Studying History at the University of Chicago
Studying history sheds light on human experience and thought in different times and places. It enables students to make sense of the present in terms of the past, and the past in terms of the present. Involving the analysis of evidence and the formulation of arguments, studying history is excellent preparation for a wide field of endeavors - from law, government, and public policy to the arts and business. Fields of study may be defined by nations (e.g.. Chinese, Roman, U.S., or International History) or by genres (e.g.. legal, cultural, or gender history). The fourth-year BA essay affords students the opportunity to pursue an original research project on a topic of their choosing. Topics might range from the history of war, revolution, and local, national, and global politics to the history of work, immigration, slavery, colonialism, and sexuality.
The History Department offers a number of concentration fields, including, but not limited to:
- Africa
- Ancient Mediterranean World
- Britain
- Byzantine
- Caribbean and Atlantic World
- Early Modern Europe (1500-1800)
- East Asia
- History of Science and Medicine
- International History
- Latin America
- Medieval
- Middle East/Islam
- Modern Europe (1800-present)
- Modern Jewish
- Russia
- South Asia
- United States
For general questions or information about the History Concentration, contact Molly Hudgens, the Undergraduate Program Coordinator.