History is the heart of a liberal arts education. The Department of History encourages students to develop an understanding of change--how it happens and why it happens the way it does--that enables them to engage our dynamic world as active and informed citizens.
Historians are trained to ask tough questions, and to think critically about the past and present. What are the origins of the world in which we live: its social and political organization, its economy, its many diverse cultures? Where did the challenges we face today come from? What lessons can we learn from past societies' efforts to resolve their own challenges? As students work to raise and research these questions, they learn valuable skills they will carry with them for life.
Courses prepare students for the future by imparting core competencies for today's world. History majors learn to conduct research, analyze evidence, and communicate orally and in writing. Because of the geographical breadth of history courses, students develop a global consciousness that enables them to navigate the streets (and the news) from Iowa City to Berlin to Nairobi. Employers value history students' ability to analyze human and social behavior, to research pressing problems, and to express themselves clearly.