Why Study History at K?
Everything and everyone has a history. By learning how to critically examine the past, you will be able to trace personal, societal, and national development in order to shape the future.
Telling the stories of the past, you can give voice to people and experiences who may not have had the agency to do so themselves. However, studying history at K is more than just understanding what happened in the past; you will learn how to connect modern problems, situations, and institutions to the historical contexts in which they originated. By understanding the successes and failures of the past, you will be equipped to analyze and understand the present.
You will gain these skills by synthesizing and evaluating various sources and viewpoints in classes like Unsettling Colonial America; Women in Classical Antiquity; History of Science, Magic, and Belief; and Occupiers/Occupied in Post-World War II East Asia. In these courses, you will explore the diversity and similarity of the human experience across time and place by critically examining evidence and theories.
As a history alum, you will enter the world as a more informed global citizen. The skills and tools you will develop during your four years as a history student will prepare you to enter a variety of professions or continue your studies in graduate school. Past students have led successful careers in history, law, policy, foreign relations, and non-profit work.
What can you do with a history degree?
Below are some of the careers, employers, and graduate schools of our history alumni.
Careers
- Attorney/Law Clerk
- Archivist
- Professor/Teacher
- Curator
- Grant Specialist
Employers
- The Obama Foundation
- Library of Congress
- U.S. District Court
- AmeriCorps
- American Public Health Association
Graduate Schools
- University of Michigan
- Michigan State University
- Johns Hopkins University
- New York University
- University of Rochester
Program Spotlights
Take a Deep Dive into History at the Edward Moritz Lecture
Named after a late history professor who taught at the College from 1955 to 1988, the Edward Moritz Lecture is a celebration of excellence in teaching and research in history. The lecture provides you the opportunity to learn about aspects of history from the field’s leading researchers, who are invited to campus to share their scholarship. In 2020, Dr. Lewis Siegelbaum from Michigan State University spoke about national identity formation and othering in his presentation “Bumping Up Against Ukraine as a Historian of Russia.”
Showcase your knowledge with your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)
Whether you completed your Senior Integrated Project (SIP) within the History Department or not, we are proud of our seniors and want to showcase all you have learned. In that spirit, the annual History SIP Colloquium is an opportunity for all our majors to revel in their accomplishments and present their final projects in front of their classmates, professors and families. For example, Laurel Thompson ’14 conducted primary source research at the National Archives for her SIP, “Common Ground, Cooperation, and Controversy: The Partnership of SCAP and Suspected War Criminals in Occupied Japan”.
Meet the Current Departmental Student Advisor
Maja Smith
(she/her)
Majors: History and Psychology
Study Abroad: London, England
Best Adjective to Describe You: Reliable
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
Ability to take a wide variety of classes, and being able to develop close relationships with faculty members.
What drew you to the department?
What drew me to the history department were the welcoming and supportive faculty members.
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
Because of the K-plan I was able to double major in History and Psychology. Being able to focus on two areas of study that are interesting to me has been an amazing experience. Additionally, I was able to study abroad in London and take classes in sociology and anthropology, something that my schedule wouldn’t fit at Kalamazoo.
What is your favorite thing about K?
My favorite thing about Kalamazoo is the close-knit community and opportunities you have to connect with staff and faculty.
What is your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)?
My SIP is titled Native American Women and European Men: Gender Relations During The French Fur Trade (1700-1815).
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I hope to either go into museum curation or clinical psychology after graduation!