Social Studies Degrees

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.