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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Holy Cross Gears Up for the 2016 Election, Faculty Talk Politics in the Media
Since the beginning of the fall semester, the College of the Holy Cross community has been engaging with the upcoming presidential election in many ways, including through events, academic courses, and media. The College has held voter registration and absentee …
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Holy Cross Announces Seven New Faculty Hires for 2016-17 Academic Year
In her annual address to the College for the 2016-17 academic year, Margaret Freije, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College, announced the hiring of seven new faculty members. These new faculty members include five new tenure-track …
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Holy Cross Magazine Publishes Fall 2016 Food-Themed Issue
The Fall 2016 issue of Holy Cross Magazine — dubbed “The Food Issue”— delves in to what we eat, where it comes from, and who we eat with and why. “Food is something each of us experiences every day, multiple times …