History

About theHistory Department

In the History Department, our students graduate as creative problem solvers, who can think imaginatively not only about the past, but about the world today. To quote a recent Los Angeles Times op-ed, "History isn't a 'useless' major. It teaches critical thinking, something American needs much more of." We teach marketable and transferable skills you will take well beyond the history classroom:

• the skill of investigation
• the art of asking good questions that help define the problem at hand
• research skills in identifying and understanding sources
• analysis and interpreting of complex subjects
• effective use of evidence to draw conclusions
• the ability to think critically and creatively about the world in order to help solve the problems we face in the future

Ranked in 2015 by Kiplinger's as one of the nation's 75 "Best Buys" in higher education, WCU has one of the most affordable and high-quality undergraduate programs in the nation. Our 20 full-time faculty members, all experts in their fields, value both excellent teaching, active scholarship, and engagement with our community. We offer a Bachelor of Arts in History (B.A.), a Master of Arts in History (M.A.), and a Master of Education in Social Studies (M.Ed.). Our students may also choose to pursue Pennsylvania teacher certification in social studies as part of their Bachelor of Arts program.

We encourage you to let the history major at West Chester surprise you. It is not the history classroom of 100 years ago. We're eager to see where your career takes you.