Everything and Everyone has a History

Illinois historian, Erik S. McDuffie, says Midwest played a crucial role in Black freedom movements worldwide

The Midwest played a central role in the growth of Black freedom movements in the 20th century. It was a key site for incubating and expanding the ideas of political activist Marcus Garvey, not only in the U.S., but globally, said University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professor of ...

Graduate student You Lan awarded 2024 CCWH/Berks Graduate Student Fellowship Award

We are pleased to announce that graduate student You Lan has been awarded the 2024 CCWH/Berks Graduate Student Fellowship Award. She will receive $1000 to support the completion of her dissertation. Lan's dissertation ...

Recently retired: Professor Kai-wing Chow

After 36 years of teaching at the University of Illinois, our colleague Kai-wing Chow retired in May 2024. Chow is a highly esteemed historian of China with an international reputation. His areas of expertise include Chinese...

U. of I. sophomore Iván Olivo and Marcelo Lepeley

Humanities Research Lab courses provide community based research education: Spotlight on professor Yuridia Ramírez' oral history methods class

As an oral historian, Illinois history professor Yuridia “Yuri” Ramírez records the stories of people who have never been written about in history books. “These...

Alumni spotlight: Alexander Rushing ('24), Historic mining specialist

Editors note: This piece originally appeared on the Prairie Research Institute Website. Meet Alexander Rushing, who...

"Voters elected Hitler because they liked his fascist promise. Trump’s reelection repeats that history," op-ed by professor Peter Fritzsche in The Forward

Professor Peter Fritzsche recently wrote an op ed in The Forward about the 2024 presidential election. Voters elected Hitler because they liked his fascist promise. Trump’s reelection repeats that history "The end of the presidential campaign was characterized by broad charges that...

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Chart Your Own Path

Our program empowers you to explore your interests and passions within history and gives you the flexibility to pair the major with advanced language study, internships, study abroad experiences, undergraduate research, and community engagement.

History Major History Minor

East Asian Civilizations

Explore the three major East Asian civilizations from ancient and classical times, through the period of Western influence, political revolution, and modernization, to the contemporary age and the emergence of East Asian superpowers.

HIST 120

History of the Islamic Middle East

Explore the history of the Muslim world from the rise of Islam to the present, with an emphasis on the modern period.

HIST 135

US History Since 1877

Explore U.S. history from the end of the Civil War to the present, focusing on struggles to achieve a multiracial democracy, the evolution of an industrial, urbanized, and pluralistic society, the intersections between domestic and global affairs, and the practice of historical interpretation.

HIST 172

World War II: A Global History

Explore the political, military, social, and economic history of the Second World War.

HIST 209

Ancient Rome

Explore the political, social, economic, military, institutional, religious and cultural development of Rome from 753 BCE until 480 CE.

HIST 241

Native American History

Explore the Native American experience in North America from the time of first contact to the present.

HIST 278

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Conduct Your Own Research

Research is embedded in the history curriculum with an emphasis on transforming students from consumers of history to critical producers of it. All students have access to the resources of the second largest university library in the country.

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Alumni Spotlight: Lisa Nikodem (2008)

Lisa Nikodem is the director of organizing at Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action.