U.C. Davis History Department - Undergraduate Program

Why Study History?
The History major offers an excellent education in writing clearly, thinking analytically and reading with curiosity. In addition to introducing students to peoples, ideas, and cultures that may be unfamiliar to you, the study of history helps put our own world into perspective. Because the past is as big as the world itself, it offers something for everyone.

"History is always changing, and that is one reason why historians love what they do. It's not just that the historical record is being written every day, as we live it; it's also that our understanding of what's important in history, and why, changes too, along with the sources we use. Material culture and visual culture, including film, are texts that open worlds beyond writing to historical study. New cultural perspectives, which we especially encourage through the Education Abroad Program, also keep changing our familiar historical narratives. Learning to analyze evidence and write historical analysis is one of the best ways to develop your mind. Come and try it!"
Dept. Chair Susan Mann

Career Options for History Majors
We believe that an undergraduate History degree has many advantages that will help prepare students in a variety of different career areas. The market for teachers in primary and secondary schools remains good in many locations, and students with a solid background in history will be well-suited to get teaching credentials in subjects such as history, social studies, government, political science, humanities, and general studies.

The rigorous research and writing requirements asked of history majors also offer excellent preparation for careers in law, journalism, public relations, technical writing, fund-raising, administration, domestic and foreign government service, to name the more obvious. Interestingly (and luckily for History majors) recent trends in medical and business school admissions suggest that these professional schools are looking for students who possess training in humanities and social sciences. Obviously students wishing to attend medical schools still need to take the necessary science prerequisites, but in an increasingly competitive market with growing competition, students who stand out with something unique such as a History honors thesis or a background in the history of medicine might call positive attention to themselves.

In short, history majors have many options if they put their minds to it because a History degree provides essential training in basic research and communication skills that are central to so many careers today. On the other hand, the academic job market in most areas of history is very tight. Students considering graduate work should discuss career prospects with faculty in the area of history they wish to persue.

[ Random Image ] The Faculty and the Program
The History faculty at UC Davis is distinguished by the high quality of both its teaching and research. Faculty interests range far afield in time and topic. The department has strength (at least three faculty members) in the new fields of social and cultural history, women's history, and the history of science as well as in the geographic concentrations of the United States, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. Faculty members hold Ph.D.s from a range of distinguished institutions from across the country.

[ Random Image ] Undergraduate Seminars
Undergraduate Seminars are classes with 15 or fewer students who pursue a subject in greater depth than in a lecture class. They demand more reading, more writing, and more participation than do lecture courses. Class meets three hours each week, and can involve reading assignments of hundreds of pages. There are three different types of seminars.
History 101 explores historiography, the history of writing history.
History 102 explores a specific topic, often with a central geographical or chronological focus.
History 103 is a course that allows you to work on your own under the supervision of a professor with the goal of writing a research paper.