If you’re interested in how people, society and institutions have changed and continue to change over time, you may want to consider a major in American studies, history or social science.

Among the most interdisciplinary of the liberal arts, these majors give students the chance to examine issues or ideas from many perspectives, discussing the arts, economics, law, literature, politics and social change. Each emphasizes logical thinking, creativity and skills in critical analysis that students can use in many careers.

The History Major

The study of history fosters a critical approach to the human past, an acquaintance with past and present issues of social justice, and an awareness of human diversity. History courses provide an opportunity for students to gain knowledge of the human past and present in order to locate themselves and others in a historical, social and intellectual context.

For almost 2,500 years, students of history have applied their understanding of human affairs to politics, law, foreign affairs and diplomacy. More recently, many history majors who have graduated from Dominican University have become certified elementary and secondary school teachers, government employees or graduate students of library and information science. With foreign language preparation, others have joined the Foreign Service or enrolled in graduate programs in history.

The history major program teaches students to analyze historical problems from several perspectives, to use primary sources and historical literature critically and effectively, and to employ historical perspectives and sources appropriately in the construction of oral and written accounts of the human past. History majors acquire both general knowledge of the human past and more detailed knowledge of a concentration within the field of historical inquiry. Areas of concentration include US history, Latin-American history, European history and global history. Each concentration requires 36 semester hours in history, including at least 15 hours in the area of concentration. A fifth concentration designed for future secondary and middle school teachers requires 32 semester hours of history and nine semester hours in other social science disciplines. At least 15 of the semester hours of the history major must be taken at Dominican University.

Some of the courses offered include:

• Islamic and European Civilization
• History of the Atlantic Community
• Social World of the Renaissance
• Colonial Latin America
• Latin American-US Relations
• Aging and Death in the Modern West
• A History of Globalization
• The Historical Experience of Women in the US
• American Intellectual History
• European Popular Culture, 1500-1900