Welcome to the Department of History and Political Science

The Department of History and Political Science offers a broad spectrum of courses that meet General Education requirements and that guide interested students to degree completion in the following majors: History, Political Science, and Pre-Law. In addition, we offer a Social Studies Track that directs students through the proper sequence of courses required in the state of North Carolina to teach in a public, secondary school.

While the department’s majors prepare students well for teacher certification, graduate school, or law school, the majority of the students currently in our programs are not necessarily looking toward those ends. We like to suggest that a major in our department can set a student up to do anything. Our courses stress and support critical and analytical thinking, writing, oral communication, and independent research. Classes reflect the depth and breadth of topics in History and Politics—from general surveys of the United States, Europe, and the World, to more detailed investigations of the social, political, economic, and military realities of our collective past. Major fields are designed so that students have the ability to pursue coursework that fits into their particular interests once they navigate the few required introductory courses.

Our current and former students have had great success presenting papers at regional conferences, taking advantage of local museum internships and the Capital Hill Internship Program in Washington, D.C., and participating in the many international travel opportunities sponsored on campus. These experiences have served them well in their post-graduate lives. Please take time to read some of their stories posted here.