What is History?
“History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”-David McCullough, US historian (1933-2022)
History is the laboratory of human experience. While other fields can design experiments to test hypotheses, history requires a different approach. Historians engage in a dialogue with the past: they collect sources from the people who came before us, find their voices, and reconstruct their experiences.
History is much more than memorization! Rather, history is a discipline centered around understanding the paths that led us to where we are today, the people who led us here, and where their lessons will lead us in the future.
What is History at Illinois?
An opportunity to hone your historical skills with world-renowned faculty and become a critical consumer and producer of history. Our program provides you the opportunity to create an educational experience tailored to your unique historical interests. Unlike many of our experiences with history in high school, your path in our program will be your own.
History major
The flexibility of the history major allows students to customize their path through the curriculum, explore their interests and passions, and pair the study of history with advanced language study, experiential learning, undergraduate research, and community engagement. The history major requires 36 credit hours of coursework.
Secondary education track
Want to teach history? Our flexible secondary education track will prepare you for your future career in social studies education. The main difference between this track and the general history major is that this track is designed to provide you with an Illinois social studies teaching license (9th-12th grade). This track requires 33 hours of history + supporting coursework in the social sciences and a 36-39 hour education core.
History + Data Science Major
Harness the power of data science to explore history! In our program you'll apply a historian's training and insights to data and become prepared for a wide variety of data-informed careers. Requires 36 hours of history coursework and 29-30 hours of data science coursework.
History minor
Explore fascinating and challenging historical questions and improve your research and writing skills with a history minor. Requires 18 hours of coursework.
Why Study History at Illinois?
Whether this is your main area of study or one of many, you'll gain the necessary skills for long-term professional success.
You'll learn how to communicate clearly, think critically, make arguments from areas of ambiguity, and work with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Our program focuses on research. Beyond our required small research seminars, you can also work with faculty in their research program or even complete independent research projects and have them published in our student-run Undergraduate History Journal at Illinois.
You can also take advantage of the country’s third largest library system. Spend time getting lost in the Main Stacks or dive into our vast archives!
We even offer a course on creating digital publications focusing on accessibility in the digital age (HIST 207) as part of the SourceLab Digital Documentary Publishing initiative (yet another opportunity to publish as an undergraduate).
Since every place has history, there will be no shortage of study abroad programs that you can choose from while more being added each year. Or if you are looking for something more local, we will help you find local jobs and internship on campus with the help of the LAS Career Services located in Gregory Hall Room 105.