The History Department has been recognized by the American Historical Association as one of 12 outstanding history departments in the United States and Canada, selected for its "brilliant teaching and leadership." The departments strongest areas include the modern American West, classics, early modern Europe, and the Atlantic World.
USU history majors have the opportunity to work in depth on undergraduate research projects. Students learn how to conduct and present their research all while taking advantage of faculty mentoring, study abroad opportunities, and more. Students learn the skills needed to research, analyze, think critically, and communicate clearly all of which are highly valued skills in various career paths. About one-third of history graduates from USU go on to teaching, while two-thirds go into law, medicine, or business fields.
The preferred degree in the history program is the BA, which requires proficiency in a foreign language. Students may, however, choose to pursue the BS degree, which requires a significant amount of coursework in the College of Science.
Emphases:
If students choose not to have an emphasis, they will explore a broad and varied history background.
- History Teaching: This emphasis is for students interested in teaching, particularly in secondary education. Students will complete history courses and will also be required to take a number of classes that will prepare them to be educators.
Education Component:
This is for the history teaching emphasis only. In order to obtain a secondary teaching license for grades 6-12, students must complete the 35-credit Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP), which includes one semester of student teaching in a public school. This program is administered by USUs School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) within the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. Student must apply to the School of TEAL the semester before taking STEP courses. This is usually the fall of their junior year. Students learn subject content through the History Department, and spend the last year or two studying education techniques through the STEP program.
Students in the history teaching program are required to select an approved teaching minor in order to expand their career options.

