Why Study History?

Studying history teaches you how to understand societies, change over time and—even more importantly—how forces combine to shape the future. 

Your history coursework offers an extensive foundation for finding and analyzing information. You will learn how to persuade others with facts and stories. These skills will enable you to become a leader. 

Five Reasons to Study History

  • Hone your ability to analyze world affairs by learning to understand the past behavior of people and societies
  • Recognize how change occurs and how our communities, the nation and the world have evolved
  • Prepare to become a good citizen, participate in the political system and advocate for democracy
  • Interpret the past so that you can better understand yourself and what the future holds
  • Learn to consider multiple points of view, and increase your cultural literacy 

What Others Are Saying

You don't need to take our word on the value of a history major, though. 

  • “History provides graduates with a wide range of transferable skills. Principally, students develop the ability to understand and analyze issues and events to a high level of competence.” (Source: The Guardian.) 
  • What these students bring to the table are communication skills and the ability to analyze. What company or organization wouldn't want that?” (Source: CNN Money.) 
  • An increasing proportion of the world's jobs, the ones that can't be outsourced overseas, are the ones that require interaction with people…And as highly valued as coders and data crunchers are right now, some argue that the trend may be towards fewer of those jobs in the future, not more.“ (Source: Business Insider.)