History

History is the study of the human past. Historians look for continuities, evolution and sudden change in societies over time, and they construct narratives based on disciplined research and analysis. The members of the History department are scholars and teachers whose work covers different time periods and regions of the world, and history majors are encouraged to work with as many different department members as possible. As they move through the program, majors will practice skills that they will carry through life: thinking critically about their own assumptions, making persuasive arguments based on solid evidence, and recognizing analytical strengths and weaknesses.

As a central part of the liberal arts curriculum, the discipline of history enables its students to develop a mature understanding of human relations. In their courses, history majors will examine the influence of social, political, economic and cultural institutions on society, reflect on the relationship between the individual and the community, and identify the role of power in human relations. Sometimes seen as one of the humanities, other times as a social science, history offers a unique way of understanding the human experience.