The Department of History offers courses that enable students to understand how historical knowledge is created. Special focus is placed on the 19th and 20th centuries.

This approach lends itself well to students who wish to pursue careers in law, teaching or public service and is crucial to students in the international relations program.

The department emphasizes work with primary sources - whether documents, autobiographies or other cultural artifacts.

The history department also is a major contributor to a new integrated social science program for students interested in secondary level teaching.