Why Study History

Discover the past, shape the future

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The past isn’t simply the present dressed up in costume; it’s a world of its own, full of intrigue, humanity, and difference. By exploring it, you’ll develop a profound understanding of life and society across time.

"While studying the things I’m passionate about, I learned critical thinking, research, and analytical skills that have been invaluable in formulating opinions and arguments and being able to effectively communicate them to others.”— Izzy Sauer, Class of 2025

The study of history empowers you to think analytically and critically, understand the foundations of the most pressing problems of the present, build empathy, and become an engaged citizen.

Study History at Illinois

Do you want to gain a better understanding of the world and how we got to where we are today? To learn how movements and ideas spread? Why empires rise and fall? Then History at Illinois is the perfect home for you.

We will guide you in creating new historical knowledge—making you a creator, not just a consumer of history. Along the way, you’ll forge lifelong friendships, learn from world-class teachers, and develop skills that will prepare you for a wide variety of career paths. You’ll join a vibrant community of scholars dedicated to achievement, curiosity, and diversity. And you’ll have lots of fun along the way!

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Our Program

History major

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Customize your path through history! Our flexible major allows you to follow your curiosity. Learn a new language, gain hands-on experience, conduct original research, or make a difference through community work. The history major requires 36 credit hours of coursework.

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Secondary education track

Want to teach history? Earn an Illinois social studies teaching license (9th-12th grade) with our flexible secondary education track. This track requires 33 hours of history + supporting coursework in the social sciences and a 36-39 hour education core. 

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History minor

Explore fascinating and challenging historical questions and improve your research and writing skills with a history minor. Requires 18 hours of coursework.

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A history major pairs well with other coursework

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Pair the study of history with coursework in other disciplines. Popular second major options include earth, society, and environmental sustainability, gender and women's studies, political science, psychology, and sociology. 

STEM majors find the study of history useful for long-term success in fields such as medicine, which require the ability to communicate clearly, understand different points of view, and work with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Explore our course catalog

Career Preparation 

A degree in history prepares you to excel in a wide range of careers where critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and strong communication skills matter. Our alumni have had outstanding success in careers spanning politics, education, law, public service, technology, business, and more.

97% of surveyed 2024-2025 University of Illinois history graduates secured a first destination, which means they’ve gotten jobs, are heading to graduate school, or are volunteering full time (that's higher than the campus average!). 

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The core skills learned through the study of history include:  

• Analytical skills including reading critically, analyzing quantitative and qualitative evidence, and reasoning logically
• The ability to assess evidence and develop persuasive, evidence-based arguments
• The ability to assess conflicting interpretations
• Communication skills, ranging from effective writing to public speaking to preparing reports and summaries of evidence
• Inter-personal and cross-cultural skills and understanding
• Global fluency
• Research and project development skills 

These rank among the core skills that are most highly sought after by employers in the 21st century!

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Career Resources

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The University of Illinois and College of LAS offer a variety of career counseling services that you can take advantage of as a student. You can access dedicated career support in LAS Career Services, Career Center, and peer support in the LAS Paul M. Lisnek Hub.

Internships

Gain hands-on experience working in archives, museums, libraries, media organizations, cultural institutions, and advocacy groups and see how historical skills power real-world work. History hosts an internship course, HIST 398: Public History Internship, where students develop a program of study or research related to an internship or other relevant employment opportunity. Our students have also interned locally in Champaign-Urbana and across the country.

Read student internship stories

Community

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Connect with your peers through history centered clubs, honor societies, and student-run publications where you can discuss ideas, share research, and build friendships with people who love history as much as you do. Our majors find a home in: 

• Phi Alpha Theta: A national honors society that promotes the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. 
• History Undergraduate Journal: The Undergraduate History Journal at Illinois publishes original undergraduate research. Join the journal team and develop skills in research, editing, and writing, or submit your work for a chance to be featured in the next issue!

Research

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Research is embedded in the history curriculum. You'll learn how to ask original questions, analyze evidence, and create new historical knowledge—becoming not just a learner of history, but a producer of it. All students complete two small research-intensive seminars (HIST 200 and 498) that teach them core research skills. 

• Conduct your own research: Faculty work with students in their research programs and students can also receive course credit for conducting their own research under the guidance of a faculty member in our honors program.
• Publishing opportunities:  The SourceLab Digital Documentary Publishing initiative and Undergraduate History Journal at Illinois offer opportunities for students to publish their research.
• World-class resources: All students have access to the amazing resources of the second largest university library in the country!

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Study Abroad

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Study history where it was made in our plentiful study abroad programs. Spend a summer, semester, or year immersed in another culture, discovering global perspectives and gaining experiences that stay with you long after you return.

Our students study in the UK, Prague, Hong Kong, Australia, the Middle East, and all over the world.

"My favorite experience with the history department was studying abroad in Prague. The trip gave me a new perspective on how we interact with history in the modern day. It was also fun to explore such a unique place with a great group of classmates!"—Rachel Danna Mulick, Class of 2025

Read student study abroad stories

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