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“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”
— William Faulkner
As a history major, you will uncover insights and perspectives from the past to better understand the present. Through working directly with artifacts of the past — from letters exchanged during the Holocaust to the genealogical records of a local African-American community — history will come alive in your hands.
You will collaborate with professors and peers to develop a deep understanding of the past across eras, cultures, and societies. At the same time, you will master critical skills — persuasive writing, interpreting data, and giving compelling presentations, among others — that will prepare you for a successful career in any field. Our graduates have worked in education, libraries, museums, business, medicine, law, social justice, and the military.
History
HIST 055
PLSHow do Americans assess the events of 9/11? You’ll visit Ground Zero, take oral histories, read and watch depictions of the events, and place them in historical context to make sense of conflicting memories.
HIST 212
D&IInvestigate how past societies determined which sexual behaviors were licit or illicit, and the institutions and individuals responsible for the regulation, repression, and occasional encouragement of the practices.
HIST 145
D&IQuality fiction can provide meaningful access to the past. Step back into U.S. history, from just before the Civil War into the 1930s, via novels whose authors painted a vivid, visceral sense of the American scene.
HIST 112
Immerse yourself in the diverse and complex history of African Americans in the U. S. until the end of the Civil War, especially the events and issues they confronted during their struggle for equality and freedom.
HIST 191
Explore the history of piracy and privateering in Atlantic waters — especially the Caribbean, and how these practices served as a means for northern Europeans to seize and smuggle American crops and precious metals.
Your faculty adviser will work with you to design a history program that fits your interests and goals. All history majors are required to take ten history courses, along with two related non-history courses, distributed as follows:
Qualified students are eligible for election to Phi Alpha Theta, the National Honor Society in history. Students inducted into the honor society plan events like film screenings and trips to historic sites.
George A. Billias American History Prize
This award was established by Clark alumni Michael and Lisa Klein Leffell to honor Professor Billias and the undergraduate student who has written the best essay in American history.
H. Donaldson Jordan Essay Prize
The H. Donaldson Jordan Prize is awarded to an undergraduate student for the best essay on a historical topic.
H. Donaldson Jordan Prize for Excellence in History Outside the Classroom
Paul Lucas European History Prize
This award was established by Clark alumni Michael and Lisa Klein Leffell to honor Professor Lucas and the undergraduate student who has written the best essay in European history.
Skills you will learn include:
During your junior year, you might be accepted into the history honors program. Joining the program means you’ll work closely with a professor to create a thesis on a topic of your choice. Examples of recent honors thesis topics are:
Building your foundation
The Clark Core allows students to take courses across diverse disciplines, helping them develop critical thinking skills and respect for other cultures and perspectives. You’ll connect classroom learning with action through world and workplace experiences.
