Free Online U.S. History Courses from Top Universities

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If you want to take a college-level course in American history, consider saving yourself the tuition money and trying one of these non-credit courses instead. Course topics include the history of a specific state and important time periods in U.S. history.
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Free U.S. History Courses

Here are some online U.S. History courses offered free by three top universities: Utah State University (USU), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Utah.

Utah State University (USU)

USU has two U.S. History courses worth taking a look at: History of Utah and U.S. Institutions. History of Utah is a reading and writing intensive course that focuses on events of historical importance within the state. U.S. Institutions explores the origins and evolution of the Constitution.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT's Open Courseware provides several course topics in American history. The Places of Migration in United States History focuses on immigration to the U.S. since the mid-19th century. The Civil War and Reconstruction inspects the causes and effects of the Civil War between 1861 and 1865.

University of Utah

The University of Utah has allowed Studyblue to post terms and tests from their American Civilization 1700 course. This course scans American civilization from the colonial period to the present.

Free Online U.S. History Courses at a Glance

Course & SchoolProgram LevelFormatAssignmentsQuizzes & ExamsDownloadable
History of Utah course from USUUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesNoNo
U.S. Institutions course from USUUndergraduateText LessonsNoNoNo
The Places of Migration in United States History course from MITUndergraduateText LessonsYesNoYes
The Civil War and Reconstruction course from MITUndergraduateText LessonsYesYesYes
America in the Nuclear Age course from MITUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesNoYes
America in Depression and War course from MITUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesNoYes
War & American Society course from MITUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesNoYes
Prohibition and Permission course from MITUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesYesYes
Out of Ground Zero: Catastrophe and Memory course from MITUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesNoNoYes
The Emergence of Modern America 1865-Present course from MITUndergraduateExternal Reading ResourcesYesNoYes
American Civilization 1700 course from University of UtahUndergraduateStudy/Test MaterialsNoYesNo

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • MA: Military Operations: Military History
      • MA: Public History
      • MA: Public History: Archives Management
      • MA: Public History: Digital Humanities
      • MA: Public History: Heritage Studies
      • MA: Public History: Historic Preservation
    Bachelor's
      • BS: Military Studies: History
      • BS: Interdisciplinary Research
    Certificate
      • GRAD CERT: Executive History
      • GRAD CERT: Greek
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Keiser University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Cambridge, MA

    Harvard University

  • University of Maryland Global Campus

  • Western Governors University

  • Online Programs Available
    6. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor: Sociology
  • Mount Pleasant, MI

    Central Michigan University

  • Online Programs Available
    8. UMass Global

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • AA (General Education)

Featured Schools

The schools and programs listed below are popular educational options, and tuition varies based on program and location

Liberty University

  • MA: Military Operations: Military History
  • BS: Military Studies: History
  • GRAD CERT: Executive History

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Keiser University

  • Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

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University of Maryland Global Campus

Grand Canyon University

  • Bachelor: Sociology

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UMass Global

  • AA (General Education)

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