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

photo collage, Alpha Sigma Nu recipients
31 Holy Cross Students Inducted Into Jesuit Honor Society
Thirty-one Holy Cross students were inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu,  the Jesuit honor society founded in 1915, at a virtual ceremony held recently. The new inductees exemplify the society’s values of excellence in scholarship, loyalty and service.  Selection to Alpha …
Photo by Avanell Brock
COVID Chronicles: Student Project Documents On- and Off-Campus Life Amid Pandemic
In the midst of the disruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic this past spring, while many of his peers were still grappling with the challenges of a sudden shift to remote learning, John Larsen ’22 had something else on …
Caroline Fredericks '21, Caitlin Marple '21, and Jake Mozeleski '22 conduct a zoom call with coach Edward McDermott '79.
Holy Cross Awarded in Multiple Categories of International Academy of Dispute Resolution Vilnius Competition
As one of only two undergraduate institutions invited to participate in this year’s International Academy of Dispute Resolution (INADR) Vilnius competition, Holy Cross was an underdog with—as it turns out—a big bite. At its conclusion, the international law school competition …