Q & A
Q: What do History majors study?
A: Only those aspects of Culture & Society that change over time.
Q: Isn’t that everything?
A: Just about, since there is no part of our lives – whether politics, economics, religion, or culture – that escapes Time.
Q: Can you give me some specific examples?
A: Below are a few examples of topics that history majors can study
- Rise and fall of ancient empires and states (Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Greece, Rome, Holy Roman Empire, Byzantine, Ottoman, just to name a few)
- Politics and Society in the Modern World (U.S., Europe, Latin America, China, Japan, Middle East)
- Wars (like the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War II and Holocaust) and their impact on society
- Revolutions and Reformations
- Law & Constitution
- Race relations
- Women and Gender
- Impact of markets on historical development
- The influence of religion, philosophy, literature, art, and science on politics and society, and vice versa (history of medieval and modern Church, history of Islam)
- Archaeology of the Ancient World
Q: What's the big deal about History being interdisciplinary?
A: In practical terms, this means that the curriculum for history majors is very flexible, opening up possibilities for a variety of double major or major/minor combinations. This has important implications both from an educational perspective and for career preparation.
Q: OK, so how can I make the interdisciplinary nature of History work for me as I plan my undergraduate education?
A: Suppose there is a specialized field that you are interested in - like literature, art, Catholic Studies, political science, philosophy, or theology. You can take specialized courses in these fields (either as a major or minor) and combine them with courses in History (either as a major or minor) in order to integrate this specialized knowledge into a broad, historical context.
Q: And what about the interdisciplinary nature of History and Career Preparation?
A: There are many students who would love to major or minor in history, but who do not want to pursue a career in teaching. Too often, students assume, incorrectly, that educational enrichment and career preparation are mutually exclusive. The reality is that as a history major (or minor), you can make the most of the rich intellectual and spiritual opportunities that the university has to offer without sacrificing career preparation. What does this mean in practical terms? Just to mention a few among many possibilities, History, either by itself or in combination with fields like Political Science, English, Catholic Studies, Theology, or Philosophy, offers excellent preparation for law school or government work, where research skills are highly valued. A double major or major/minor combination in History and Journalism offers an excellent path into the field of communications and journalism. For those students who love History, but plan to pursue a career in business, UST’s Renaissance Program offers the perfect solution, allowing students to major in history and minor in business. For more information visit our link “Careers in History.”
