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

Professor Theresa McBride points out a painting to students at a museum in Paris.
‘Paris is a Classroom’: Students Study Revolutionaries and Rebels Through Summer Study Abroad Program
What do Les Miserables’ rebellious Jean Valjean, the writer James Baldwin and 11 College of the Holy Cross students have in common? They know something about French revolutions and artistic rebels. Stephanie Yuhl and Theresa McBride, professors of history, led …
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What Led to the Battle of Gettysburg? Holy Cross Student and Professor Say It Was the Shoes
With the 155th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg approaching, Catherine Thompson, visiting assistant professor of history, and Declan Cronin ’19, a rising senior went on a quest to uncover what actually set off the battle. In an article for …
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Ten Students and Recent Alumni Receive Prestigious Grants and Scholarships
This spring, College of the Holy Cross students and alumni have won an impressive array of awards from prestigious organizations, including the Fulbright Program, Critical Language Scholarship and NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. These accolades speak to the curiosity, intellect and …