History

Through the study of history, students gain an understanding of the past as well as several widely transferable skills. History majors learn how to think critically and to write clearly.  Students also learn how to conduct research, interpret sources, and create compelling arguments and intriguing narratives.  Students of history also bring a historical and cross-cultural perspective to discussions of current affairs and can participate in public life as an informed, thoughtful, and articulate citizen and leader.  

Majors in History take a class in historical research and writing and at least one upper-level course in the history of each of the following: the United States and Canada; Europe; and Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Beyond these basic requirements, the program allows students freedom to design a course of study focused on their own interests. Program descriptions can be found here:

Program Strengths

  • Dedicated and Effective Teachers: Twenty professors and four full-time lecturers, with doctorates in history from leading American, Canadian, and British universities, bring to the classroom expertise in a wide range of historical fields. Areas of faculty expertise include military history, social and intellectual history, the history of religion, and state and local history. The faculty have published numerous scholarly books and articles, and students report a high degree of satisfaction with our classes.

  • A Global and Inclusive Curriculum: We offer expert-taught classes in the history of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, the United States, and Canada, as well as courses in African-American and Native American history, gay and lesbian history, and women’s history.

  • Financial Aid.  In recent years, students in the program have received more than $20,000 in scholarships annually from the Department of History and Philosophy.  The Section is committed to increasing this amount in the next few years. 

  •  Accessibility.  We provide a variety of courses at a variety of times and through a variety of delivery methods and formats.  Every term we offer several online courses and courses on the weekends and in the evenings. We also regularly teach courses at EMU’s extension campuses at Livonia, Traverse City, and Gaylord.  

  • Innovative Courses.  The Section offers travel courses, including a Civil War sites tour and a spring break course in Rome and Florence. The latter course innovatively uses web delivery before the week abroad to prepare students.  Other course offered as part of study abroad tours have included both sections of our Western Civilization course, and the Asian Cultural History tour affords students the opportunity to earn credit in the History section as well. 

Advising checklists (pdf format):