Getting Started with BJU Press US History
BJU Press US History is a complete home-school curriculum for grades 9–12 that covers American history from Indigenous peoples through the modern era. It's used by roughly 400,000+ families in the United States. The program includes a student text, teacher's edition, tests, answer keys, DVDs, and supplementary workbooks. Here's how it actually works when you're sitting down with it. You need the teacher's edition. That's non-negotiable. The student text tells students what to read, but the teacher's edition has discussion questions, test answers, teaching notes, and the full scope and sequence. Without it, you're guessing at grading rubrics and missing key points. I learned this the hard way my first year. I bought only the student text for a friend's family because I was saving money. Ended up spending more time flipping through online forums trying to figure out what was expected on the essay prompts. Cost me about three weeks of momentum. The core components are:
- Student Text (978-1581344713) — roughly $40–60 used, $80 new - Teacher's Edition — roughly $70–90 used, $120 new - Tests & Quizzes (paper or digital) — about $25–40
- Workbooks — about $15 each, there are two main ones - DVD Set — optional but recommended, roughly $60
Get the Full Details
How the Curriculum Actually Runs Day to Day
Each unit runs about 2–3 weeks. A typical week looks like this: read assigned textbook pages, watch corresponding DVD lectures, complete workbook exercises, and take quizzes at the end of each section. The teacher's edition walks you through exactly how to grade each piece. It's scripted enough that even someone who hasn't studied history in years can teach it, but not so rigid that you can't adapt. One thing beginners miss: the textbook isn't the primary teaching tool. The DVD lectures are. BJU designed the program so students listen to the lecture, then read the text to reinforce it. If you skip the DVDs and just have the student read the textbook, you're essentially doing a regular homeschool history class — you're not using BJU's system. That's fine if that's what you want, but then you might as well pick a different publisher.
Common Problems and What Actually Fixes Them
Here's the edge case nobody talks about: the DVD videos are dated in production quality, and some students tune them out. I had a student who refused to watch anything before 2005 and would fast-forward through the BJU lectures. The workaround wasn't dramatic — I just let him read the textbook chapter first, then watch the DVD as a "supplement" rather than the primary source. Once he felt like he already knew the material, he actually paid attention. It broke the BJU model slightly but got the work done. Don't waste energy fighting this one. Another practical issue: the essay prompts in the teacher's edition expect a specific theological framework. When grading, stick close to the provided rubric. I've seen parents spend 20 minutes regrading an essay because they applied a secular rubric and then realized the answer didn't match BJU's framework. Just use the rubric. It takes about 3 minutes per essay if you follow it.
What BJU Press US History Doesn't Do Well
It covers a lot of content but moves slowly. Some families finish in a school year. Others spread it over two. The pacing guide says 36 weeks, but that assumes perfect attendance and no make-up days. Reality is usually 40–44 weeks for most households. If you're aiming for a traditional school-year finish, you'll need to accelerate — which means either skipping some DVD content or combining two lessons into one day. The historical perspective is explicitly Christian and creationist. That's the point of the publisher. If you want a secular or more neutral treatment of events — especially around topics like slavery, Manifest Destiny, or the Cold War — this isn't it. For those families, a curriculum like Apologia's US History or even a public school adoptive text like Pearson's will serve better. I've had parents switch after a semester when the student started asking questions the text couldn't address honestly. No judgment either way, but it's worth knowing upfront.
Where to Get It
Official resources and purchasing go through BJU Press directly at bjunewman.com or through their curriculum resellers like MySchoolBooks and Home School Store. Third-party used copies show up on Facebook Marketplace, local homeschool co-ops, and eBay — often for 40–60% off retail. The DVDs tend to hold value better than the books since they don't get annotated. If you're downloading digital materials, BJU offers some resources through their Newman Connect platform, but the core curriculum is still print-first. You won't find a full digital replacement that works as smoothly. Expect to manage both formats if you go hybrid.
Bottom Line on Bju Press Us History
It's a solid, thorough program if the worldview alignment matters to you. It works best with structure — follow the weekly schedule, use the teacher's edition, and don't skip the DVDs. It's less effective if you're looking for flexibility or a secular perspective. Plan for a full academic year, budget for the teacher's edition, and don't stress too much about perfect adherence to the pacing guide. Most families who commit to it finish with a real grasp of American history, even if it takes them six months longer than the book says it should.
