However, many other schools offer similar advantages, and in some cases even better programs in some subfields. So these two universities may be a cut above some other selective colleges in the quality of undergraduate history education, in general. Both have massive library systems (important to attracting top historians.) Both Chicago and Columbia have long-established Core Curriculum programs that provide undergrads interdisciplinary breadth in humanities and social science disciplines related to history. Professors are rewarded for excellent undergraduate teaching ( ). At Chicago, at least, some of the most prominent historians on the faculty often do teach undergraduates. Both emphasize frequent classroom discussion of primary source materials (not textbooks). They attract very good undergraduate students and some of the best history scholars in America. Two schools not on the OP’s list, the University of Chicago and Columbia, have smaller undergraduate classes, on average, than nearly any other research universities. At very selective colleges and universities you are likely to get a relatively high quality of classroom discussion, which can be an important part of undergraduate history education. Undergraduates probably are most likely to be taught by distinguished historians in small classes, where the professor leads discussions and grades papers, at very selective private research universities (such as the Ivies, Chicago, Duke, or Johns Hopkins.) Undergrads are even more likely to be taught by experienced history professors (though not necessarily by the most distinguished history scholars), in small classes with a high level of student-faculty engagement, at liberal arts colleges. Even when they do, they aren’t necessarily as good at teaching as they are at research. However, especially at large research universities with relatively high student:faculty ratios, the most distinguished professors (whose publications tend to drive up their schools’ graduate program rankings) may not often teach undergraduates. They have some relevance for undergraduate programs, to the extent they reflect the quality of history teaching that may be available to undergraduates. These two rankings are graduate program rankings. US News and the National Research Council both rank university history departments. It is hard to single out a few colleges as having consistently, categorically better undergraduate history programs than anywhere else. If you are interested in Tang Dynasty China you may find the best instruction at one school if you are interested in Colonial North America, you may find better instruction at another.
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Then see this list of successful people who majored in History.The answer will vary depending on the subfield(s) of interest you want to consider and on the criteria you apply. Pace, of McMurry University, offers his thoughts here:Īre you still looking for proof that people can succeed in the world if they major in History? Likewise, Portland State University has a great site with lots of useful links: What can you do with an undergraduate degree in history? The American Historical Association offers information at these sites: See the links below for much more information … Lots of other experts have put a great deal of time and thought into this question. The Iowa State University Career Services Office has a number of ideas on what you can do with a degree in History.īut don’t take the History Department or ISU’s word for it.
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We provide the education, you decide how you want to take on the world. This is a valuable skill, but whether you use it in education, law, government, business, the military, or any of a number of other careers is up to you. Of a Liberal Arts education teaches you to view problems from a variety of perspectives and gives you the tools to determine the best way to solve each problem. Today, we have a lot more than seven subjects, but the effect is the same: History offers you an education that develops your thinking, communication, and problem solving skills. The education you get as a history major has its roots in the Classical education, centered around the Seven Liberal Arts, that developed in medieval universities.
BEST HISTORY PROGRAMS UNDERGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL
So what’s the answer?īut you must understand that a getting a degree in history isn’t “job training.” Studying history is not a professional program, it’s an education. Everyone wants to be marketable and find a job when they graduate from college. Not knowing the answer to this question keeps more people from studying history than anything else.