Welcome to the Department of History

The Department of History

Student research is a hallmark of the undergraduate program. History students unearth documents in the Boston-area archives, undertaking original research that develops their focus stamina and depth, and ultimately contributes new knowledge to humanity.  In history courses, students build original arguments based on archival sources, grapple with viewpoint diversity, and develop strong collaboration and leadership skills. Students also hone their persuasion skills by writing essays, giving presentations, and in oral defenses of research projects. With guidance from their faculty mentors, history majors have won numerous research scholarships. In addition to university-sponsored semester abroad programs, history students regularly participate in month-long summer Dialogues of Civilization courses taught by history faculty in world cities, such as Prague, Istanbul, Accra, Beirut, Budapest, or Beijing.

The Department of History includes twenty faculty whose expertise spans the globe and includes wide-ranging methodological and thematic specialties, such as public history, science and technology studies, environmental history, economic history and political economy, cultural history, imperialism and colonialism, violence and war, political and social movements, race and gender, and urban and rural history. 

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