History
Everything has a history — from how we express emotion to what we eat for breakfast. Earn your Associate of Arts in History at Trinidad State and build a Guaranteed Transfer foundation for a Bachelor’s degree, in small classes with faculty who know your name.
Program Cost
Where You Can Study
This program is offered at the following TSC campus locations.
Everything Has a History
The Program
What Will I Learn?
Every aspect of human life is shaped by political, environmental, social, and cultural factors. As these factors change, people’s lives change. At Trinidad State, you’ll cultivate a passion for and a critical understanding of the past while developing your intellectual, analytical, and rhetorical skills in small class settings. Our courses examine the richness, diversity, and complexity of human history — how historians interpret the past, the debates that drive the field, and the nature and use of historical evidence. This critical study gives you access to a far wider range of human experience than any individual could acquire in a single lifetime, making History essential to a liberal arts education.
“History is life’s teacher.”
— Marcus Tullius Cicero
Why Trinidad State College?
Trinidad State is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The study of history promotes acceptance among peoples by making the world and our lives more intelligible. We believe in the power of education to liberate minds, and we are resolute in our service to students from traditionally marginalized communities. Our small class size and dedicated faculty allow you to investigate your interests more deeply and develop your academic skills under the close supervision of experts. Join us as we explore the rich and complex history of humans through time, around the globe.
“We are not makers of history. We are made by history.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Why Study History?
The perspectives, content, and skills you gain as a History student improve your understanding of the complex global world and strengthen your professional abilities. Employers look for people who can read carefully, write clearly, think logically, learn independently, work across cultural perspectives, and analyze problems in context. History cultivates all of these skills, plus humanistic empathy and the creative skills of expression and interpretation — a strong foundation no matter how many careers you go on to hold. Read the full AHA essay ›
“We emerge with relevant skills and an enhanced capacity for informed citizenship, critical thinking, and simple awareness.”
— Peter Stearns, American Historical Association
History Transfer Major - Associate of Arts
Students should be college ready, as determined by individual institutions. For the most current information on this transfer articulation agreement, please visit: https://highered.colorado.gov/transfer-degrees. See full course descriptions in the catalog. Click any semester to see the full course list.
Semester One
English composition, math, and Western civilization history, rounded out by a communication elective and an arts and humanities elective.
- ENG 1021 – English Composition I: GT-CO1 (3 credits)
- MAT 1240 – Mathematics for Liberal Arts: GT-MA1 (4 credits)
- HIS 1310 – Western Civilization: Antiquity-1650: GT-HI1 (3 credits) (OER — No texbook purchase required)
Choose one: (3 credits)
- COM 1150 – Public Speaking
- COM 1250 – Interpersonal Communication: GT-SS3
Choose one: (3 credits) (AH1, AH2, AH3, AH4 — additional GT courses available)
- ART 1110 – Art Appreciation: GT-AH1
- ART 1111 – Art History Ancient to Medieval GT-AH1
- MUS 1020 – Music Appreciation: GT-AH1
- PHI 1011 – Intro to Philosophy: GT-AH3
- PHI 1012 – Ethics: GT-AH3
- THE 1005 – Theatre Appreciation: GT-AH1
Semester Two
English Composition II and Western civilization continued, paired with a lab-based science, a social science elective, and an arts and humanities elective.
- ENG 1022 – English Composition II: GT-CO1 (3 credits)
- HIS 1320 – Western Civilization: 1650-Present: GT-HI1 (3 credits) (OER — No texbook purchase required)
Choose one: (4* credits — One of the two SC courses must be lab-based GT:SC1) (SC1, SC2)
- AST 1110 – Planetary Astronomy with Lab: GT- SC1
- AST 1120 – Stellar Astronomy with Lab: GT-SC1
- BIO 1005 – Science of Biology with Lab: GT-SC1
- BIO 1004 – Biology A Human Approach: GT-SC1
- BIO 1111 – General College Biology I with Lab: GT-SC1
- BIO 2104 – Microbiology w/lab: GT-SC1
- ENV 1111 – Environmental Science with Lab: GT-SC1
- GEO 1011 – Physical Geography: Landforms with Lab: GT-SC1
Choose one: (3 credits) (SS1, SS2, SS3 — additional GT courses available)
- ANT 1001 – Cultural Anthropology Lab: GT-SS3
- ECO 2002 – Principles of Microeconomics: GT-SS1
- PSY 1002 – General Psychology II : GT-SS3
- SOC 1002 – Introductory to Sociology II: GT-SS3
- SOC 2005 – Sociology Of Family Dynamics: GT-SS3
Choose one: (3 credits) (AH1, AH2, AH3, AH4 — additional GT courses available)
- ART 1112 – Art History Renaissance to 1900: GT-AH1
- MUS 1021 – Music History Medieval thru Classical: GT-AH1
- MUS 1025 – History of Jazz: GT-AH1
- LIT 2002 – World Literature After 1600: GT-AH2
- PHI 1013 – Logic: GT-AH3
- THE 2012 – Development of Theatre Restoration to Modern: GT-AH1
Semester Three
Two history courses spanning ancient and early American civilizations, paired with a science elective and an arts and humanities elective.
- HIS 1110 – The World: Antiquity-1500: GT-HI1 (3 credits) (OER — No texbook purchase required)
- HIS 1210 – U.S. History to Reconstruction: GT-HI1 (3 credits) (OER — No texbook purchase required)
Choose one: (3* credits — One of the two SC courses must be lab-based GT:SC1) (SC1, SC2)
- ENV 1010 – Natural Disasters: GT-SC2
- BIO 1004 – Biology: A Human Approach: GT-SC1
- SCI 1105 – Science in Society: GT-SC2
Choose one: (3* credits — check with transfer institution for correct courses) (AH1, AH2, AH3, AH4 — additional GT courses available)
- ART 1110 – Art Appreciation: GT-AH1
- HUM 1021 – Humanities: Early Civilization: GT-AH2
- HUM 1022 – Humanities: Medieval-Modern: GT-AH2
- HUM 1023 – Humanities: Modern World: GT-AH2
- LIT 1015 – Introduction to Literature I: GT-AH2
Semester Four
Two history courses covering the world and the U.S. from 1500 to the present, a social science elective, and additional arts and humanities electives to complete the degree.
- HIS 1120 – The World: 1500-Present: GT-HI1 (3 credits) (OER — No texbook purchase required)
- HIS 1220 – U.S. History Since the Civil War: GT-HI1 (3 credits) (OER — No texbook purchase required)
Choose one: (3 credits) (SS1, SS2, SS3)
- PSC 1011 – American Govt: GT-SS1
- COM 1250 – Interpersonal Communication: GT-SS3
- ECO 2001 – Principles of Macroeconomics: GT-SS1
- PSY 1001 – General Psychology I: GT-SS3
- SOC 1001 – Introduction to Sociology I : GT-SS3
Choose: (7 total credits* — Check with transfer institution for correct courses; total degree credits must be 60 credits)
- SPA 2011 – Spanish Language III: GT-AH4
- THE 2011 – Development of Theatre Greek-Renaissance: GT-AH1
- THE 2012 – Development of Theatre Restoration to Modern: GT-AH1
After Graduation
Career Possibilities
- Arts Foundation Manager
- Archivist / Curator
- Business
- Editor
- Executive Coach
- Foreign Service Officer
- Librarian
- Historian
- History Professor
- Journalism
- Law
- Legislative Analyst
- Marketing
- Media
- Novelist
- Park Preservationist
- Politics
- Public Relations
- Publishing
- Researcher
Want to find out if this program is for you? Explore potential careers at America’s Career InfoNet, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or the AHA’s Career Diversity for Historians.
By The Time You Graduate
Program Learning Outcomes
- Analyze secondary sources and recognize differences in historical interpretation
- Construct historical narratives by identifying patterns of continuity and change
- Communicate effectively orally and in writing
- Deconstruct complex and multiple sources of information into basic historical concepts
- Evaluate the types of primary sources, their perspective, and the purpose of their authors
- Identify trends, events, peoples, groups, cultures, and institutions covered
- Investigate events in human history in specific contexts to illustrate how social, cultural, gender, race, religion, nationality, and other identities affect historical perspectives
- Select and apply contemporary forms of technology to solve problems or compile information
- Use diverse resources for historical research, including libraries, databases, bibliographies, and archives
Four-Year Transfer Agreements
Where Your AA Can Take You
This program is a Guaranteed Transfer (GT) program (Guaranteed Transfer course list ›). GT programs let you complete your first two years here at Trinidad State and transfer to any public college in Colorado as a junior. Be sure to talk with an advisor when selecting courses to ensure you complete your degree on time.
Adams State University
BA, History, Anthropology, & Political Science: History
Colorado Mesa University
BA, History; History or Secondary Education concentrations
Colorado State University–Fort Collins
BA, History; General History concentration
Colorado State University–Pueblo
BA or BS, History; General emphasis
Fort Lewis College
BA, History; United States Option
Metropolitan State University of Denver
BA, History
University of Colorado–Boulder
BA, History
University of Colorado–Colorado Springs
BA, History
University of Colorado–Denver
BA, History
University of Northern Colorado
BA, History; Liberal Arts emphasis
Western State Colorado University
BA, History
In Their Words
Student Testimonials
“I loved the [HIS 1310] class… The lectures were very engaging, the templates and assignments encouraged learning, and the group setting was an excellent introduction to my college.”
“I enjoyed the [HIS 1310] class. This class definitely challenged me... The instructor always provided great feedback to help me get a better grade on my assignments.”
“[Dr. Boone is] a very wonderful professor, engaging and patient and importantly thorough in explanations.”
“Dr. Paul Boone is a spectacular professor and an asset to this college.”
Where You'll Go
Real job market data for the careers our graduates pursue, powered by Lightcast.
Contact Us
Have questions about this program? Reach out to a faculty or staff member.
- TitleFaculty
- DepartmentHistory
- LocationTrinidad, Colorado • 112 Davis
- Emailpaul.boone@trinidadstate.edu
- TitleDivision Chair
- DepartmentArts and Humanities, Assessment Coordinator, Theatre Manager
- LocationTrinidad, Colorado • 210 Berg
- Emaildesi.maxwell@trinidadstate.edu