Welcome

In the tradition of the Christian liberal arts, the history program provides a wide range of course offerings and experiences. A strong emphasis is placed on the cultivation of a breadth of historical learning along with specific skills -- critical thinking, high-quality writing, methods of research -- which are essential career tools. In addition to its course offerings in American, European, Non-western, and Public History, the department offers many enrichment opportunities for our majors -- including working with professors on research, internships with museums, historical archives, and governmental agencies, study semesters around the world, and teaching in local schools. Our students enjoy the benefit of studying in several learning environments, in which we creatively connect the past to the present.

Student learning and research are enhanced by a substantial history collection in the college library, which includes an up-to-date set of the major monographs and journals in each historical field, computer-based bibliographic and statistical resources, the Early American Imprints and Early American Newspapers digital collections, and a far-reaching interlibrary loan system. All of our history faculty hold Ph.D. degrees and are active research scholars, so students are encouraged to pursue their own historical interests along with the faculty.

In the last decade our history majors have gained admission into such graduate institutions as Duke University, Harvard University, Lehigh University, Penn State University, Princeton Theological Seminary, Syracuse University, University of Wisconsin-Madion, Temple University, University of Delaware, University of Illinois, University of Hawaii, Loyola-Chicago, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Pittsburgh, University of Toronto, University of Virginia, Villanova University, Winterthur Museum Program in Early American Civilization, Yale University, and Yale University Law School, to name but a few. They have pursued graduate degrees in fields ranging from history, museum studies, material culture, law, education, special education, library science and seminary to English, communications, sociology, theater, and environmental policy. Our department therefore has a strong track record of success when it comes to graduate school preparation, and our students have excelled in a wide range of professional careers.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Dr. Norman Wilson, Department Chair
(717) 766-2511 ext. 2047
nwilson@messiah.edu