History
Description
History is the study of past human experience. Through the use of secondary and primary
documents and other artifacts, students gain an active appreciation of the past in order to
better understand present events and conditions. In studying history, the student develops
the ability to think critically, evaluate evidence objectively, and express knowledge clearly and forcefully to others. The career possibilities for history majors are not especially
plentiful for those students interested in teaching on the college level, but there are many
other avenues that a history major may explore, making it among the most popular college major programs.
Plan of study
The plan of study begins with a firm grounding in written English skills and courses in
the humanities and the social sciences including not only history and government, but
also anthropology, political science, psychology, and sociology. At the upper-division
level, students may specialize in the history of an area (e.g., America, Europe, or Asia)
or in a period of history (e.g., the Greco-Roman era, the Middle Ages, the American Revolution, or sixteenth-century Japan). Extensive independent research is required, often
culminating with a long senior project of the student’s choosing.
Expect to take
Introduction to psychology, European history, historical analysis, medieval Europe, history of India, ancient China, the Middle East in history, political science, anthropology,
sociology.
Suggested high school subjects
English (particularly reading and writing skills), mathematics including algebra, science
including biology, computer literacy, foreign language, social studies (AP preferred).
General interest areas
Law, research, anthropology.
Some career possibilities
Archivist
Journalist
Political scientist
College professor
Lawyer
Reporter
Editor
Librarian
Research historian
Historian
Museum curator
Secondary school teacher
Intelligence analyst
Some related majors
Afro-american studies
Classics
International relations
American studies
Comparative literature
Political science
Area studies
English literature
Secondary education
Art history/appreciation
Directory Data is copyrighted material which is reproduced in this publication by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Alloy Education.
Copyright 2009 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.
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