BA Liberal Arts: History (intended)

The History Department at Drew is devoted to providing its students excellent instruction in the interpretation of human experience in the past. Drew offers a broad range of courses in American, European and global history. Together, we ask: were the main tensions, problems, movements, developments at any given point? Who were the primary actors or agents, whether individuals, institutions, social classes, or other groups? What were the prevailing relations of social, political, and economic power, and how and why might these have shifted over time? More broadly, how and why does historical change happen?

Our students learn to do history itself: to locate evidence; develop original arguments in response to the views of others; and use evidence to support one’s own interpretation of the past. It is our great hope that our students continue to draw on modes of historical reasoning and research whatever they may do in life after graduation.

The History department emphasizes thinking historically about the world, the nation, the community and the self. Based on careful examination and evaluation of evidence – textual, oral, visual, digital and more - we aim to provide “usable pasts,” or interpretations useful to the present, according to the avenues of modern historical inquiry. Our department specializes in modern U.S. History, European History and Global History, emphasizing themes such as diverse perspectives in history, cultural and intellectual history and writing history.

Our students do history through active research in traditional media, such as in Drew’s Special Collections and the renowned Methodist Archives on campus, as well as in new media, such as digital humanities. We have an engaged student History Club, a chapter in Phi Alpha Theta (the National History Honor Society), and stipends for student research via the Leavell-Oberg Summer Fellowships. We also offer a combined BA/MA program with Drew’s Master of Arts in History and Culture (M.A.) program.

History students apply their research in internships and jobs. Drew’s location near New York City, as well as its proximity to numerous historical parks and museums in New Jersey, provide accessible opportunities to work at a variety of institutions. The skills in the History Major, including research, information management, original analysis, excellent written and oral communication and flexible problem solving, offer excellent preparation for careers in a range of fields, including education, business, law, politics and government, diplomacy, communications, journalism, museum and historic preservation, archives and library science and intelligence work.