Southern Illinois University - History
To anticipate the future, look to the past.
Historians tell the story of how we got where we are.
Doing history means: reading primary sources, debating what they mean, discussing ethics in the pursuit of knowledge and examining how texts reflect their historical context.
One thing you won’t do: memorize a bunch of random dates and names of events.
See what SIU can do for you
Undergraduate Program
There’s more to a History degree than reading and writing. Our students intern with historical societies and museums, and participate in preservation events and archaeology field schools!
Your professors will help you find your own niche, and mentor you in the best way to learn about it. You might even publish in SIU’s historical journal, Legacy.
Options:
Bachelor of Science – Choose this track if you intend to teach history in middle school, junior high school or high school. This path will prepare you for the Illinois Social Sciences Teaching License.
Bachelor of Arts – Choose this track if you plan to go to graduate school or law school, or if you want to work for a museum, historical society, historical site or other history-related career. This option is also offered ONLINE.
Graduate Program
We offer a Master of Arts in History and a Ph.D. in Historical Studies.
Fellowships and teaching assistantships are available to eligible students, as well as a co-op Ph.D. program with our sister campus. Students have access to over 500,000 historical volumes at Morris Library on campus.
Study What Interests You.
Our program offers a broad range of history courses to choose from, with focuses in American History, European History, and World History, among others. Some sample classes include:
- Origins of America
- History of the Cold War
- Civil War and Reconstruction
- American Immigration
- British Empire
- Eastern Europe
- 20th Century Europe
- World War I
- World Wars in Africa
- Arab-Israeli Conflict
- Colonial Latin America
- Islamic Political Movements
Student Groups
- Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society
- Model United Nations Organization
- Southern Illinois Steampunk Guild
- Legacy – a journal of student historical research
- Liberal Arts Living Learning Community
