The study of history offers a critical understanding of the past that helps to illuminate the present and inform the future. Historians seek to understand the dynamics of change over time and the complexity of the human experience. This includes the study of politics, government and society; science, technology, and medicine; war and diplomacy; gender, race, and class; the global movement of people, money and ideas; and other topics. Everything has a history!
At Purdue, History students have the opportunity to take honors courses, study abroad, complete internships and research projects, and learn from 25 award-winning faculty in over 150 courses. Students majoring in history prepare for careers in law, public policy, government, education, business, and many other fields. They also pursue graduate degrees in areas such as history, library science, and museum studies. History majors read, interpret, and analyze a wide variety of texts and sources. They evaluate information in order to formulate persuasive, evidence-based arguments that communicate to a range of audiences. They may learn to preserve manuscripts and artifacts, and work with database and publishing software.