History

Do you ever wonder how past events relate to the present? Jewell history majors and minors have a broad range of choices when it comes to course selection. Across that range of courses, however, you will explore diverse narratives in human history, beyond those commonly taught. In so doing, class discussions provide you with opportunities to both explore ethical concerns and social issues as they relate to history.

Why major in history at Jewell?

The history faculty members at Jewell do more than prepare majors and minors for a single career. You'll get a solid foundation in research, critical thinking and analytical learning that can be used in a variety of jobs or graduate study. Class sizes are kept small to encourage individual attention and the free exchange of ideas. Many other outstanding opportunities are open to those who enter the field of history:

Internships that provide practical job experiences at any one of several venues, including local museums, genealogical libraries and law offices
66 international study programs
A chapter of the history honor society Phi Alpha Theta that has been in existence at Jewell for over 60 years
Colloquium, seminar and readings courses that allow students to explore topics of personal interest not specifically listed in the catalog
A capstone course in which majors conduct in-depth research on a project of their choosing
Ability to present student research papers to the college and community through participation in the annual David Nelson Duke Undergraduate Colloquium
A curriculum that incorporates the study of historiography
Meaningful assignments that involve not only research and book reviews, but also counterfactual history (proposing what might have been)
Opportunities to visit places of historical interest such as local museums like the National World War I Museum and the Truman Library
Varied methods of teaching including multimedia presentations that allow students to view pictures of important sites and historical figures, maps, works of art and relevant movie clips as specific topics are discussed in class
Movie nights each semester featuring films of historical interest
Occasional on-campus addresses by noted historians, such as Niall Ferguson and Garry Wills
Outstanding area libraries including the regional branch of the National Archives in Kansas City and the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education

William Jewell Historical Review

Spring 2024 Issue

Showcasing research and writing skills and capacity for original, independent historical scholarship, this publication features a historical essay and two senior capstone essays by history majors.

Read the Historical Review

My Jewell Journey

Christian Santiago, La Mirada, California

Christian shares how the study of history and political science—his majors—intersect to create a better future and better citizens. He plans to gain experience in local governance and community building before pursuing a master’s degree in public administration.

My Jewell Journey

Hayley Michael, history and political science major

Jewell's Faculty Award co-recipient, Hayley values relationships with professors and unique research opportunities. She participated in The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) in Washington, D.C., which led to an internship then a full-time position at the White House Historical Association.