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.

Build a foundation

Expand your horizons

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.

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.

Stephen Warren working with a student

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.

Writing Center staff member and student

History Writing Center

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

Old Capitol

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

Mariola Espinosa

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.
Shane Bobrycki

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.
Rosemary Moore

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

Interdisciplinary Consortium for the Study for War & Genocide Monthly Workshop Meetings featuring Prof. Bedross Der Matossian from UNL promotional image

Interdisciplinary Consortium for the Study for War & Genocide Monthly Workshop Meetings featuring Prof. Bedross Der Matossian from UNL

Friday, March 7, 2025 10:30am to 12:00pm
University Capitol Centre
The CLAS Office of the Dean and the Research Development Office invite you to a monthly workshop series focused on the Interdisciplinary Consortium for the Study of War and Genocide. The third monthly workshop will be held on Friday, March 7, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in 1117 UCC. This is a special seminar in collaboration with International Studies that will feature a talk from Professor Bedross Der Matossian (Professor of History and Hymen Rosenberg Professor in Judaic Studies) from the...

Faculty Colloquium - Always Putting in Safety the Prestige and Seriousness of the Class: The Puerto Rican Medical Association and the Limits of Medical Ethics in the Early 20th Century

Friday, March 7, 2025 3:30pm to 4:30pm
University Capitol Centre
Mariola Espinosa: Always Putting in Safety the Prestige and Seriousness of the Class: The Puerto Rican Medical Association and the Limits of Medical Ethics in the Early 20th Century

Faculty Colloquium - Joseph Aleksandrovich Schneider: A Case Study in Pornography and Censorship in Soviet Latvia

Friday, March 14, 2025 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Schaeffer Hall
Jessica Werneke - Joseph Aleksandrovich Schneider: A Case Study in Pornography and Censorship in Soviet Latvia
Rapid Response History promotional image

Rapid Response History

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 5:00pm to 6:50pm
Schaeffer Hall
Rapid Response History offers historical and scholarly perspectives on current events. This spring, we examine the implications and historical background of “Project 2025” as a blueprint for political transition, and for the policies of the second Trump Administration. Scholars will examine a range of topics, including social policy, the federal civil service, immigration, native policy, energy and the environment, reproductive rights, and antisemitism. All sessions are open to the public...
View more events