All courses in history have the goal of helping students learn how to think and write historically in a critical manner. History courses emphasize learning how to identify viewpoints, gather and organize information, present conclusions in essays and on the internet, distinguish facts from interpretations, recognize historical relationships and patterns, and appreciate the relevance of historical insight to the understanding of current events and problems.

By involving all students in the process of careful analysis of evidence and thoughtful, cogent expression of ideas, the department seeks to equip students with intellectual skills which have multiple uses in the larger society outside the university. Its programs, in addition to providing a liberal education, are designed to serve as professional preparation in various fields, including teaching; the law; federal, state, and local government; work in historical societies and museums; Web site development and research.