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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 Professor Lee L. Brice who has been selected as a 2014 Gertrude Smith Professor and a Co-Director of the Summer Session of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens.
  • 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.
  • This winter the History Department made Haka Awards to Anthony Ginn and Samantha Morrow and a Balsamo Award for the spring 2013 semester to Frank Shaw. The Department also nominated David Liebmann as the Departmental and College Scholar, and named Jessica Toops and Justin Sims as co-winners of the Judy Ellen Thompson prize for best undergraduate history paper. Congratulations to all! The next deadline for applying for department scholarships is May 1. Interested students should contact Tim Roberts as soon as possible.
  • Dr. Cole publishes a new article in The Progressive
  • History Prof. McNabb honored with alumni achievement award
  • Dr. Mazza publishes a new article, "For God and La Patrie: Antonin Jaussen, Dominica Priest and French intelligence agent in the Middle East," First World War Studies 
  • Dr. Brice publishes a new book,  Greek Warfare: From the Battle of Marathon to the Conquests of Alexander the Great   (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio)