Social Studies Degrees

History

History, the most comprehensive of the liberal arts, covers just about everything: art and ideas, technology and religions, politics and putting food on the table. Every human endeavor has a history and, as a history student, you have the opportunity to study all of these ideas and more as they’ve unfolded around the globe and over time.

History is about the past, but it is more than the dusty record of events written in books. History is about ideas and arguments; it is about how we know what we do and about analyzing the evidence of what happened in the past in order to understand it, both on its own terms and as a guide to comprehending where we find ourselves today, as people of different backgrounds, races, sexes, and identities. While historians do concern themselves with questions of who and when and where, they also love the question why?: What motivated people to do what they did? How can we make sense of the connections between various influences, ideas, and people? In other words, studying history at Coe is much more than names and dates—it is about understanding human beings, indeed, understanding ourselves, through time and across space. The study of history is truly one of the most exciting areas of inquiry that you can choose, and it is a wonderful major or minor at Coe.

In the Coe History Department, you get the opportunity to study history broadly, while also focusing on your specific interests. The classes are small and lively, with plenty of opportunities to know your professors and peers. You’ll learn to read and you’ll learn to think. You’ll learn how to make connections and you’ll learn how to express yourself, both orally and in writing. And after an exciting four years in college, you’ll also be ready to make your future, prepared in the liberal arts tradition to learn quickly, communicate clearly, and build a rewarding career and life in whatever field you choose.

Social Science
A master of arts in social science can enhance your teaching skills and give you a comprehensive background in the social sciences including anthropology, economics, geography, government, psychology, sociology, and history. Our program, which is taught by our excellent faculty, is designed to allow you to seek your initial teaching license or add a specific specialty to your license while you work toward your degree. You’ll have access to thousands of print and electronic resources in our comprehensive Social Studies Materials Center.

Apply today to the Graduate School and the history department. Learn how to defray tuition costs by becoming a graduate assistant and check out other options to pay for grad school.

The Department of History offers a broad-based and worldwide curriculum, with an emphasis on developing critical thinking and writing skills. History majors study the complexities of the human experience, deepen their knowledge of their own society and its past, explore other cultures and societies, and prepare for life in a multicultural and international community. The History major also prepares the student for a variety of career opportunities, including law (law schools take a third of their candidates from history majors), government at all levels, editing and book publishing, journalism, communications and media, college and university teaching (with an advanced degree), and public history venues such as historical sites, museums and libraries. In addition, many jobs in business and industry are open to liberal arts graduates with training in history. The Social Studies Adolescence Education major prepares students to teach in middle school and high school.

Internships
The history department facilitates internships at local museums and archives, in Washington, D.C., Albany, N.Y., and within the university. The department also encourages students to participate in international experiences through the Study Abroad or Student Exchange programs.

Honors and Awards
The honors program of the Department of History is designed to honor graduates of the History or Social Studies programs who have consistently demonstrated ability and produced work of high quality in the discipline. The honors designation is given to students who achieve an all-university average of 3.0; an average in history courses of 3.25; and who earn appropriate grades in HIST 499 (Honors Research Seminar) and HIST 201 (Doing History). For more information on the honors program, contact the chairperson.

The department gives a variety of awards. The Chazanof Award recognizes student work in local history. The Gallagher Scholarship is awarded to a minority student pursuing a career in education. The MacPhee Scholarship is given to a promising History or Social Studies major who has attained junior rank. The department also annually recognizes an Outstanding History major, an Outstanding History student, and an Outstanding History paper. Phi Alpha Theta, the history honor society, recognizes academic excellence.