History is the heart of a liberal arts education.
Students of history develop an understanding of change—how it happens and why it happens the way it does—that enables them to engage the world they inhabit and to participate fully in civic life. Department of History courses engage the diversity of American life and bring a global consciousness that helps students navigate the streets (and the news) from Iowa City to Berlin to Dar es Salaam.
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Thinking about majoring in History? Did you know that...
- History majors’ mid-career salaries are on par with those of business majors.
- Employers in tech, business, law, communications, health care, and public policy want people with humanities backgrounds.
- Double majoring makes you even more versatile (History BA requires 36 hours; many combine with PoliSci, JMC, IS, ANTH...).
- Political experts consider historical education to be key to a successful democracy.
The New York Times
“Anybody who studies history learns two things: They learn to do research and they learn to write .... What history will give you is the ability to pivot into the different ideas, the different fields, the different careers as they arise.”
"The most rewarding aspect of the major was that it developed my research and critical thinking skills."
2024 History BA graduate
"Being a history major taught me how to view the world differently."
2024 History BA graduate