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

Professors Ariel and Hernandez Fernandez

Exploring Food, Culture, and Memory: History Scholars Lead Food Studies Initiative

Monday, May 11, 2026
History professors Ari Ariel and Viridiana Hernández Fernández co-led a Food Studies Obermann Working Group starting in 2023-24, an initiative supported by the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies. As a part of that
Ashley Howard 2025

Ashley Howard Awarded CLAS Collegiate Teaching Award

Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Ashley Howard was one of six individuals awarded the Collegiate Teaching Award given annually to faculty who demonstrate outstanding performance in the classroom.
Lisa Heineman

Lisa Heineman receives Hubbard-Walder Award

Thursday, March 26, 2026
Lisa Heineman, co-director of the Jewish Studies Certificate and Professor of History and Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), received the Hubbard-Walder Teaching Award which honors UI faculty who participate in teaching and contributed to curriculum and/or program development.

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