The History major is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the past while teaching important analytical skills, including research, writing, communication, source evaluation, critical thinking and analysis that enable students to tackle a wide array of problems. A historical perspective is valuable in nearly every field. History provides the essential background for understanding today’s society and current global issues. We provide our majors with a broad education in all areas of history from ancient to modern and covering all regions of the globe. We also offer a minor in history and students from any major are welcome to take courses.
WSU history majors are prepared for graduate work in history, museum studies, library science and law. They pursue a wide variety of careers in fields such as teaching, business, public relations, government, museum & historic site administration, social work, politics, research, editing, library science, and non-profit administration. Over half of our history majors are enrolled in Westfield’s teacher licensure program for middle and secondary education.
We offer a wide range of internship opportunities at museums and historic sites throughout New England and Washington, D.C. These include Old Sturbridge Village, the Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield Armory, Westfield Athenaeum, Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, and archival work at Boston’s Kennedy Library. The biannual Historical Journal of Massachusetts and the Global Women’s History Project, both affiliated with the History Department, also offer exciting internships on the WSU campus. They are nationally-recognized projects that offer students training in historical research, editing, journal production, event planning, and oral history. The department has a History Club and chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the National Honor Society.
All programs and courses previously offered by the Philosophy Department now reside under the History Department and are included below.
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