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History of Policy, Law, and Governance - BA

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History Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts

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Learning Outcomes

Program Type

Bachelor's Degree

Program Description

The B.A. in the History of Policy, Law, and Governance combines comparative historical studies with training in related academic disciplines. As a student in the program, you’ll be trained to critically examine legal and governmental problems of the past with an eye toward understanding the present. Along with completing extensive coursework in history and cognate fields of your choosing, you’ll acquire competence in historical research and writing using primary and secondary sources. You’ll also be encouraged to learn a foreign language and quantitative, digital, and/or qualitative research methods appropriate to your fields of interest. As a culmination of your studies, you’ll complete either a quarter-long research seminar or a two-quarter senior thesis project based on original historical research. In addition to your studies, you’ll be encouraged to complete an internship and/or participate in opportunities available through the UC DC or Sacramento programs or through independently arranged venues.

Graduate and Professional Pathways

  • Government Service

  • Business

  • Private sector

  • Law

  • Education

  • Business

Top Employers

  • Associate: Law Firms in California, New York, and elsewhere

  • Consultant, RDA Consulting (RDA is a mission-driven, employee-owned, majority women-managed social purpose corporation)

  • Graduate Studies in History at Georgetown, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, University of Southern California, and more

  • Law Clerk: District Courts in California and Texas; Los Angeles County Courts

  • Officer, U.S. Army (Infantry, Field Artillery, Engineer, and other branches)

  • Officer, U.S. Marine Corps (Logistics)

Related Disciplines

  • Political Science

  • Economics

  • Environmental Studies

  • Philosophy

Associated Interests

  • Policy and law

  • Philosophy

  • Government

  • Political science

  • Labor


UC Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California 93106
(805) 893-8000


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