The study of History promotes both individual and collective self-understanding by examining the record of the past in its myriad forms. Historians learn to appreciate both the limits and the possibilities of our own age by pouring over the stories of those who have come before us, piecing together the powerful elements of social movements and scientific innovation, and developing an understanding for how modern cultures and societies evolved out of the confluence of their past conditions.

The Southwestern History program provides students with an especially strong global perspective and a solid grounding in the methods and fields of history, while also encouraging interdisciplinary connections. The History major avoids being simply a random collection of courses, instead providing students with a program concerned with finding patterns and connections.

Beginning with introductory courses in world history and area studies, the History curriculum prepares students for advanced courses on a range of topics, themes, and methods of history, and for historical research experience. The Department strongly encourages students to pursue off-campus international, intercultural, and academic internship experiences as a part of their curriculum, in order to experience the power of exploring another culture and its history firsthand.  

With their understanding of the past and the historical insight gained through their studies, History students typically go on to careers in all levels of education and government, as well as in law, social service, communications, museum and archival work, and business.