The study of history prepares the student for effective citizenship in today's interdependent world. History courses look at how societies have organized themselves, and how they have interacted with each other around the world, from earliest times to the present. Faculty members have been selected for their ability to help students work with political and international issues; cultural and intellectual issues; gender, class and racial/ethnic issues; and economic, ecological, and technological issues. Courses are offered in European, United States, Asian, African, and Latin American history, and on special themes which transcend geographical and chronological boundaries. Students may obtain advanced placement in either American or European history.

Career Opportunities

As they study the past, history majors obtain analytical and writing skills and develop an appreciation of long-range trends. Graduates therefore enter fields from futures forecasting and management training to the law, public service, and journalism. The knowledge gained as a history major can also lead to careers in teaching--secondary and college-- as well as archival and museum work. Finally, students have the opportunity to experience personal development through the study of the past--useful in all careers, as in life itself. 

Students planning graduate work in history should include advanced course work in at least one foreign language. Completion of a thesis is also highly recommended.

Two useful publications for history majors include Careers for Students of History and Becoming a Historian: A Survival Manual, both published by the American Historical Association. Copies are available in the History Department office, Robinson Hall #205, or visit the AHA publications catalog online at http://www.historians.org/pubs/index.htm.

Special Features

The faculty encourages students to participate in Albion's off-campus programs. Experience in a foreign country or elsewhere in the U.S.--whether for a summer, a semester or a year--provides a rich background for history majors.

The faculty of the Department of History urge qualified and interested history majors to consider writing an honors thesis in history. Successful completion of the thesis will result in graduation with departmental honors in history. Candidates for honors must have a 3.0 grade point average or above in the major and must form a committee composed of two faculty members to supervise the thesis work. At least one of the committee members must be from the Department of History, although the department encourages the participation of faculty members from other disciplines and the pursuit of interdisciplinary work in general. The thesis may be based on earlier course work, but such papers must be significantly revised and expanded for submission as a departmental honors thesis.

Each thesis candidate must schedule at least one full unit of directed study (i.e., two 411s or one 412) in a semester or semesters prior to the semester the thesis is due. The name of each thesis candidate and the working title of the thesis must be submitted to the Honors Program director by September 15 for May graduates and by April 15 for December graduates. For spring semester, the deadline for completion of the thesis is April 1; for fall semester the deadline is December 1. Each thesis committee will determine the procedures and schedule for meeting the completion deadline. Honors theses in history must conform to Chicago-style format. Copies of the guidelines for the preparation and submission of theses are available from the Honors Institute director.

Zeta Xi Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta

Our Mission

"We are a professional society whose mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. We seek to bring students, teachers and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by our members in a variety of ways."

Chapter 2007-08 Graduates

Atkins, Ashly
Barnes, Hannah
Booser, Theodore
Bosin, Douglas
Catoni, Ronald
Charnley, Autumn
Coates, Ashley
DeCou, Amanda
Duff, Delores
Errichiello, Brenda
Gavin, Ross
Goetz,Elizabeth
Hainline, Danielle
Harris, James
Hearns, Brian
Jackson, Jeremy
James, Sarah
Jesgarz, Nathaniel
Joseph, Danielle
Kalmus, Matthew

For more information please contact Dr. Chris Hagerman and visit  www.phialphatheta.org 

History Club

A diverse group of students meet periodically to view films and share interdisciplinary studies in history. The club holds a plethora of activities including discussion of historical issues, games, visual arts, and museum trips. Interested students are encouraged to join as you do not have to be a history major to become a member. Please contact Jim Harris for more information.