2010-2011 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
History - Program Description
For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section in this catalog.
Chair: Galbraith. Professors: Cole, Goode, Kelleher, ONeill, Smither, G. Stark, Tripp; Associate Professors: Benjamin, Buckridge, Cooley, Coolidge, Crouthamel, Galbraith, Montagna, Morison, Murphy, Shan, Shapiro-Shapin, D. Stark, Underwood, Wangdi, Welch; Assistant Professors: Andrews, Chapman, Daley, Eaton, Gottlieb, Lingwood, Moore, Rosales, Stabler.
Website: www.gvsu.edu/history
What human beings can do, might do, or ought to do makes no sense at all unless we know what they have done already. This involves the study of History. History examines the lives of people, the consequences of ideas, and the unending quest of daily bread. It presents human misfortunes and greatness as well as the struggle for survival. Study of the past reveals valuable achievements as well as dreadful mistakes, and in so doing helps us meet the unexpected challenges of our own day.
Mission Statement
The Department of History advances public knowledge and understanding of the past as it informs the present and future. We offer a multidisciplinary approach that combines our global cultural heritage with long-neglected voices, uses a range of tools and perspectives, and provides the knowledge and skills necessary for informed decision making.
Vision
We provide a student-centered program that is committed to excellent teaching, scholarship, and service. Through our commitment to the liberal arts tradition, we help students develop skills of inquiry, reflection, critical analysis, dialogue, and expression. We are dedicated to inspiring all our students - be they our History and Group Social Studies majors or students we encounter in our general education courses - to pursue excellence in their chosen professions and serve the broader local, regional, national, and international communities in which they live.
As a community of scholars, we help to enlarge the state of knowledge in our field through our active engagement in intellectual and creative pursuits. We recognize that active scholarship enriches our teaching and enables us to serve students, the university and the broader community. We bring the historians perspective to courses in the University Honors College and other interdisciplinary programs; we participate actively in preparing teachers of History and Social Studies as well as preparing our majors for further study and careers in a variety of fields. We promote faculty and student participation in national and international inquiry and discourse. We are dedicated to serving the broader West Michigan community through our engagement in local and regional history forums.
Career Opportunities
Careful training in research, writing, critical reading, and interpretation makes History graduates attractive to a great number of employers who value these abilities. History majors enjoy a high rate of employment in a wide variety of careers, including politics, law, business, education, journalism, foreign and civil service, editing, and private research.
Graduate School Opportunities
History majors have gone on to graduate work in the fields of Higher Education/Student Affairs, History, International Relations, Law, Library and Information Science, Museum Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Public History, Social Work.
Participating Programs
The History Department participates in the following programs:
- African/African American Studies
- College of Education
- East Asian Studies
- Group Social Studies
- Honors College
- Latin American Studies
- Liberal Studies
- Middle East Studies
- Russian Studies
- Women and Gender Studies
Student Organizations (www.gvsu.edu/stuey)
Beginning in the Fall of 2009, the History Club will offer history oriented programs. Please see the Department of History website for updates: www.gvsu.edu/history/.
Honors Organization
Phi Alpha Theta
The local chapter of this international History honor society promotes the study of History by honoring students who have maintained high academic standards throughout their college careers. Members participate in a variety of intellectual and social activities throughout the academic year. Students who have completed at least four history classes at Grand Valley State University with a minimum GPA of 3.25 in those history classes, and an overall GPA of at least 3.25 are encouraged to apply. Contact Professor Alice Chapman, Chapter Advisor, for more information.
Scholarship Opportunities
The Breen Prize and Niemeyer Scholarship(s)
The Breen Prize and Niemeyer Scholarship are awarded by the department each year. Details are available in the History Department office, D 1160 MAK and on our website.