History is the response to the eternal desires of mankind to know more about itself. For this reason, students experience a variety of courses designed to emphasize the importance of people, places, societies, cultures, ideas, values, and events of the past that have or are still impacting and shaping the future.
In addition to the traditional Bachelor of Arts degree, the department offers an accelerated Bachelor of Arts to Master of Arts in History. Students within the department’s graduate programs receive a rigorous instruction in historical scholarship, research methods, and practical skills training. Students can earn a traditional Master of Arts in History or pursue a Master of Arts in History with a Public History Emphasis. Lastly, the Department of History also offers the Ph.D. in Humanities with an emphasis in History.
Students earning a degree within the department can engage in guided research with faculty beginning in their first year and complete the program with a capstone senior project, thesis, or dissertation (depending on your degree program) that reflects their education as well as their future career aspirations.
History majors have access to the Kemper Digital Humanities Laboratory, established by a generous contribution from the William T. Kemper Foundation (located in Cockefair Hall), and the Digital Collaboration Studio (located on the 3rd floor of the Miller Nichols Library) which, allows students to explore the intersections of historical research and new media by producing innovative public history, digital history, and digital humanities projects for coursework, independent projects, and/or in collaboration with community partners.
WHAT STUDENTS WILL DO
Students within the Department of History will gain incredible real-world learning experience including many opportunities outside the classroom.
Archivist
Attorney
Author
Business strategist
Communications coordinator
Educator
Executive director
Financial advisor
Historian
Journalist
Library director
Marketing director
Museum curator
Nonprofit foundation director
Professor
Project administrator
Political consultant
Public history
The Department of History allows students to earn course credit while gaining valuable professional experience in public and private institutions engaged in the work of history throughout the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan area. Internships are an important aspect of the history student’s education as they provide meaningful work experiences under the mentorship of an experienced and knowledgeable professional within the field.