U.S. History I Online College Course | 3 Credits
HIST 101 3 College Credits NCCRS Credit Recommended

U.S. History IOnline College Course

From pre-Columbian societies to the Civil War โ€” the forces that built America, and the arguments that still shape it.

U.S. History I โ€” HIST 101 online college course
$250 per course
One-time ยท Lifetime access ยท No subscription
Enroll & Start Today โ†’
NCCRS Credit Recommended 3 Credit Hours Self-Paced
$250 PER COURSE or UPI Study Pro subscription
97% Completion Rate Course completion rate
28โ€“30 Days Average course completion
Save $650+ vs. avg. community college cost for 3 credits
Self-Paced ยท Final Exam ยท NCCRS Recommended

What You'll Learn

A full semester of u.s. history i โ€” completed at your own pace, with no deadlines or fixed class times.

Learning Outcomes

What You'll Be Able to Do

  • Upon completing this in-depth exploration of American history, students will have achieved the following learning outcomes:
  • Analyze the social, political, economic, and cultural interactions among Indigenous societies, Europeans, and Africans from the pre-Columbian era through early colonization, explaining how these interactions shaped emerging Atlantic world systems
  • Analyze and interpret major developments in British colonial governance, imperial policy, and colonial resistance to explain the causes and progression of the American Revolution
  • Analyze patterns of causation, change over time, and consequence in early American history through concise, evidence-based written responses
  • Analyze primary historical sources by situating them in historical context, interpreting authorial perspective and purpose, and explaining their significance within early American political and social developments
  • Evaluate competing political, economic, and ideological perspectives in the early republic to explain conflicts over governance, federal authority, and national identity
  • Synthesize historical evidence from multiple periods to construct coherent, thesis-driven written arguments explaining how nation-building, economic transformation, and social change reshaped the United States between independence and the mid-nineteenth century
Topics Covered

Major Course Topics

Pre-Columbian Americas
Atlantic World & exploration
Colonial societies
English empire in America
Imperial crisis & colonial resistance
The American Revolution
Building republican institutions
The early republic
Northern industrial revolution
Jacksonian democracy
Westward expansion
The antebellum South
Reform movements
The turbulent 1850s
The Civil War
Document-based analysis (DBQ)
Long essay writing (LEQ)
At a Glance

Course Details

Course U.S. History I (HIST 101)
Format 100% online
Learning Style Self-paced โ€” no deadlines or class times
Credits 3 College Credits
Lab Not required
Prerequisites None
Assessment 25% Attendance ยท 25% Quizzes ยท 25% Assignments ยท 25% Final Exam
Estimated Completion 4โ€“8 weeks, self-paced
Credit Recommendation NCCRS Credit Recommended
Transfer Information Transferable via the credit recommendation above โ€” your registrar can confirm your school's policy
Simple Process

How It Works

Three steps from enrollment to transferable college credit โ€” no campus visits, no application required.

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Pick & Enroll

Start one or more courses covering lower or upper division requirements โ€” instantly, today.

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Earn College Credit

Watch short video lessons, take quizzes and the final exam โ€” all from home, on your schedule.

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Transfer Your Credits

Send earned credits to your school and graduate sooner, at a fraction of the cost.

Does My School Accept This Course?

UPI Study courses carry NCCRS recommendations โ€” the same standard recognized by hundreds of cooperating colleges and universities. Check if your school is on our list and move forward with confidence โ€” or schedule a call with our team.

Accepted at various NCCRS cooperating universities

UPI Study Courses Include

โฑ๏ธSelf-paced, flexible learning
๐ŸŽฅVideo-based lessons
๐Ÿ“˜Digital study materials
๐ŸงฉInteractive quizzes & assessments
๐Ÿ“„ACE & NCCRS-recommended transcripts
๐Ÿ’ฌAcademic support & guidance
๐Ÿ“ˆGrade improvement opportunities
๐Ÿ’ปAccess on desktop & mobile

Master u.s. history i and build a foundation for your degree โ€” and your future.

From pre-Columbian societies to the Civil War โ€” the forces that built America, and the arguments that still shape it.

๐ŸŽฏ Why It Matters

  • Satisfies the American history general-education requirement at most U.S. universities
  • Builds source-analysis skills that transfer to law, policy, journalism, and research
  • Required background for political science, education, and pre-law pathways
  • Teaches argument construction from evidence โ€” the core academic writing skill

๐Ÿ’ผ In-Demand Careers

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๐Ÿš€ How This Sets You Up

  • Complete 15 chapters, an assignment, and a cumulative final exam
  • Practice DBQ and LEQ writing used in college-level history
  • Earn transferable credit recognized by cooperating universities
  • Move straight into U.S. History II to complete the sequence
  • Self-paced โ€” no deadlines, no campus visits
Student Reviews

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FAQ

Common Questions Answered.

Everything you need to know about U.S. History I โ€” credits, grading, transfer, and how it compares to traditional options.

What is U.S. History I?
A college-level survey of American history from pre-Columbian societies through the Civil War (1865). It is History 101 and covers 15 chapters plus a cumulative final exam.
Does this satisfy my university's American history requirement?
In most cases yes โ€” schools that recognize NCCRS credit recommendations apply it toward American history or social science requirements. Check the Find My College directory or book a free call with our team and we'll confirm your school in minutes.
Do I need prior history coursework?
No. The course starts from the pre-Columbian era and builds chronologically. No prerequisites required.
How long does U.S. History I take to complete?
Most students finish in 28โ€“30 days. The course carries 82 contact hours and is fully self-paced with no deadlines.
Are there exams?
Yes โ€” chapter quizzes, one assignment, and a cumulative final exam that includes short analytical responses and source-based analysis.
What's the difference between U.S. History I and II?
History I covers pre-Columbian through the Civil War. History II picks up at Reconstruction (1865) and runs to the 21st century. Many students take both.
Does the U.S. History I course include video lessons?
Yes โ€” the course includes reference video lessons alongside the written chapters.
Can international students enroll?
Yes. Students have submitted UPI Study credits in 26+ countries.
Is this equivalent to CLEP History of the United States I?
Yes โ€” same coverage (colonial era through Reconstruction) as a structured course instead of one exam.
What period does US History I cover?
Pre-colonial America through the Civil War and Reconstruction โ€” colonization, revolution, the early republic, and sectional conflict.
Does US History I satisfy a history or social science gen-ed?
Commonly yes; some states also accept it toward civics/history degree requirements โ€” confirm locally.
Are there prerequisites for US History I?
None โ€” it's a survey course open to all students.
How is US History I assessed?
Module quizzes and a final exam focused on events, causes, and historical interpretation.

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Why It Matters

Why Take College Credits?

Quick answers about transferable online credits, test-out style learning, and ACE & NCCRS-recommended options through UPI Study.

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Which universities accept these credits?

UPI Study courses carry NCCRS recommendations recognized by various NCCRS cooperating colleges and universities across the U.S., Canada, and UK.

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Who can take self-paced college courses?

Anyone can enroll โ€” including high school students, incoming college students, adult learners, and students trying to test out of traditional courses.

No prerequisites required โ†’
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Why choose this over traditional classes?

Save time and reduce tuition costs. Many students complete prerequisites faster and shorten their time to graduation โ€” at a fraction of the cost.

$60M+ saved by students โ†’
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How many credits can I earn?

This course is NCCRS-recommended for 3 semester credit hours. Transfer as many credits as your university allows โ€” students have transferred anywhere from 3 to 90+ credits depending on their school's policy.

3 credits this course โ†’
What's Included

Everything You Need to Succeed

๐ŸŽฅ

Video-Based Lessons

HD video lectures broken into short, focused modules. Watch at your own pace โ€” pause, rewind, replay any time.

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Quizzes & Final Exam

Evaluate your understanding after every section with quizzes and a comprehensive final exam that mirrors real college assessment.

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Structured College-Level Course

Structured lessons covering every topic โ€” designed as a standard U.S. History I college-level course.

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Official Transcript

Complete the course, request your transcript, and transfer 3 credit hours to cooperating universities. No separate exam required.

Two Ways to Enroll

Pick What Fits You

Pay Per Course

Lifetime Access

$250
one-time ยท this course only
  • Full U.S. History I course โ€” all chapters & lessons included
  • Lifetime access โ€” no subscription, no expiration
  • Official transcript on completion
  • Best if you only need this one prerequisite
Enroll Now โ€” $250 โ†’
Membership

UPI Study Membership

from $99
see plans for full course access & terms
  • Access this course as part of your membership
  • Ideal if you're planning to complete several prerequisites
  • Same NCCRS-recommended credit and official transcript
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Ready to Start?

Earn 3 College Credits
for $250.

Self-paced. No deadlines. NCCRS-recommended, recognized by various NCCRS cooperating universities. Join 135,000+ learners on the UPI Study platform.