History

Type of Offering

Major

College

Arts & Sciences School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

History is the study of everything. No matter what your major or interest, history encompasses it - politics, economics, religion, science, art, mathematics, engineering, music, dance, fashion, food, literature, law, sports, war, medicine - each one has a history. In other words, the history major explores every aspect of the human experience.

Studying the past gives you skills like writing, research, and critical thinking to navigate life after college. Furthermore, students of history accumulate knowledge about societies and appreciate traditions from around the world. This cultured sensibility will help you build personal and professional relationships with people from all walks of life.

Large institutions just can’t provide the individualized attention and opportunity you’ll find here. At ��, you won’t be a face in the crowd. From the time you arrive on campus until you graduate, you’ll be guided by a faculty advisor. Your class sizes will be small and you can tailor your education to your interests. Our dedicated professors will get to know you. They will support you in your coursework, research, internships, and career preparations. You’ll arrive on campus as a student, but you’ll leave as a seasoned professional.

You’ll arrive on campus as a student, but you’ll leave a seasoned professional. Upon graduation, you’ll be ready for whatever the future holds – whether it’s attending graduate school or embarking on a career. The career outlook for this field is truly wide open.

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History Courses, Curriculum & Program Resources

A history major offers maximum flexibility. Double major and/or add a minor and still graduate in four years. Take classes like: Vietnam War; The American Environmental Movement; Military and Society; Hitler and Nazism; Digital History and more.

SOLID OUTCOMES

Our graduates get hired in a variety of fields, from museums to archeological sites and heritage villages.

In the past three years, history students have interned at a broad number of organizations, including:
- The National Archives, Washington, DC
- Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York
- Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, Put-in-Bay, Ohio
- Allen County Museum, Lima, Ohio
- National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center, Wilberforce, Ohio
- National McKinley Birthplace Museum, Niles, Ohio
- TheClio.com, virtually
- �� Archives on campus

Our students present papers at the National Phi Alpha Theta Conference and the Ohio Academy of History Annual Meeting.

Our students design and curate exhibits both on and off campus.

Our students have published in a variety of venues, including the Encyclopedia of Slavery in the Americas, Perspectives in History, History Matters, as well as the local Ada Herald.

Ignite your Passion

Find an internship you’ll love

We’ll connect you to opportunities in local and regional government, museums, nonprofits and private companies. Or, live, study, and work in Washington D.C. through The Washington Center program.

During the summer, Washington D.C. is full of interns from all over the world, and there is so much to see and do.

Gina Grandillo, BA ‘16, served as a legislative intern for a U.S. senator through The Washington Center’s summer program

Lead & Learn

If you have a passion for history and you’re ready to say “yes” to new experiences, you’ve picked the right major. Be prepared to join, lead, debate and travel.

Gain perspective on the U.S. justice system by participating in Mock Trial. You’ll develop research and communication skills and prepare for law school. Each year, we send �� teams to the American Mock Trial Association’s intercollegiate mock trial competitions. Each team prepares either a civil or criminal case for litigation before a panel of two or three judges. With the resources of our Pettit College of Law, our Mock Trial teams receive excellent preparation and they excel at these competitions.

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Learn about diplomacy and multiculturalism by participating in Model UN. Model UN is an academic organization that simulates the actions of the United Nations. Each year, ��’s team attends different conferences and represents one of the countries currently recognized by the UN. Our team prepares to represent that country’s stance on real-world issues in mock committees at international competitions in Chicago and New York City in the fall and spring semesters.

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Find yourself in the center of activity in the nation’s capital by participating in The Washington Center (TWC) program. TWC’s goal is to be a bridge between higher education and professional careers. TWC provides opportunities to work in the heart of government, meet people from all over the world, develop professional skills, build your resume and create a network of contacts. Many �� students find full-time employment through their TWC experiences.
Expand your worldview and experience different cultures. We encourage our history majors to spend a semester or summer living, studying and traveling in another country. ��’s extensive Study Abroad program has direct arrangements with several universities across the world. Our students have studied in Spain, South Korea, Cuba, England, Chile, France, China, Germany, Scotland, Costa Rica and Iceland.
As a history major, you’ll be considered for five honorary societies that recognize academic achievement. Membership opens the door to opportunities for professional development, attendance at regional and national conferences, networking and more. The five honoraries are: Phi Alpha Theta (the oldest and most prestigious honor society in history); Phi Beta Delta (honor society of international scholars); Pi Sigma Alpha (political science honorary); Studia Socialia Americae (national social studies honor society); and Gamma Theta Upsilon (international honorary society in geography).

Alumni Profiles

Check out a few outstanding alumni and see where a history degree can take you!

Josi Lieb, BA ’20

Public Program Coordinator, Andrew Jackson Hermitage

Jody Blankenship, BA ’00

President and CEO, Indiana Historical Society

Joseph Kent, BA ’10

Deputy Director and Curator, Atomic Museum, Las Vegas

Read more about Autumn

End game: a fulfilling history career

What will you choose?

Our graduates often receive multiple job offers and acceptance into several graduate schools or law schools. Check out where they’ve ended up.

Take the first step toward living the Polar Bear life

We would love to meet you and show you around!
Your health, safety and future are in good hands at Northern. We offer a host of services to keep you informed and meet your needs while you are on campus.

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History

History Courses, Curriculum & Program Resources

SOLID OUTCOMES

Ignite your Passion

Find an internship you’ll love

Lead & Learn

Mock Trial

Model UN

The Washington Center

Study Abroad

Honorary Societies