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History Major, Minor

Undergraduate Program On Campus

What You'll Learn

A history major prepares you for a wide range of pursuits. You might pursue a career in teaching, public service, graduate or professional school (such as law or medicine), media, ministry, and business. You'll acquire strong skills in writing, research, critical thinking, and public speaking, while you engage with a broad range of cultures and eras.

After framing your coursework with a survey course in global history, build research and writing skills in our Research Methods of History course. Then choose from a wide range of electives to explore your own interests, all while opening doors to your career goals. Finally, bring it all together in our capstone course as you reflect on vocation as a Christian historian.

What Makes This Program Great

  • Gifted faculty Collaborate with highly respected faculty who are published experts on topics ranging from the Ottoman Empire to the contemporary African American church. They’re committed Christians who prioritize your learning and are personally invested in your success.

  • Open doors You’ll learn about history through small classes, internships, off-campus programs, and independent research projects. You’ll learn more than just historical facts—you’ll learn how to uncover information, appreciate different perspectives, test your own theories, and communicate your findings.

  • Future leaders Join a legacy of history majors who are in high demand in a wide range of professions. Our students go on to success in many fields because they think deeply, write clearly, and work effectively in any career they pursue.

  • Combines well History can readily be combined with a minor or second major, or with a pre-professional or professional track such as pre-law, pre-medicine, public health, or business.

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Encounter history in an off-campus program

Venture far beyond the classroom with a Calvin off-campus program that will immerse you in global history and culture firsthand.

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Painting of New Orleans

Trace the legacy of empire in New Orleans

Examine topics such as the Atlantic Slave Trade to Louisiana, slavery, and the development of Creole society in this two-week experience.

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Delve into the archaeology of Jordan

Learn about the history, cultures, and religions of the Middle East while excavating at the breathtaking site of Umm el-Jimal.

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Spend a semester in Britain

Pursue your history studies at Liverpool-Hope University in this semester-long program in Britain.

Faculty

Tucker Adkins

de Vries Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow, History

Craig Hanson

Professor of Art HistoryAssociate Director, Honors Program
Associate Director of the Calvin Honors and Collegiate Scholars Programs.

William Katerberg

Curator of Heritage HallDirector of the Mellema Program in Western American StudiesProfessor of History
I am the curator of Heritage Hall, the archives for Calvin University, Calvin Theological Seminary, and the Christian Reformed Church in North America.  I am also the director of the

Caleb Lagerwey

Adjunct Instructor, History & Social Studies Education

Karin Maag

Director of H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies Professor

Darrell Rohl

Associate Professor of History;
Director of Archaeology Program

Frans van Liere

Professor of History;Director of Classical & Medieval Studies Program

Katherine van Liere

Department Chair, Historical Studies; Professor of History

Eric M Washington

Professor of History; Director of African & African Diaspora Studies Program