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 Professors Weigh in on the Importance of the Pope’s Encyclical
Pope Francis’ recent encyclical regarding the environment and climate change has been the topic of many headlines this week.  Two College of the Holy Cross professors, Alice Laffey, associate professor of religious studies, and Rev. Thomas Worcester, S.J., professor of …
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Holy Cross Professor Publishes Book on American Social Activist who Warned of the Dangers of Economic Inequality
Edward T. O’Donnell, associate professor of history at the College of the Holy Cross, recently released a new book titled “Henry George and the Crisis of Inequality: Progress and Poverty in the Gilded Age,” published by Columbia University Press on …
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Holy Cross Announces 10 Faculty Promotions from Across Disciplines
Ten professors at the College of the Holy Cross from across disciplines have been promoted to the rank of associate professor with tenure. Chris Arrell, of the music department, earned his B.M. at the University of Oregon, his M.M. from …