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
- Resources for History Majors
- Bachelor of Arts - Major/Minor/Honors
- History Three-Year Course Cycle
- Internship and research opportunities available
- Scholarships available
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 & Institutes
The Center for Arab-American Studies and the Center for Armenian Research are two important centers with strong ties to History faculty. In addition, there are also important historical dimensions that students can learn at the Center for Ethnic and Religious Studies.
History Faculty
Anna Muller
Ara Sanjian
There's something about me that is not dead about history, it's absolutely alive.— TYLER RHUDY, HISTORY
Anna Muller, Ph.D.
History Discipline Representative
Department of Social Sciences
2140 Social Sciences Building
313-593-5096
Department of Social Sciences
4901 Evergreen Road
Dearborn, MI 48128
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