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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In Memoriam: Rev. Anthony J. Kuzniewski, S.J., 1945-2016
  Rev. Anthony J. Kuzniewski, S.J., professor emeritus of history at the College of the Holy Cross, died on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 at the Campion Health Center in Weston, Mass. at the age of 71 after a swift battle with …
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Video: Holy Cross History Professor Featured in PBS Pearl Harbor Documentary
Edward O’Donnell, associate professor of history at the College of the Holy Cross, was recently featured in the PBS documentary special “Pearl Harbor, USS Oklahoma: Final Story.”
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Members of the Holy Cross Community Reflect on the Jubilee Year of Mercy
The Jubilee Year of Mercy, initiated by Pope Francis, began on Dec. 8, 2015 and lasts through Nov. 20, 2016. According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), a jubilee year has roots in Jewish tradition, when a jubilee …