- Students of history might focus on Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, the United States, Africa, or any part of the world; they might investigate the ancient world, the twentieth century, the Renaissance, or any time in between. Regardless of geographic or chronological focus, students at Hampshire connect their findings about the past to the issues and conflicts of the present day.
- History is taught not as a series of static events, but as a method of inquiry, encouraging students to develop critical analytic and writing skills and to consider how we create "history." Faculty expect students to ask not only "What happened?" but also, "How do we know what happened and what don't we know?" Students are encouraged to conduct primary research and to pose and answer their own questions.