History

If you major in history at Augustana, you’ll be in a program nationally recognized for innovative teaching of history. You’ll learn through experiencing history — it is possible — instead of just memorizing facts.

Becoming historically minded, you’ll develop skills it takes to solve contemporary problems: data analysis, empathy, information literacy, perspective-taking.

You’ll choose one of five Compass Points to fit your current passions, career goals and vision for the future:

• History communication – How the public engages with the past (for museum studies, library science, digital history, journalism, documentary-making, historic preservation).

• Social justice – What history tells us about current inequalities and social change (social services, human rights work, religious work and more).

• Nations and global politics – Complex interactions between people and systems, local concerns and global movements (law, politics, international relations, public relations, peace studies).

• History education – Learning to teach not just history, but historical thinking (for teaching in the secondary schools).

• Information analytics – Tailoring your major to your particular goals (examples include civic and workplace leaders in STEM, sales, business, health fields, and more).

Distinctions

• Augustana offers a major and minor in history, and a history teaching major.

• More than 50% of history students double-major. History is ideal for combining with any study of the intersections of people, places and cultures: geography; sociology and anthropology; religion; political science; women, gender and sexuality studies, and more. Most pre-law students choose a history major.

• The six faculty members all have a Ph.D. and are leaders in innovative education methods, published research and international programs; one was honored as the Illinois Professor of the Year.

• Augustana history professors encourage and guide students to study abroad, take internships and participate in academic conferences — and $2,000 with Augie Choice supports any of these experiences.

Recent grads

Maja Johnson '23 is in Uppsala University's Master's Programme in Scandinavian Studies in Uppsala, Sweden.

Stephanie Carreno '23 is a special collections assistant for the McHenry County Historical Society and Museum in Union, Ill.

Fatima Dominguez '22 is a case manager for The Landing in Houston, Texas.

Lauren Hall '22 is a social studies teacher at Edison Junior High School in Rock Island, Ill.

Rosalie Looijaard '22 is a Ph.D. candidate in philosophy at Boston University.

Matt Payton '22 is a special education teacher at Sterling High School in Sterling, Ill.

Monica Thompson  ’21 is a J.D. candidate at Saint Louis School of Law in St. Louis, Mo.

Mikaela Ferrara  ’20 earned a master’s in museum studies from George Washington University and is a collections intern at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.

Rob Williams  ’19 is the Augustana College assistant director of admissions for the Chicagoland region.