History

Clayton Brooks, Department Chair

Faculty: Amy Tillerson-Brown, Mary Hill Cole, Josh Howard, R. Matthew Gildner

History is the study of past and present worlds that we explore in their own contexts through written, oral, and material evidence. Using primary sources and engaging in historical debates, historians analyze and interpret the actions, thoughts, values, and challenges of people in different cultures and eras. The discipline of History emphasizes the importance of historical perspective and context in seeking to understand the past. We encourage the study of various cultures through academic travel and learning foreign languages. History majors pursue careers in a variety of fields, including law, teaching, public history, business, the arts, government, and foreign service.

Virginia Program at Oxford

The History and English departments co-sponsor the Virginia Program at Oxford. Working with British tutors in courses devoted to Tudor-Stuart England, students can earn 3 s.h. of History credit and 3 s.h. of English credit that count toward the History and English majors and minors. History majors are urged to apply to this program. For more information, see Mary Hill Cole.

Civic Engagement Opportunities

Students may develop their historical skills by working as interns in local museums, arts organizations, and historical societies. Other opportunities for civic engagement include working with MBU History faculty on oral history projects in the local community and serving as a Changemaker Student Research Archivist. For their civic engagement in HPUB 230 and HPUB 300, students may receive community service credit in the General Education.