Welcome to the Department of History!
History matters. Those who practice history (either as scholars or teachers) examine and interpret documents and artifacts in an attempt to understand the complexity of the human experience. Historians explain to us how civilizations evolved and how the past connects to the present. They give context to events and historical forces that unfold around us.
The programs offered by the Department of History consist of undergraduate and master's-level graduate components. Undergraduates may choose among three tracks within the major. Small classes and the chance to work individually with a Ph.D. enhance the educational experience. An expanding collection of original research materials, located for the most part in the University library and the West Texas Collection, provides the student in history with excellent opportunities for research and study, especially in regional, Texas, and western American history. Study and research in Latin American, European, and Asian history is supported by library microfilm collections, with some emphasis on nineteenth and twentieth-century diplomatic developments in these regions. Original manuscript sources are complemented by excellent holdings of historical journals and periodicals.
To study history is to practice the skills of research, analysis, communication, and information management. All are necessary to thrive in the professional world. A major in history prepares the student for a variety of occupations. Many of our students have found satisfying employment in the public schools, the Park Service, the U.S. Military, in archival depositories, and the publishing world. Others have used their major in history as preparation for careers in law, the media, and market research.