History is understanding our heritage of who we are and who we came to be. It is a field of study that records events, institutions, ideas, and people. Knowledge of the past provides a sense of roots while it enables individuals to develop pride and appreciation for past accomplishments.

History covers the full range of human experience: the arts and sciences, politics and the spread of political ideas, economic and technological change, and the development of communities and cultures. Our dedicated faculty members guide students through the fields and methodologies used by historians. The History program features seminars, discussion groups, and other forms of interactive learning.

History encompasses all aspects of past human endeavor. It encourages students to think broadly and to attempt to integrate all of their knowledge into a meaningful whole. From history we develop a better understanding of current events and a better appreciation of art, architecture, ideas, politics, and fellow human beings and their activities.

History also provides a guide for the future. Historians ask questions of the past and describe and analyze it through writing, teaching, and research. They relate their knowledge of the past to current events in an effort to explain the present.

The History department provides students with a broadly based liberal arts education emphasizing knowledge of the past as the foundation of contemporary institutions and society.

As History majors, students will be prepared to display a sense of informed perspective and a mature view of human nature. Students also acquire the ability to read and think critically, write and speak clearly and persuasively, and conduct research effectively. They also develop a deeper respect for human traditions and values of cultures or time periods other than their own.

Mount Marty College offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in history. Students majoring in other fields may minor in history or take courses for general interest.

The History major is based on three World Cultures classes that divide world history into three sections and two U.S. History survey courses. These courses serve to introduce students to the history and cultures of various parts of the world and the United States. Upper division courses include various offerings in U.S. history and a high degree of specialization with Independent Studies.

Our program teaches students how to make history come alive outside the classroom and guides students to careers in museums, government, business, and non-profit groups.