History in USA

History is so much more than memorizing names and dates. Are you interested in technology? Religion? The environment? Human rights? If you have a question, history can help you find an answer.

The history major at UW–Madison is a great option for people who are interested in studying change. History asks, “How did the world get to be this way?” and “What factors might influence where the world is heading now?” Studying history helps us understand and grapple with complex questions and dilemmas by examining how the past has shaped—and continues to shape—global, national, and local relationships between societies and people. The skills that history majors develop are used in a wide range of careers and prepare students for graduate or professional study in fields such as law, business, medicine, public policy and much more.

The Department of History features an innovative and rigorous curriculum designed to train students in historical methodology, research skills, and critical thinking. We regularly offer more than 50 undergraduate courses on a wide range of topics that vary in scope from broad to specialized and vary in teaching method from lecture to discussion. Small classes enable students to hone both their written and oral abilities and permit faculty to provide greater individual attention. With the aid of advisors, students are encouraged to design curricula that are suitable to their own needs and interests in history and in complementary fields such as other social sciences, philosophy, literature, and art.

The social studies program is designed to prepare students to teach social studies in secondary schools. This challenging program draws upon faculty from nine areas (anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, gender and women’s studies, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology) and works with the College of Education to promote effective teaching practice for future and in-service teachers. 

A non-teaching major in social studies is also offered, and provides the student an opportunity to create a program to meet her or his personal academic needs. 

If your passion includes making history come alive for others, Washburn is a wonderful place to prepare for your teaching career. With two degree paths to fit your goals, our history faculty will help you grow as a researcher, thinker, and writer, and push you to become culturally competent professional as you gain knowledge and skill in teaching history and social studies. 
This program is designed to be completed in four years, without summer school. It is an education degree with emphasis in history. If future graduate school will be in Education, such as Educational Administration, Curriculum and Instruction, or Special Education, this program is the best choice. Most graduate programs in history would also welcome this degree.

Like business, history is a major that puts graduates in the advantageous position of being prepared for anything. You’ll learn research, writing and critical-thinking skills that will benefit you no matter what career field you choose. Your ability to define and interpret the happenings of the past will be the basis of your knowledge for planning for the future, and many employers will value that skill.

The Department of History at EIU offers courses ranging from sweeping surveys to tightly focused seminars. Core courses provide grounding in American and World History, as well as the tools to research, write, and present results. Study begins with an introduction to the discipline with its many skills and professions. Core and elective courses in U.S., European, Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern, ancient, medieval and modern history provide ample opportunity to develop and hone writing skills. The ability to gather and analyze information is essential to almost every professional pursuit. History majors learn to read and to think critically, and to synthesize their research into understandable English.

EIU's Department of History provides students with both variety in curriculum and individualized attention. Our classes for majors typically number between ten and twenty students.

Whether your hope after graduation is to teach, move into the world of business, or continue on to graduate or professional school in history, information sciences, law or museum studies, your history degree from EIU will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to be successful.

Students may choose from several degree options:

Bachelor of Arts in History
Bachelor of Arts in History with Departmental Honors
Bachelor of Arts in History with Option in International Studies
Bachelor of Arts in History with Teacher Licensure in Social Science
The department also offers a History minor and a Public History minor.

So you’re considering becoming a history major or minor? Let’s get this point out of the way. As a history major you can go on to work in almost any career that you choose!

Studying the craft of history allows students to:

Build a set of skills employers are looking for in the 21st century

Hone organization and presentation skills

Sharpen critical thinking through the investigation of an abundance of materials

There is no substitute for being able to evaluate evidence and make clear, concise and convincing arguments.

Any career that rewards clear thinking, good writing, articulate speaking and the ability to ask and decipher complicated questions will be open to a well-trained History major.

Moreover, history provides students with a cultural background to function in today’s contemporary, globalized society, providing students with in-depth knowledge of societies from the past to the present era.

The Department of History MA program is designed to train students in the methodological and theoretical components of academic history and in broad areas of historical study and analysis. The program prepares students for careers in teaching, academia, law, public and government service, publishing, research, as well as other professions. The program also assists in the professional development of full-time teachers and other educators and provides a basis for further graduate study.

Admission to the BA/MA program is restricted to current Johns Hopkins University undergraduate history of art majors who are pursuing the honors track in the department, including writing a senior honors thesis. Admission is based on outstanding performance in previous History of Art courses.

Students considering a five-year program are expected to declare their interest during the spring semester of their junior year. Prior to application, students must consult with the director of undergraduate studies, their faculty adviser, and the department administrator.  A formal graduate application must be submitted via the graduate school admissions site by the departmental deadline for graduate admissions (December 15th) in the fall semester of the senior year for admission to the program in the spring of the senior year, meeting the requirement for concurrent status. In the senior (fourth) year, students are to devise a program of study that would best prepare them to do advanced work in their final (fifth) year. All requirements for the BA must be completed by the end of the fourth year.

The past has shaped our current world and has impacted every community and individual. Through the study of history, we learn about and evaluate human actions, ideas, goals and relationships. A historical perspective enables us to place politics, scientific discoveries, cultural advancements and global events in context. What might seem cliché is profoundly true: in order to make the best decisions for the present and the future, we must truly understand the past.    

The History major is designed to expand students’ comprehension of the past so that they can understand the present and prepare for the future. By fostering awareness of the multiple influences behind human action, the major aims to reject simplistic explanations of the past and encourage History majors to apply analytical skills and a global perspective to contemporary issues and events.

Stress is put on the global context and interconnectedness of historical events. Lectures, readings of primary and secondary sources, group discussion and presentations, fieldwork, research projects and seminars provide a variety of techniques for understanding the world’s diverse civilizations and the key turning points in their development and interactions.

Arcadia University History graduates have gone into education and teaching, corporate and nonprofit management, museum and archival work, marketing, investment counseling, travel and tourism, and many other fields, as well as graduate study in history, law and public administration. Most important, the History major at Arcadia prepares students to be engaged, responsible, and active global citizens.

The Utah Tech State University baccalaureate program in History is comprised of a Bachelor’s of Arts (BA), a Bachelor’s of Science (BS), and a minor.  The BA degree requires proficiency in a foreign language, which can be fulfilled in a variety of ways.  The BS degree requires Social Sciences coursework beyond the core and electives.  Both degree paths prepare students for advanced study in History, Law, and related areas, or to enter the workforce in business, government, journalism, or numerous other professional fields.  This degree focuses on historical knowledge, historical thinking, building critical analytic skills, and writing in an organized and persuasive manner.  In addition, a unique degree emphasis, the BA or BS in History and Social Sciences Education, is designed specifically for students seeking secondary teaching careers and prepares them to teach American, World, and Utah History, along with Political Science, Geography, Economics, Sociology, and Psychology.  This emphasis also includes a Secondary Education (SCED) teaching certification which qualifies students to secure employment at the high school level immediately upon graduation.  The minor in History prepares students from a variety of disciplines to contextualize their studies within the human experience through exposure to a variety of perspectives and research methodologies that augment their skills in almost any profession or area of graduate study.

The History program is committed to preparing undergraduate students to understand their historical and cultural heritage. It supports the University’s mission by emphasizing excellence in teaching with courses grounded in the liberal arts and sciences tradition. Its curriculum is designed to foster knowledge of human cultures and instill intellectual and practical skills involving inquiry and analysis, critical thinking, written and oral communication, teamwork, and problem solving. The history discipline supports the General Education program at the University. In cooperation with the College of Education and Human Performance, the department prepares students for teaching careers in elementary and secondary schools, and it works to qualify majors for graduate study and advanced administrative specialization. In keeping with the University’s mission, the program emphasizes personal and social responsibility by requiring students to complete projects involving civic engagement, experiential learning, and service learning that elevate students’ civic knowledge, intercultural competence, and ethical reasoning, experiences that together provide foundations for engaged citizens and lifelong learning.

A public history concentration will help you develop a solid foundation of history and the methods that today’s historians use to interpret the past.  You will ponder many questions in the field of public history and learn from a variety of sources such as area museums, historical societies, libraries and archives, national parks, and heritage tourism sites throughout your class and internship experiences. This concentration provides a foundation for history majors seeking employment as public historians and beyond. Career paths may include teaching in schools, practicing law, and working in government, journalism, and a variety of other fields.   

Major in history and you’ll open the door to unlimited career options. Employers in every field seek out people who have special insights into history, culture and behavior. At ONU, we’ll expose you to many possible career paths and help you find the one you’re passionate about. Maybe that is a career teaching Social Studies or adding a minor like Public History/Museum Studies.

Large institutions just can’t provide the individualized attention and opportunity you’ll find here. Our history students co-author conference papers with their professors and serve in student government. They study abroad and intern at national museums. They travel to New York for the Model UN program, head up student organizations, and present their research at regional and national conferences.

Here, you won’t be a face in the crowd. You’ll be part of a close-knit family. From the time you arrive on campus until you graduate, you’ll be guided by a faculty advisor. You’ll enjoy small class sizes and amazing friendships. Our dedicated and distinguished professors will get to know you. They will support you in your coursework, research, internships, and career preparations. They will become personally invested in your success and open doors for you.

Students primarily engaged in historical research and written arts scholarship should declare this concentration. The Art History concentration provides an opportunity within the liberal arts framework for students to develop an understanding of the history of western and world art from prehistory to postmodernism. A wide variety of courses are offered including traditional art history surveys, upper-level courses in topics ranging from Renaissance and Baroque, Women in Art, African Art, Asian Art, Writing About Art, Public Art and Media Culture, Art Criticism, Modern Art and Contemporary Art.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Mount Union provides a foundation for students’ futures. Our faculty invite students to explore, through close textual analysis, a broad range of historical themes, ideas, and peoples. History faculty work with students to develop students’ research, writing, and oral communication skills, as well as to grow as independent, critical thinkers.