History Degree

Major in History at Adelphi University

History, the study of the human past, is one of the most ancient intellectual pursuits. To be without history is to be without memory, to have no knowledge of who we are and how we came to be. By requiring the development of such intellectual capacities as imagination, reading, writing, critical thinking, and moral judgment, history encourages the full maturation of the mind. Just as important, the study of other people in different times and places expands the student’s understanding of what it is to be human.

The history degree curriculum at Adelphi is a sequence of courses of increasing sophistication designed to transmit historical knowledge and hold it up to scrutiny; sharpen conceptual abilities; promote understanding of process and change; and build proficiency in research. Using both traditional and innovative techniques of historical investigation, students working toward a history degree analyze and reflect on the past, thereby gaining a rich new perspective on the present.

A major in history prepares students for graduate study in the discipline as well as for the intellectual demands of many other professions, including law, education, journalism, civil service, banking, and business. History majors bring to their careers highly valued abilities in research and writing, along with a sophisticated knowledge of world affairs.