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.

Upcoming events

GHS Book Sale promotional image

GHS Book Sale

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 9:00am to 4:00pm
Schaeffer Hall
GHS Book Sale
Virtual Editorial Session with Mark Simpson-Vos promotional image

Virtual Editorial Session with Mark Simpson-Vos

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Virtual

Working on a book proposal? Starting to turn your dissertation into a book? Have questions about the academic publishing industry? Join us for one of two “ask-an-editor-anything” sessions with former Obermann Editor-in-Residence Mark Simpson-Vos.

Wednesday, December 3 from 12-1pm and 4-5pm (on Zoom).

Space is limited, RSVP required. RSVP here: https://obermann.uiowa.edu/MSV-virtual

Virtual Editorial Session with Mark Simpson-Vos promotional image

Virtual Editorial Session with Mark Simpson-Vos

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Virtual

Working on a book proposal? Starting to turn your dissertation into a book? Have questions about the academic publishing industry? Join us for one of two “ask-an-editor-anything” sessions with former Obermann Editor-in-Residence Mark Simpson-Vos.

Wednesday, December 3 from 12-1pm and 4-5pm (on Zoom).

Space is limited, RSVP required. RSVP here: https://obermann.uiowa.edu/MSV-virtual

Curator Guided Tour of ‘Paper Engineering in Art, Science, and Education’  promotional image

Curator Guided Tour of ‘Paper Engineering in Art, Science, and Education’

Thursday, December 4, 2025 4:00pm to 5:00pm
University of Iowa Main Library
Join co-curators Giselle Simón, Elizabeth Yale, and Damien Ihrig for a special guided tour of their exhibition.
Heard It through the Grapevine: The UI and HBCU Connection promotional image

Heard It through the Grapevine: The UI and HBCU Connection

Thursday, December 4, 2025 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art
This program invites alumni from creative fields and scholars to discuss Iowa’s impact on the education and professional lives of Black alumni, and the education of Black artists in general.
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