Mission:

The study of history helps us to appreciate the complexities of the human past and the connections between the past and the present. History courses also help students to develop analytical, interpretive, and evaluative skills. Students in history courses learn how to locate and analyze many types of evidence, from ancient texts recorded on clay tablets or papyrus scrolls to more modern manuscripts, published documents, photographs, audio recordings, and motion pictures. They also learn to use the evidence they have analyzed to construct historical interpretations and to evaluate the interpretations of other scholars. Participation in frequent class discussions and the writing of numerous papers help history majors to hone their communication skills. When asked what you can do with a History major-we ask, what can't you do? No other major prepares students for as many different careers.

Impact:

Your gift to the History Department will fund student-faculty research, guest speakers, travel to conferences, career networking opportunities and most importantly, scholarships. A highlight of our academic year is the annual Phi Alpha Theta conference, held in different locations around the Pacific Northwest. Our students travel to the conference to present research and are almost always nominated for prizes. They leave proud of their accomplishments. Your gift helps ensure that any student, regardless of their financial background, can afford to go.

College is a time for students to make sense of an increasingly complicated and fragmented world. Studying history brings students out of themselves to reflect on how the experiences of the past can help us understand better the challenges of the present. That’s why knowledge of history is vital for our shared democracy.