History

History is our social memory, telling us who we are, where we belong and where we may be heading. It takes us out of the present, provides perspective, broadens the horizons of our minds, makes us aware of human possibilities and confronts us with the awareness that our present society is not the only way, or necessarily the best way, that humans have lived.

The history major helps to develop a breadth of vision, an enhanced capacity for critical thought, and greater facility with writing and research. Together, these skills prepare graduating students to grow as informed citizens and adapt to the fast-changing career opportunities of the twenty-first century.

The History Department offers a variety of major and minor degree programs, including several options for those who wish to teach history and social studies. History majors may choose from one of the three 36-credit tracks in history, public history, or secondary education (all requiring an additional minor). A Broadfield Social Studies with History Emphasis major (57 credits) is also available to students interested in secondary education. History and Broadfield Social Studies majors in secondary education apply for admission to the College of Education, complete major and minor requirements, and satisfy all requirements for a teaching license.

The College of Letters and Sciences is fully accredited by the North Central Association for Colleges and Secondary Schools.

History majors pursue a wide variety of career paths after graduation. Over half of our graduates earn a BSE in History or Broadfield Social Studies, which equips them to teach at the secondary level. Majors who choose the public history emphasis are well-prepared to pursue graduate training for careers in such areas as museums, archives, and interpretive centers. The liberal arts degree in History may serve as a foundation for careers in business, criminal justice, journalism, and government service.

A history major also provides an excellent base of preparation for professional programs in law, journalism or management as well as graduate study in history.

The dozen faculty members in the History Department all hold doctoral degrees from prestigious institutions. Their historical interests and specializations vary widely, providing a broad base of expertise and diverse viewpoints. Members of the department have won recognition for their achievements as both teachers and scholars, and have had books and articles published by major publishers and journals. No classes are taught by teaching assistants.

A well-rounded college preparatory program, ideally including foreign language study, is the appropriate high school preparation for a history major. Students may earn up to 12 college credits in history by achieving the appropriate score on advanced placement exams taken after completion of high school advanced placement courses.

The History Department has been cited by Barron's Best Buys in College Education as one of the impressive programs in the College of Letters and Sciences. The History Department faculty has received numerous teaching and research awards, including the University Research Award and the David Saunders Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Humanities. In recent years, two faculty members have been named as UW system Teaching Fellows.

Students enrolling in the Public History major or minor track are required to complete an internship in their field of interest. Recently, Public History students have completed history internships at local, state, and federal historical agencies, including the Milton House, Wisconsin Historical Society, and the National Archives and Records Administration.

The History Department sponsors a competitive program for History majors to earn stipends during the summer while conducting an independent research project with a faculty mentor. In addition, each year the History Department awards the Donald & Allene Graham Scholarship, the Paul Schmunk Memorial Scholarship, and the Michael Kennedy Memorial Scholarship to outstanding History majors and minors. UW-Whitewater students may also apply for the Graham Study in Britain Award, which supports semester or year-long study in the United Kingdom.

Recent history graduates have found employment in a wide array of fields including business, law enforcement, education, and government service Others have gone on to graduate or professional studies at schools including University of Minnesota, The Ohio State University, and Madison, Milwaukee, and Eau Claire campuses of the UW-System.

An active chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the international history honor society, accepts members who have completed 12 or more credits of history with a strong academic record in both history and their overall program. History majors and minors are also welcome to join UW-Whitewater’s History Club, which is open to all students regardless of their academic program. History Club members meet regularly to plan social and extra-curricular events.

Required History Courses

Historical Methods (taken sophomore year)
Senior Seminar (a capstone research and writing seminar)

Emphases (Choose One Sequence)

History (BA/BS)
Public History (BA/BS)
History Secondary Education (BSE)
Broadfield Social Studies with History Emphasis (BSE)