History
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Program TypeMajor, Minor
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Degrees OfferedB.A., B.S.
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SchoolSchool of Arts & Sciences
Discover the past in fresh, creative ways to help nourish our present and future. Explore the great questions about what it means to be human.
What You’ll Learn
You’ll learn to answer for yourself humankind’s questions of meaning and purpose based on your study of cultures across a broad range of historical periods and places.
- What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be good?
- What is a good society, and what does it mean to live together in society?
- How does geography influence our economy, society, and politics?
- How does place and work influence our culture?
- How does the world of ideas interact with concrete realities?
- Examine History Through Our Unique Courses
Gain an advanced understanding of the field through our unique series of methodology courses focusing on historical inquiry: Historian’s Craft, Historiography and Prospectus, and Senior Seminar. You’ll work with faculty mentors and read great historians, past and contemporary.
- Participate in Research and Community Engagement Projects
Students gain professional experience at local historical institutions and engage with the community through projects like “Letters from the Great War.” Students are also encouraged to join the Dawson Society, a student organization promoting engagement with history, culture, and the conservative intellectual tradition.
- Work Closely with Faculty Who are Leaders in Their Fields
We have many outstanding professors, including Dr. Joseph Stuart, who specializes in the cultural history of the 18th and early 20th centuries; Dr. Julie Yarwood, an American religious historian; Dr. George Summers, a social and religious historian of the medieval Mediterranean world; and Dr. Margaret Mary Summers, who studied medieval education and religious culture. Dr. Alessandra Franco serves on our Rome Campus and is an expert in Italian studies.
- Become an Educator
For those interested in teaching, we also have history education and social studies education to prepare you in getting a teaching license.
Program Information
Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.
Featured Faculty
Joseph T. Stuart, PhD
Director of History, Professor of History, Fellow in Catholic Studies
I teach in the history and Catholic studies programs. I believe culture is the driving force of history, and that cult, in the sense of "worship," is the wellspring of culture. The vocation of the historian is enriching the world of the present through knowledge and preservation of the past.
Julie Yarwood, PhD
Associate Professor of History
I'm originally from central New York. After college, I found myself returning to academic work while also working in various roles in Student Development during my graduate school years. This integration has been an important component of my work during my time at Mary. While my primary role is on the faculty, I work closely with Student Development. This allows me to ask questions about both the academic experience and the student life experience, bridging these two worlds for those who work here and those who learn here.
