History

History: Major

The study of history at Holy Cross not only seeks to understand the past; it also offers deep personal enrichment for a thoughtful, even passionate, engagement in the challenges of the present. Among the most encompassing academic disciplines, history is informed by economics, sociology, anthropology, political science, the arts and literature.

Working with innovative faculty experts, students explore a diverse range of interests and a broad selection of topics from “Traditional” East Asia to Modern Latin America, Gilded Age America to Imperial Russia. Students learn how politics, social and economic developments, and cultural life interact.

Students of all interests, passions, and goals study history at Holy Cross. Graduates use their training to pursue careers in law, medicine, government service, business, teaching and a host of other vocations. 

Program Highlights

Students enrolled in history at Holy Cross explore their major and gain depth in a particular aspect of history through a global concentration. Spanning geographic locations and time, students select from the following themes:

  • Colonialism and Empire
  • Gender in Public and Private Life
  • Race and Ethnicity
  • Resistance, Revolution, and Reaction
  • Knowledge and Belief
  • War and Memory
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Faculty

With 18 full-time professors, the department is one of the largest history departments among liberal arts colleges.

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Opportunities

Students can augment their studies through honors programs and hands-on experiences.

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After Graduation

Find out what students can do with a history major, and check out the careers of some recent alumni.

History News

Peter Flaherty '87 and Tim Bishop '72 stand at the front of the classroom
Two Alumni, Political World Veterans Teach Course Examining Politics From Inside-Out
The advertisement starts with a video of Hillary Clinton on stage. “If you look at the map of the United States, there’s all that red in the middle where Trump won,” she says. The video is intercut with images of …
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Five Holy Cross Faculty Members Promoted to Rank of Professor
After years of dedicated teaching and research in their respective fields, five Holy Cross faculty members have been promoted to the rank of full professor. We asked them a few questions about their scholarship — and more:
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Eight New Tenure-Track Faculty Members Welcomed in 2018-19 Academic Year
The College of the Holy Cross has welcomed eight new faculty members to tenure-track positions for the 2018-19 academic year. They will each join a different department: biology, chemistry, political science, religious studies, classics, mathematics, psychology and history. The new …