History

Bachelor of Arts

Turn your interest in the past and human change over time into tangible experience—and a career path. At ˽��ֲ� University, history is more than just something you study. Through our robust curriculum, it is something you can create, present, and apply. You will graduate with hands-on experiences and skills that stand out, whether your next step takes you to law school, the classroom, or a variety of professional career opportunities.

Actively Explore History

Extend Your Experience Beyond Learning Dates and Facts

Turn History Into a Career

Participate in Networking Opportunities Outside the Classroom

Graduate With a Portfolio and Experience

Gaining More Than Just a Transcript

Fast Facts

Students in ˽��ֲ�'s B.A. in History have:

Internship opportunities at major historic sites and institutions.
Strong placement in graduate programs and professional careers.
Small class sizes and close faculty mentorship.
Hands-on, project-based learning.

Learning Outcomes

Critical Thinking. Demonstrate the ability to consider critically and��determine��a well-informed position on��a historical problem.
Historical and Cultural Knowledge and Understanding. Demonstrate a broad understanding of historiography, major periods of United States, and world history.
Information Literacy. Demonstrate��proficiency��with the methods of historical research, analysis, and proper documentation of primary and secondary sources of information in advancing a historical argument.
Public History��Methods.��Students will��demonstrate��a mature competency of select sub-disciplines of public history, museum��studies,��and digital history.

Course Spotlights

Our courses explore the past through dynamic and relevant themes:

War, Revolution, and Conflict
Culture, Society, and Identity
Public History and Museum Studies
Digital and Applied History

History Course Offerings

A few courses ˽��ֲ�'s B.A. in History program offers, include:

HIS 212: Revolutionary America
HIS 215: American Indian History
HIS 216: Civil War and Reconstruction

Concentrations

The Public History and Museum Studies concentration prepares students for careers in museums, historic and cultural sites, archives, and applied history in a range of fields. Through internships, a senior Public History project, class projects, and travel experiences, our students get to see—and experience—what professional public historians do. They have produced museum exhibits, cataloged Civil War artifacts, given driving and walking tours of historical sites, and helped to produce exhibition catalogs, just to name just a few. Students must complete the Public History curriculum (eight courses or 24 credit hours), as well as an additional 18 credit hours in History courses.

Required:

HIS 235: Introduction to Public History/Museum Studies
HIS 236: Introduction to Historic Preservation ��
HIS 240: Museum Studies II
HIS 301: Historical Methods & Historiography ��
HIS 305: American Material Culture/Built Landscape
HIS 475: Public History Internship
HIS 490: Senior Project in Public History

One additional course among the following:

HIS 238: Introduction to Archives and Records Management
HIS 295: Digital History: Storytelling
HIS 296: Digital History: 1.0-3.0
HIS 394: Special Topics in Public History
ANTH 205: Historical Archaeology
ANTH 227: Ethnographic Field Methods
ART 128: Computer Design for Non-Designers OR ART 220: Introduction to Website Design OR ART 1390: Introduction to Gallery Management
COMM 402: Documentary Film Production
OL 630: Grant Writing
GEOL 225: Science on Display/Lab

Three courses (Nine credit hours) in American History

Three courses (Nine credit hours) in Western and World Historical Perspectives

Minors

To complete a History minor, students must complete a total of six History courses (18 credit hours), no more than two of which may be at the 100 level.

To complete a Public History minor, students must complete a total of 18 credit hours, dispersed as follows:

Required Courses

HIS 235: Introduction to Public History/Museum Studies
HIS 240: Museum Studies II
HIS 305: American Material Culture/Built Landscape

Choose two additional courses from the following:

ANTH 205: Historical Archaeology
ANTH 218: Public Anthropology
ANTH 227: Ethnographic Field Methods
ANTH 233: Collections and Curation Management
HIS 236: Introduction to Historic Preservation
HIS 238: Introduction to Archives
HIS 295: Digital History: Storytelling
HIS 296: Digital History: 101 to 3.0
HIS 394: Special Topics in Public History

Select one additional course from the following:

HIS 475: Public History Internship
HIS 485: Senior Project in Public History

4+1 Programs

Students pursuing careers in teaching choose our very successful 4+1 track. In addition to their liberal arts core curriculum, students take extensive course work in history and social studies content areas like political science, sociology, geography, and anthropology, as well as two education classes. Students in the 4+1 program complete an enhanced History degree and then receive their master's in Education with Social Studies certification through a fifth year of study at a reduced adult education tuition rate. Students on this track must complete the History major curriculum of 42 credit hours of History courses, dispersed as follows:

American History (Minimum three courses or nine credit hours)
Western and World Historical Perspectives (Minimum three courses or nine credit hours)
Methods (Minimum one course, or three credit hours)
Capstone (Minimum one course, or three credit hours)
Additional History Electives (Minimum six courses, or 18 credit hours)

As well as an Education Content Area (which requires the education graduate coordinator to approve registration):

WL 101: Culturally/Linguistically Diverse Learners (Taken in junior or senior year)
EDUC 210: Comparative Issues in Education (Taken in senior year)

Students are encouraged to take the following courses to prepare them for content training in social studies education:

PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology
SOC 100: Introduction to Sociology
ECON 105: Macroeconomics (see REACH)
ANTH 112: World Cultures (see REACH)
POLI 100: American Government (see REACH)
Two MATH courses above College Algebra level
And either POLI 236: World Politics OR POLI 303: Geopolitics

Why ˽��ֲ�'s B.A. in History?

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History Will Take You Places!

Stand out with your ˽��ֲ� B.A. in History by putting your degree to action.

Gain experience with real-world community-based and public-facing history projects, explore historical sites near and far, and present your work.
Public History and Signature Experiences: Your Work Matters

History at ˽��ֲ� extends beyond the classroom.

Students regularly participate in opportunities in the community, such as internships at historical sites and cultural institutions, collaborations with museums and community organizations, projects with digital history and multimedia, and other research and presentation experiences.��
Student Work in Action

˽��ֲ� history students don’t just learn—they produce.

With the wide range of hands-on experience our students receive, they graduate equipped with the skills and preparation to succeed in a variety of diverse fields. Experiences include developing exhibits and educational materials.

Opportunities for History Students

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History Club

History Club creates opportunities for students to nurture their passion for history outside of the classroom. The club brings awareness to the importance of history through trips, educational speakers, films, and fundraisers.
Phi Alpha Theta

Many of our students join Phi Alpha Theta, a National Honor Society devoted to history, which recognizes outstanding academic achievement and promotes the study of history through research, teaching, and publication.

Go Far With a History Degree

˽��ֲ� History students have completed internships at some of the most esteemed historical sites in the nation, including:

Antietam National Battlefield	Erie Maritime Museum/U.S. Brig Niagara	Fort Necessity National Battlefield��
Fort Stanwix National Monument	George Eastman House International Museum	Gettysburg National Battlefield and Military Park
Historic Mount Vernon Gardens and Estate	Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Design	Petrie Museum of Egyptology (London)
Plimoth Plantation (MA)	Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area	Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History	Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage	United States Holocaust Memorial and Museum ��

˽��ֲ� History students have gone on to attend some of the finest graduate schools in the nation, including:

Canisius University	Chicago-Kent College of Law	George Washington University
Hunter College	Northeastern University	Ohio University
Point Park University	Queen's University Belfast	Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
St. Bonaventure University	Syracuse University	University of Buffalo
University of Maryland	University of New Hampshire	Villanova University
Widener University School of Law	��	��

A few of the career paths graduates of ˽��ֲ�’s B.A. in History program will be prepared to pursue, include:

Law and Government
- Build the analytical and writing skills top law schools demand.
Museums and Public History
- Work in archives, museums, and cultural institutions.
Education
- Teach and inspire the next generation.
Business and Communication
- Apply research, writing, and analytical skills across industries.

History graduates are pursuing a variety of exciting careers!

Education

Evan Brink, Class of 2025, Emotional Support Paraprofessional, Iroquois High School
Zachary Hill, Class of 2024, Social Studies Teacher (Seventh-12th), Westerville City Schools
Tim Linhart, Class of 2024, Substitute Teacher, Rice Avenue Middle School
Brent Burbules, Class of 2023, Associate Teacher, Fort LeBoeuf Senior High School
Kiara Booker, Class of 2022, Substitute Teacher, Erie Public Schools
Daniel Krall, Class of 2022, Social Studies Teacher, Saint Raphael Academy
Henry Zeller, Class of 2022, Eighth Grade Social Studies Teacher, Woodrow Wilson Middle School
Ethan Wagner, Class of 2021, Social Studies Teacher, Fox Chapel Area School District
Molly Kennedy, Class of 2020, Prekindergarten Teacher, Training Wheels/Manchester Youth Development Center
Alexandra Strauss, Class of 2020, Teacher, Port Allegany School District

Public History, Museums, and Preservation

Cecilia Harris, Class of 2025, Archival Consultant, Cllct
Mackenzie Mihalik, Class of 2025, Archaeological Field Technician, Stantec
Abby Cullen, Class of 2022, Education & Public Programs Coordinator, Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House
Megan Bereit, Class of 2021, Museum Assistant, Reading Science Center
Adam Macrino, Class of 2021, Director of Programming & Visitor Experience, Hagen History Center
Steven Mooradian, Class of 2021, Processing Archivist, Hagen History Center
Jackie Duncan, Class of 2020, Interpreter, Castle in the Clouds

Government

Brianna Zuchowski, Class of 2020, Assistant Planner, Erie County Department of Environment and Planning
Theodore Counihan, Infantry Officer & Platoon Leader, United States Army

Legal

Evelyn Van Arsdale, Class of 2024, Litigation Legal Assistant, Law Offices of Pullano & Farrow PLLC
Sydney Knapp, Class of 2023, Estate Planning & Real Estate Associate, Karen Patterson P.C.

Nonprofit

Olivia Turner-Leftwich, Class of 2024, Company Dancer, Ballet of New York Arts Collective
Lily Smith, Class of 2023, Career and Internship Coordinator, Summer Search Boston
Hannah Pfiefer, Class of 2020, Library Coordinator, Hagley Museum and Library

Business

Anne Koenig, Class of 2021, Customer Service Specialist, Polymer Molding
Haley Barletta, Class of 2020, Reporting and Receiving Support Manager, Stearns Promotional Services
Mitchell Carpenter, Class of 2020, Sourcing Specialist, Sandridge Crafted Foods
Jessica Page, Class of 2020, Office Administrator, Raley's Signature Cleaning Services
Luis Sandoval, Class of 2020, Epic Consultant, Nordic Consulting Partners
Rachel Wilson, Class of 2020, First Notice of Loss Representative, Erie Insurance Group

Higher Education

Madelyn Dill, Class of 2022, Gift Processor & Database Specialist, Hiram College
Victoria McGinty, 2022, Transfer Success Counselor, Roosevelt University
Garrett Freas, Class of 2021, Ph.D. Student, University of Kentucky

Health Care

Jenna Balducci, Class of 2021, Pre-Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (MHC-I), City Mental Health Counseling

The 'Hurstorian Journal

The ‘Hurstorian began in Fall 2020 when a student chief editor and a volunteer editorial team, assisted by the Department of History faculty, developed a professional publication to highlight the work of students within the department. This journal is a collection of historical articles written and edited by current students for their work to be shared beyond the classroom. Students dedicate time and effort to extensive research and writing, and that dedication is mirrored in the work of the chief editor and volunteer editorial board, composed entirely of history students. Once submissions are selected, writers and editors work together to prepare the articles for publication.

Public History Senior Projects

˽��ֲ� Public History students are challenged in their senior year to apply what they have learned in their coursework to a public history project of their choosing and design. More than anything else, the senior project distinguishes our students from public history graduates across the country, positioning them for success in the fields of museums, historic sites, archives, and historic preservation. Projects our students over the past few years have produced include:

MacKenzie Mihalik, Class of 2025—Environmental History Museum Exhibit at the Fort Leboeuf Museum
Aurelia Goodall, Class of 2024—Museum Exhibit at the Hagen History Center, "Celebration of Lunar New Year by Erie's Asian American Community"
Grover Simpson IV, Class of 2024—Interactive Digital Walking Tour of Historic Little Italy
Lily Smith and Isabella Lee, Class of 2023—˽��ֲ� Oral History Project (Oral History Interviews of eight former and current employees)
Madelyn Dill, Class of 2022—Documentation for the Determination of Eligibility for the ˽��ֲ� College National Historic District
Steven Mooradian, Class of 2021—Podcast Series: A History of Buffalo Road in Harborcreek Township
Hannah Pfeifer, Class of 2020—A Shared Heritage: A Trail of African American History in Erie County ()