History | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

students sitting on lawn in front of Schaeffer Hall studying

Centerpiece of a humanities education

With its global scope, history helps us to understand today’s crises as well as today’s success stories.

Why Iowa?

With the geographical breadth of our courses, our students develop a global consciousness along with key transferable skills such as critical thinking, communication, and empathy.

Study Here

History students listening in class at their desks, some are wearing hawkeye sweathsirts

Build a foundation

Students of history learn how to locate, verify, and interpret many kinds of evidence in order to understand the causes and effects of changes over time.

Build a foundation

students in special collections with history professor

We are a small, selective program offering students individually tailored study in a range of historical fields alongside opportunities to closely work with faculty on research, teaching, and public engagement at the MA and PhD levels.

Expand your horizons

Tyler Priest interacting with students in his History of Oil class

Learn from experts

In addition to teaching, our faculty members do cutting-edge research in their fields of specialization.

Learn from experts

See Yourself Here

Share our enthusiasm for the study of past societies and cultures to unlock important insights into the world we inhabit.

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Everything has history behind it

History is the centerpiece of a humanities education. It's about problem solving, gathering evidence, and fitting that evidence together to understand what happened in past societies – and why those things happened.

Write Your Story

Become an expert in analyzing and contextualizing the past to guide decisions for today and future. With our programs in history, you’ll find intellectual satisfaction and wisdom in understanding the past on its own terms.

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Iowa Native Spaces

Until recently, Iowa Native history was not a big part of social studies curricula in Iowa’s public schools. That is changing, and the University of Iowa is helping drive the change.

History Writing Center

The History Writing Center is available to any student in a history course needing assistance with a writing assignment.

History Corps

History Corps is a graduate student-led, online digital and oral history project based out of the Department of History at the University of Iowa.

News and announcements

Associate Professor Mariola Espinosa receives prestigious NEH grant

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Mariola Espinosa, associate professor of history, was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant, the nation’s most prestigious humanities scholarship.

Assistant Professor Shane Bobrycki discusses new book

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

"The Crowd in the Early Middle Ages" examines the importance of collective behavior in early Middle Age Europe.

Associate Professor Rosemary Moore reflects on service, teaching and research

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Associate Professor Rosemary Moore was on active duty in the U.S. Navy for five years. She uses this experience in both her courses and research on the Roman military.

Upcoming events

Application Deadline: Editorial Consultations with Sara Jo Cohen, Obermann Editor-in-Residence

Monday, October 13, 2025 5:00pm

111 Church Street

UI faculty, students, and staff are invited to apply for a 20- 30-minute editorial consultation with the Obermann Center's 2025 Editor-in-Residence, Sara Jo Cohen, at the Obermann Center library on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.

Potential discussion topics could include finding an editor, pitching a book, writing a book proposal, how the publishing process works, etc. Applications are due Oct. 13 by 5 p.m.

Learn more and apply at https://obermann.uiowa.edu/obermann-editor-residence.

Cohen is Editorial...

Registration Deadline: Graduate Student Breakfast & Talk with Sara Jo Cohen, Obermann Editor-in-Residence

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 5:00pm

111 Church Street

UI graduate students at all stages are invited to join Editor Cohen for breakfast and a talk focused on turning an article, thesis, or dissertation into a book. The session will take place on Tuesday, November 4, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Obermann Center library.

Register by October 21, 5:00 p.m. Learn more and register at https://obermann.uiowa.edu/obermann-editor-residence.

Cohen is Editorial Director at University of Michigan Press, where she acquires titles in music, theater and...

Spooky Night @ The Museum

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Old Capitol Museum

Happy Spooky Szn, Hawkeyes!

The Pentacrest Museums are excited to put on Spooky Night @ The Museum, open for all of our campus and community to enjoy. We'll keep the Old Capitol Museum open after hours for guests to find a treat and roam the galleries. Stumble upon docents with some slightly spooky history to share with you in our galleries like the original University President's Office, the original UI Library, and the original Iowa House Chamber where our Iowa Constitution was first drafted...

Honors in History Info Session

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 5:00pm to 6:00pm

Schaeffer Hall

Find out about the Honors in History program for undergraduates

RSVP Deadline: Undergraduate Career Session with Sara Jo Cohen, Obermann Editor-in-Residence

Friday, October 31, 2025 5:00pm

111 Church Street

Interested in a career in publishing? In this session on Tuesday November 4 at 12pm at the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies, Sara Jo Cohen, Editorial Director at University of Michigan Press, will reflect on her own career path, beginning with her undergraduate experience and the choices that helped shape her trajectory into academic publishing. She’ll discuss how she gained relevant experience, navigated early roles in the industry, and built a career in academic publishing. This is an...

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