Undergraduate History

About the History Program

Through the history curriculum, students will be grounded in important thematic trends in both American and world history. Students will pursue a deep understanding of national histories or themes in historical knowledge at a high level. But they will also be able to pursue a specific interest and choose to concentrate their studies in a variety of fields, including American or European history, or the histories of Asia, Latin American and the Middle East. Students interested in the practical application of their historical studies have many opportunities to learn about museum and digital history methods and also participate in internships that can give them hands-on experience.

What Can I Do With a History degree?

You can preserve our past and teach people about who they are, become a lawyer or a public servant, analyze data, unearth artifacts or run a company! History is a broad based field that seeks to teach skill sets that are applicable across a wide range of professions. Students can go on to become researchers or advocates; caretakers of the past in museums and heritage sites; or analysts and policy makers for the future in a corporation or the government. A history degree is a gateway to every advanced degree that depends on critical and efficient reading, clear and effective writing, an ability to grasp details and to understand the interconnections between seemingly separate events, trends and people. This is why famous actors, billionaire CEOs and presidents have all started with a history degree.

Why Choose a History Degree?

• Small Class Sizes
  Students are never a faceless name in a giant auditorium. Introductory courses have 49 students and all upper-level courses have a limit of 25, giving students a more individualized classroom experience.
• Experienced Faculty
  You will be taught by full-time faculty members who bring their own scholarly expertise and research into the classroom to enhance your learning experience and inspire you with their passion for their field.
• Research with Faculty and Experiences in the Community
  History majors have numerous opportunities to collaborate with faculty in undergraduate research projects. Furthermore, satisfying, hands-on experiences are part of the undergraduate training for students in our program through the Old Stone House, and a variety of internship opportunities.
• Support and Guidance
  Every student is assigned an academic adviser within the department to help students make decisions about educational and career goals. More than 90 percent of our students are accepted into their first graduate program of choice. We are dedicated to opening doors for our students beyond the obvious career paths of teaching and museum studies.
• Long-lasting Relationships
  Our students go on to work all over the world in a wide range of careers. But they still return as members of our alumni advisory board and as participants in a wide variety of career events and celebrations.