Mission

History, a discipline that belongs to both the humanities and social sciences, is the study of change over time. By exploring the complexities of peoples and societies in the past, it makes the present more comprehensible. As a core discipline of the liberal arts, history encourages students to think critically and argue logically and to examine the values of their society and those of other societies. The undergraduate major in history is valuable preparation for graduate and professional schools and countless occupations because it requires students to conduct research, analyze, write, discuss and solve problems from a historical perspective. Students of history pursue careers as educators, researchers, writers and editors, information managers, advocates (public servants, lawyers) and business people. The history department regularly brings both historians and history makers to campus, encourages off-campus study and travel, shows films and documentaries, sponsors field trips to historical sites, and assists students in finding history-related internships.