are Harvard University, Brown University, and Rice University.

An assistant professor of history with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for assistant professors of history. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become assistant professors of history.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

3. Rice University

Houston, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$47,350

Enrollment

3,962

4. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

In-state tuition

$55,466

Enrollment

6,752

5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

6. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

8. University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$53,391

Enrollment

8,568

9. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

10. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

20 best online courses for assistant professors of history

Advertising disclosure

1. Ukraine: History, Culture and Identities

coursera

Explore the history, culture and society of the people of Ukraine from the Middle Ages to the present in this introductory course developed by the Ukrainian Institute, educational studio EdEra, and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and offered on Coursera in cooperation with the University of Washington. The culture and identities of Ukrainian people have existed in this region for more than a thousand years. Like most Eastern European countries, Ukraine is a rather young country —...

2. History of Mental Illness

coursera

Our lexicon of mental illness is immense: There currently are hundreds of classified disorders and an extensive assortment of medications and therapies. This course explores the history of this productive science -- its discoveries, classifications, and treatments of psychiatric distress. The excursion begins with a general introduction and proceeds to explore 4 kinds of mental illness: neurasthenia, depression, attention deficits (ADD/ADHD), and narcissism. Each kind is examined in terms of...

3. US / United States History - Prehistory to Reconstruction

udemy
4.4
(568)

Uncover the political and social roots of the U.S. with this comprehensive guide to Early American History...

4. Art History Prehistory to the Renaissance

udemy
4.4
(735)

This is an actual college level course that is taught at several accredited colleges...

5. A Brief History of Human Spaceflight

coursera

This course provides a view of the history of spaceflight, from early writings telling of human's fascination of space through the early Russian and American space stations. Developed as an interesting and entertaining slice of space history that is accessible to anyone with an interest in human spaceflight...

6. American History Through Baseball

coursera

This specialization is intended for those interested in sports marketing, sports administration, the MLB, and American culture & globalization. It is highly beneficial to those interested in American history and fans of baseball. Throughout the four courses, learners will track American history and baseball history side-by-side...

7. Art History Renaissance to 20th Century

udemy
4.6
(2,545)

This is an actual college level course that is taught at several accredited colleges...

8. Lectures on Greek History and Culture

udemy
4.5
(619)

A series of lectures for beginners in Greek history, culture, and philosophy...

9. American Education Reform: History, Policy, Practice

coursera

Discover what shapes how we talk about schools today by exploring the history of U.S. education reform. Engage with the main actors, key decisions, and major turning points in this history. See how social forces drive reform. Learn about how the critical tensions embedded in U.S. education policy and practice apply to schools nationally, globally— and where you live...

10. History of Rock, Part One

coursera

This course, part 1 of a 2-course sequence, examines the history of rock, primarily as it unfolded in the United States, from the days before rock (pre-1955) to the end of the 1960s. This course covers the music of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Phil Spector, Bob Dylan, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and many more artists, with an emphasis both on cultural context and on the music itself. We will also explore how developments in the music business and in technology helped...

11. The Complete History of Music, COMPLETE: Parts 1, 2, and 3

udemy
4.6
(317)

The origins of Western music taught through examples, conversation, and context...

12. The Constitution and American Government

udemy
4.2
(255)

History, Government, and Civics in the United States...

13. Big History - From the Big Bang until Today

coursera

Welcome to this Big History course! In this course, renowned scientists and scholars from the University of Amsterdam and beyond will take you on a journey from the Big Bang until today while addressing key questions in their fields. After completing this journey you will have developed a better understanding of how you and everything around you became the way they are today. You will also have gained an understanding of the underlying mechanisms that have helped shape the history of everything...

14. The Modern World, Part Two: Global History since 1910

coursera

This is a survey of modern history from a global perspective. Part Two begins early in the twentieth century, as older ways of doing things and habits of thought give way. What follows is an era of cataclysmic struggles over what ideas and institutions will take their place. The course concludes in the present day, as communities everywhere are transitioning into a new era of world history. Again we work hard to grasp what is happening and ask: Why? Again we are drawn to pivotal choices made at...

15. The Changing Landscape of Ancient Rome. Archaeology and History of the Palatine Hill

coursera

Studying ancient - as well as medieval or modern - cities basically means telling local urban stories based on the reconstruction of changing landscapes through the centuries. Given the fragmentary nature of archaeological evidence, it is necessary to create new images that would give back the physical aspect of the urban landscape and that would bring it to life again. We are not just content with analyzing the many elements still visible of the ancient city. The connections between objects...

16. Race and Cultural Diversity in American Life and History

coursera

Learners will deepen their understanding and appreciation of ways in which race, ethnicity and cultural diversity have shaped American institutions, ideology, law, and social relationships from the colonial era to the present. Race and ethnicity are ideological and cultural categories that include all groups and individuals. Hence, this course is designed in significant part to take a broad look at the ideology of race and cultural diversity in America’s past and present. The primary focus is...

17. Quantitative Methods

coursera

Discover the principles of solid scientific methods in the behavioral and social sciences. Join us and learn to separate sloppy science from solid research! This course will cover the fundamental principles of science, some history and philosophy of science, research designs, measurement, sampling and ethics. The course is comparable to a university level introductory course on quantitative research methods in the social sciences, but has a strong focus on research integrity. We will use...

18. The Politics of Skepticism

coursera

This is a course about the history of Skepticism from the ancient Greeks to today, with special attention to the political ramifications of questioning man's ability to know the world and himself with any certainty. We will discuss the debates raging between Plato and the Sophists, the rise of Christianity in the Roman world, and the so-called 'Skeptical Crisis' of the Renaissance as well as Pierre Bayle's Skepticism and David Hume's. In addition the Natural Law tradition will be explored and...

19. Understanding Korean Politics

coursera

This course will select six most outstanding issues in contemporary Korean politics and will engage in an in-depth, interactive inquiry of those issue. They include Korean politics in history, institutional setting of Korean politics, and dynamics of political culture in Korea, profiles of political leadership, myth and reality of the developmental state and the Korean economic miracle, and debates on Korean unification. The course will expose students to contending theories and empirical...

20. Religion and Thought in Modern China: the Song, Jin, and Yuan

coursera

This sequence of four courses will propose a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of Chinese cultural history conceived of as a succession of modes of rationality (philosophical, bureaucratic, and economic). The focus will be on the moments of paradigm shift from one mode of rationality to another. For each of these moments, cultural facts and artifacts—thought, literature, ritual—will be examined in relationship to changing social, political, and economic systems. The first two courses...

Top 10 most affordable universities for assistant professors of history

The most affordable schools for assistant professors of history are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for assistant professors of history are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for assistant professors of history.

1. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

6. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

10. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for assistant professors of history

The hardest universities for assistant professors of history to get into are Harvard University, Brown University, and Rice University.

Some great schools for assistant professors of history are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for assistant professors of history based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

2. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Rice University

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

6. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

7. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

8. University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN • Private

Admissions rate

18%

SAT average

1,502

9. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

10. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for assistant professors of history

The easiest schools for assistant professors of history to get into are Kean University, holy names university, and saint joseph's college of maine.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an assistant professor of history without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for assistant professors of history.

1. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

3. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

4. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

994

5. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

6. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

7. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

8. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

9. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

10. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

Average assistant professor of history salary by education level

According to our data, assistant professors of history with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $77,144 annually. Assistant professors of history with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $64,060.
Assistant professor of history education levelAssistant professor of history salary
Master's Degree$64,060
Doctorate Degree$77,144

Assistant professor of history education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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