Hannah Krebs
Hannah Krebs is the 2023 recipient of the Frances Anne Kelleher Memorial Scholarship.
Explore your future with the History Department
- BS in History
- BA in History
- Minor in History
- BA in Group Social Studies for Secondary Ed
- BS in Group Social Studies for Secondary Ed
THE STUDY OF HISTORY
The craft of history interprets the past. History examines the lives of people, the consequences of ideas, and the products of human ingenuity. Historians engage in deep inquiry and persuasive debate. They craft narratives about the past based in evidence. The skills students gain through the study of history allow them to analyze and interpret evidence and evaluate how human societies change over time.
Choose from a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in history, or a minor in history or history of science, or select history as a teachable minor. Careful training in research, writing, critical reading, and interpretation makes history graduates attractive to a wide number of employers who value those abilities, especially in fields of law, library and museum work, finance, journalism, and public administration. Students also study history to advance their own liberal education and to train their minds.
THE PROFESSION OF SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION
Or, choose the major in Group Social Studies that is designed for students seeking teacher certification to teach in high schools or middle schools. Students study a variety of academic fields including History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics. Students acquire a strong background to engage their classrooms with vibrant content. Students have historically had great success in landing jobs in classrooms in Michigan, but also across the United States, particularly in Texas and Utah. A significant number of alumni have gone into educational administration, graduate school, and a wide variety of other professions. Social studies students can choose from a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S). We also support the Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching major designed for students seeking teacher certification in elementary education.
The Department of History is a unit of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
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The Public History badge allows students to enhance their degree program through place-based and community engaged projects drawing on current practices and methodologies.
The Certificate in Medical and Health Humanities allows students to broaden their understanding of medicine and health by incorporating the diverse perspectives of a variety of disciplines in the liberal arts and sciences.
The Civic Change Agent Badge aims to inspire students to align democratic ideals and civic commitment with deep knowledge of context, history, and policy. It teaches students the values and practices required to sustain democracy through formal curricula, project learning, and co-curricular activities.
Annual conference exploring various topics with national and international scholars. Open to all GVSU community and the public.
Annual regional contest for National History Day. For junior and high school participants.
Past locations have included Namibia and Vietnam!
Collection of Veteran interviews and associated projects.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Events
Join us for our current events.
Click to learn more about the History Department scholarships.
Scholarship Recipients
Ben Joseph
Ben Joseph is the 2023 recipient of the Quirinus Breen Prize
Annual Newsletters
Alumni and Graduates!
If you haven't already, please email [email protected] to provide a non-GVSU email address where we can keep in touch, primarily with our annual newsletter.
94% of GVSU alumni respondents rated their academic experience in the History and Social Studies majors as excellent or good.
Kyle Summerfield, Social Studies '14
Business owner and high school sports coach
Mario Pritchard, Social Studies '06
6th and 7th grade world history teacher, River Rouge, MI
Anita Anthony-VanOrsdal, History '06
Overseas Collegiate Faculty Associate Professor for the University of Maryland Global Campus, South Korea
Department News
History Scholarships
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GVNext: History Department News
Great Lakes History Conference speakers will relate historic substance abuse in warfare to current events
Speakers at the annual conference will explore the theme 'Intoxicated Warfare: Psychoactive Substances, Violence and Trauma.'
Sep 24, 2024
Annual Great Lakes History Conference to explore 'Division and Reaction'
The conference, which is free and open to the public, will be held October 5-7.
Sep 28, 2023
Recent Faculty Doings and Achievements
Dr. Whitlock published "Place-Based Social Studies Education: Learning From Flint, Michigan" in January of 2024. Learn more or order here.
David Zwart: Published a chapter in a book: “The 1918-1919 Flu Pandemic: Remembering Trauma amongDutch Americans,” in Dutch Immigrant Stories, Donald J. Bruggink, Dennis N. Voskuil, and William Katerberg, eds. Holland, Mich. Van Ralte Press, 2022.
Eric Covey: Publishes new article: “The anti-apartheid movement at Grand Valley State College in West Michigan,” Safundi: The Journal of South African and American Studies, February 22, 2023, pp. 1-15.
Professor James Smither is the editor of Death and Life in the Big Red One.
Professor Louis Moore is featured in a TIME article "The Historic Significance of a Super Bowl With Two Black Starting Quarterbacks" and MSNBC Article "Why we shouldn't let the NFL take credit for Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes"
Professor Patrick Shan publishes a book chapter
Patrick Shan: published a book chapter titled “From Admirer to Critic: Li Dazhao’s Changing Attitudes towards the United States,” in Sino-American Relations: The New Cold War, The University of Amsterdam Press, 2022, 31-54.