History

A major in History gives intellectual and professional training that empowers you to seek out connections between the past and the present.

By learning how to interpret the past, you’ll have a better understanding on what lies in the future and a stronger appreciation of the ever- changing human world and your place within it. Emphasizing research and communication, you’ll discover, critically analyze, imagine and recreate the contexts and meanings of earlier human activities from cultural, economic, political, and social perspectives.

This program provides solid skill development and helps create connections for working in government, law, business, teaching and communications.

What Will I Learn?

  • Conceptual: Understand causation, historical context, and change in diverse societies and institutions over time.
  • Primary Source Analysis: Critically engage with textual and non-textual sources to analyze historical processes.
  • Secondary Source Analysis: Assess the evidence and argument of scholarly work and understand its historiographical context.
  • Research: Utilize appropriate methodologies, databases and sources to investigate an historical question to develop a coherent historical narrative.
  • Communication: Convey original perspectives on the past through the clear presentation of complex sources and arguments.

Full list of History program goals can be found on the Hub for Teaching and Learning site.

 

Visit the University Catalog:

Learn about degree requirements and coursework for the History major and minor.

 

 

 

Get Involved

Join the History Students’ Association, an on-campus group that organizes social and outreach events promoting and supporting history in our community. Contact Professor Anna Muller for details.

Join Phi Alpha Theta, a national history honorary society that provides access to scholarships, prizes, conferences, and other resources for training historians. Contact Professor Anna Muller for details.

Explore Study Abroad programs. Sign up for MLK Day of Service or Alternative Spring Break. Discover other UM-Dearborn student organizations on VictorsLink.

Get Real World Experience

Consider doing one or more internships.  Among the internships which students of history have benefited from, and which the skills learned in studying history have benefited, are the Humanities/History Internship, the Politics, Policy and Law Internship, and the Ottawa Political Internship.  

Plan for Life After Graduation

Our alumni and alumnae have gone on to fulfilling careers in industry, journalism, government, law, publishing, library and information sciences, K-12 education, higher education and other important callings.  Career Services offers assistance with job searching, resumes, interviews or graduate school applications.

General Program Information

Courses Online

It is possible to take all the required courses to complete a History major online. Online History offerings can also be integrated into any regular program of study (for example, the History minor, Middle East Studies certificate and others).

History Portfolio

The History Portfolio requirement for the History degree has been discontinued as of Summer 2022.

Related Programs, Centers and Institutes

History Faculty

Camron Michael Amin

Professor of Middle East and Iranian Diaspora Studies

Hani Bawardi

Associate Professor of History

Anna Muller

Professor of History; The Frank and Mary Padzieski Endowed Professor in Polish/Polish American/Eastern European Studies; Director, Honors Program

Kristin Poling

Associate Professor of History

Ara Sanjian

Associate Professor of History; Director of Armenian Research Center

Jamie Wraight

Director, The Voice/Vision Archive; Lecturer IV in History

There's something about me that is not dead about history, it's absolutely alive.
— TYLER RHUDY, HISTORY

Sally Howell, Ph.D.
History Discipline Representative

Department of Social Sciences
2140 Social Sciences Building
313-593-5096

Department of Social Sciences

3018 - College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters Building
4901 Evergreen Road
Dearborn, MI 48128
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Phone: 313-593-5096
Fax: 313-593-5645