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

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Major League Businessman: ESPN Executive Burke Magnus ’88 Hits Home Runs for Sports Fans Everywhere
It’s not just athletes who start at the bottom and, after years of developing their skills in the minor leagues, break into the big time and sign major contracts. Sports businesspeople work just as hard as they rise through their …
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‘Was Oprah Right? Is a New Day on the Horizon for Women?’ History Professor Offers Expertise
After Oprah Winfrey’s powerful speech at the Golden Globes, the overwhelming focus has been on speculating the plausibility of her running for president in 2020, giving little attention to the message she was conveying about the sexual abuse faced by …
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What Era Of History May Best Predict 2018? A Holy Cross Professor Explains
Historians are known to look backward. But what can the lessons of the past tell us about our immediate future? HISTORY asked an expert panel, including Associate Professor of History and host of the In The Past Lane podcast Edward …