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Department of History.

History - A Solid Foundation for Career Success

Our dedicated faculty & staff assist students as they develop the analytical, research, and communications skills that will enable them to excel in their chosen careers, such as teaching, law, government, public history, business, management, non-profit organizations, and public service.

The Department of History is part of the College of Arts and Sciences. Many of our students continue their education in graduate programs at other universities, including Law schools. Our students become informed citizens, capable of thinking logically and intelligently about the past and its relevance to the present.

Programs of Study

Undergraduate Degrees

Successful undergraduate students receive a  Bachelor of Arts in History with one of the following options:

Learn more about our undergraduate program, studying history, or view undergraduate courses. 

Graduate Degrees

We offer a program of study leading to the  Master of Arts  degree in WIU's  School of Graduate Studies. 

Resources

News

  • Congratulations to Dr. Tim Roberts, who has been awarded a Fulbright Lectureship in China for 2013-2014.
  • The Golden Key International Honour Society has selected Dr. Jennifer McNabb as a winner of the 2013 Advisor Professional Development Grant, which carries a $1,000 award. In announcing the award, Golden Key Scholarships coordinator Nancy Chamlee wrote, "We are very proud to have you as a Golden Key member. On behalf of the Golden Key Board of Directors, the Volunteer Leadership, and Headquarters Staff, we extend to you our heartfelt congratulations for being selected as this year’s winner. We echo those sentiments and add our own congratulations to Dr. McNabb!
  • Dr. Peter Cole and others publish a roundtable on the television show THE WIRE in LAWCHA
  • Graduate students in the Department of History interested in seeking a position teaching at the post-secondary level (Community Colleges and University) can now take advantage of a new service being offered by the department. Faculty members with experience will consult with alumnae on revising a CV/Resume for the demands of post-secondary teaching positions. The employment market in these posts requires a curriculum vita that is markedly different from the typical business resume. We can set up a meeting to review your current resume and discuss whether and how you might revise your CV to better suit the current market. To get started contact the department chairman Simon Cordery at 309-298-1053 or S-Cordery@wiu.edu
  • The Department of History announces the first Gordon W. Kirk Honors History Scholarship.This scholarship, named in honor of former History Department Chair and professor emeritus Gordon W. Kirk, is for students who enter WIU as declared History majors and are enrolled in the WIU Centennial Honors College. The first award will be made for the Fall 2013 semester and applications are now being accepted.The requirements for applicants are a minimum cumulative ACT of 27 or an ACT of 24 plus standing in the upper 10% of their graduating class. Students will remain eligible for the scholarship by continuing as a History major pursuing an Honors degree and maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.4 in their courses. The award is worth $2,000 over four years.For more information please contact Dr. Simon Cordery, Chair, Department of History at 309-298-1053 or s-cordery@wiu.edu
  • Congratulations to Jessica Toops and Justin Sims, co-winners of the 2013 Judy Ellen Thompson prize for best undergraduate paper in history. Toops wrote her paper, "The Council on African Affairs and U.S. Cold War Policy," in a course with Dr. Peter Cole. Sims wrote his paper, "Roles of Religious Belief in the American Civil War," in a course with Dr. Tim Roberts. The award is funded by Professor Bill Thompson of the WIU libraries, and named in honor of his mother.