Department of History
Where the Past Becomes Your Future!
The Department of History provides students with an opportunity to learn how past events have shaped the world in which we live and how different cultural, political, religious, and social communities have interacted, from the ancient world to the present. Our dedicated faculty offer a wide range of exciting, compelling courses in American History, European History, Pre-Modern History, and Global History.
The study of history provides our students with a unique set of skills that ensure success across a wide range of professional careers, including law, education, private enterprise, and government service. The History major also prepares our students for success at the graduate level, from law school to business school to masters programs and doctoral programs in history, education, public policy, political science, and writing.
Additional highlights of the Department of History include:
- The mastery of vital academic skills, including critical thinking, effective writing, verbal communication, ethical inquiry, information literacy, state-of-the-art educational technology, and complex research methodologies
- Professors who are accessible, dynamic, and committed to the success of every student
- The opportunity to purse a second major or a minor, including the Department’s minor in history, minor in political science, and minor in women’s studies
- An extensive program of undergraduate student research in history, political science, and women’s studies, complemented by presentations at conferences and publications in academic journals
- A vibrant, active campus chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor society for history
- The opportunity to participate in the University’s study abroad program in exciting cities such as London, Paris, and Rome
- Internships with private companies and public sector organizations in the New York City region that provide both cutting-edge experience and credit toward the history major
- Admission to law schools, such as New York Law School, Saint John’s University, the University of Notre Dame, Pace University, Touro Law School, and Case Western Reserve Law School
- Admission to graduate programs in history, including Saint John’s University, McGill University, City College of New York, Lehman College, Rutgers University, SUNY Albany, and Southern New Hampshire University
- Five-year combined BA/MA degree programs with St. John’s University in history, political science, and library and information science
- Acceptance into graduate programs in education at institutions like Columbia University, Dominican University, Marist College, Hunter College, Manhattanville University, and the University of Mount Saint Vincent
- For students considering a career in education, the opportunity to enroll in our course HIST 495 Practicum in the Teaching of History and to assist a professor in teaching a history core course
- Acceptance into graduate programs of study in archival science, library science, museum studies, global development, business, criminology, journalism, modern languages, accelerated nursing, and physical therapy
Departmental Learning Outcomes
History majors will:
- Analyze historical sources.
- Utilize critical thinking skills to craft a historical argument.
- Communicate effectively in standard written English as demonstrated by completing writing assignments supported by relevant facts.
- Communicate effectively in oral form as demonstrated by oral presentation of an historical argument.
- Apply ethical inquiry to a range of social, cultural, political or other issues, in their historical context.
